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Vivek Sadananda Pai wrote:
> I don't know how much they charge converts, but I posted excerpts from
> Hinduism Today some time ago where they most definitely seemed to
> suggest that it cost at least one thousand US dollars to become a
> Hindu.
snip
> Personally, I find the concept of "buying in" (literally) to be a bit,
> err, unappealing.... snip
It's more than unappealing. As I understand it, it is very much
contrary to the tradition. The pandit who is training me has been very
clear: "You cannot charge for services rendered." Dakshina is there to
meet the priest's needs; of course this pracitce has been abused by both
priests who have turned it into fee for services and devotees (often
very affluent) who show their gratitude with a bag of rice and a new
dhoti (how many dhotis does a pandit in North America need anyway?).
The result is that the tradition's value gets lost, and that we will
have very few people who can dedicate all their time to a priestly
vocation. In North America, such a vocation ought to include more than
the ritualistic aspect (although that is the traditional role of a Hindu
pandit). We need to think of the spiritual care or, to use a Christian
term, pastoral needs of Hindus, especially when extended family and
other supports are not present as they would more probably be in India.
Also, priests need to play an educational role or else our tradition
will be lost.
I consider that I "evolved" into Hinduism. I think it is OK if groups
such as Siva Siddhanta Church or others want to formalize conversion,
but it is not a requirement of the tradition, any more than it is true
that one must be "born" into Hinduism otherwise one cannot be a true
Hindu.
I'd be surprised if someone from the Church or the monastery itself
isn't monitoring this group. It would be good to hear directly from
them what the practice is. In other ways, I have been impressed with
their work, and find it hard to believe a charge would be levied for
conversion.
> I think there are enough "professional" religionists in
> India that we don't need to encourage the practice here as
> well.
I like the practice of the Vipassana Buddhists who offer 10-day
retreats, and one is asked to make a donation of any amount, no
questions asked. The only fixed charge is the actual price of the place
providing lodging and food.
If devotees and pandits/teachers/swamis can recover a sense of mutual
trust and dependency we could follow that system without risk of money
being a factor in what we do.
Daly
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