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Rajinder Nijjhar wrote:
>
> In message <ghenE7Ls4w.K1K@netcom.com>
> ntiwari@rs3.esm.vt.edu (N. Tiwari) writes:
>
> It is no good to tell the Western people of our aspect of religion
> but rather we should try to give expositions that benefit them i.e.
> from the Bible. That has a greater impact than speaking about
> Hinduism. Never try to convert people into your way of thinking but
> let them decide themselves.
If a person has been asked to speak to a Christian audience about
Hinduism, then his/her job is not to give expositions from the Bible,
but to talk about what we believe and why. It's quite possible to do
this in a way that assures people we do not wish to convert or to change
what our audience believes.
I am frustrated with Hindus who approach Christians with lines such as,
"We really believe the same thing. Krishna is just like Christ." Or
they offer a pale-faced (pun inteneded) version of Hinduism which is
designed to be acceptable to their audience.
I find this demeaning to us, and I find it disrespectful of the
Christian persons to whom we are speaking.
If I talk about Hinduism, I let me audience see where there are
similarities, and I do not shy away from the differences. To me, one of
the biggest differences between Hinduism and Christianity is the
emphasis and opportunity we offer for an experiential spirituality, a
genuine mystical encounter with the Divine -- and I talk about that
because I believe it's what many people want, and that it is possible
for Christians to have it in their tradition also, except the church has
lost much of that part of their tradition. I explain there's a wide
range of Hindu practices which reflect the diversity of what may be one
of the most diversified nations in the world, and that these practices
range from what we might consider very primitive and backward to the
highest levels of sophistication and spiritual attainment.
With joy I talk about our Deities, as well as the advaita philosophy. I
share our stories and myths, and try to do so in a way that they can
speak across cultural and religious lines.
I figure if an audience asks to learn about Hinduism that it's because
they want to learn about Hinduism, and I do my best to offer them a
reflection of our tradition in all its diversity, including some of its
negative aspects. I figure they want to hear from a Hindu who has
embraced his tradition, accepts it fully, and is not ashamed of it. I
figure they want to hear from someone who will not pander to his
audience by emphasizing ideas which are easily misunderstood about
"unity of the faiths," or talking only of advaita and meditation, but
somehow neglecting to mention puja, the use of murtis, and the relations
among the Deities.
As for impact, I believe a good exposition of Hinduism from a person
willing to accept and discuss where our tradition differs from someone
else's will have considerable impact.
In fact, reactions I have had from people include: "I never knew
Hinduism had such hope." "I find this is a religion for people." "This
is exciting." "So there is the possibility of Divine grace in
Hinduism!"
The key perhaps is to combine imformation with spirituality. When I
speak, it is not as a professor of religious studies, and I feel no need
to be intellectual or academic. I go as a Hindu, a devotee striving for
realization, as a person who seeks always the experience of the Divine.
In other words, there's a strong spiritual component, as well as an
informational or religious component. It's that spiritual component
which allows other people, no matter how different their doctrines or
beliefs, to identify with what is said, and with the spirituality of
Hinduism.
Daly
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