Hinduism Today July 2008 - Cover, Index, Front Articles

A Western Hindu Checking Ini love the attitude that your magazinehas that Hinduism spans the world andis not only Indian. When I came upon thearticle “Confessions of a Western Hindu”(Oct/Nov/Dec, 2005), I found familiaritythere. I believe that I am a Hindu, but I amnot ethnically Indian, and I am often afraidto tell people that I’m Hindu. I’m afraid thatI will not be accepted by Indians and thatpeople will think I’m just trying to followa fad.My parents were among the white Americanswho learned about Indian philosophy inthe 1960s. They joined a group that practicedHindu philosophy through a filter of Britishtradition. Now, as a young adult, I do notknow how to label myself. I examined my beliefsand found that the Hindu aspects of myupbringing are those that speak to me mostdeeply. I have since taken up many aspectsof Indian culture: learning bharatanatyamdance, Hindi language, going to temples, settingup a home shrine, cooking Indian foodand often wearing saris and salwar suits. Mymother prefers to call herself a Vedantist, butI find that no one in the Western world knowswhat that is. When one says one is a Hindu,at least whoever is inquiring has heard of it.Yet I still find myself reluctant to wear a bindior state that I am Hindu. It seems confrontationalto do so. At the same time, I desperatelywant to declare my allegiance, tired ofbeing assumed to be Christian. I feel quitealone, and sometimes I start to wonder if itis true that because I was not born Indian Icannot be Hindu. Your magazine has calmedmy mind in many ways. I greatly appreciateyour attitude that a white American can stillbe a Hindu.Carolyn MoirIrvine, California, USAHistory Lesson in Usein january i presented hinduism today’sYouTube videos on the textbook controversy(www.youtube.com/hinduismtodayvideos) at our local temple during ageneral body meeting when the attendancewas high. I also had a ninth-grader give testimonyto the congregation on how he dealtwith this issue in his class and what werethe main issues he felt were misrepresentedin his history book. It went very well, sparkinga lot of discussion. I also showed whatother communities in the USA have doneand what we can do locally. Now its up tothe temple board to come up with a petitionto present to local school boards. Thank youfor your inspiration and guidance to bringawareness in our local community.Padmaja PatelMidland, Texas, USA∫ mrunalpadi@gmail.comlettersNew Perspectivesthe article on the “four ways weView the World” (Apr/May/Jun, 2008) wasprofound. Realizing that there are fourways has helped me to alleviate the deepconfusion I have felt trying to understandthe world and life as a Hindu. Being indoctrinatedthrough an education system thatviews the world from a scientific perspective,simnif, I have learned to accept themulif perspective.Asha B. DassPenang, Malaysia∫ chotani@streamyx.comThe Fine Art of Meditationi am making a presentation on theAgamas at a conference in Chidambaramin May organized by The Art of LivingFoundation. I have been reading a lot inpreparation, and it seemed like divine timingthat the Insight in the recent edition ofHinduism Today (“The Fine Art of Meditation,”Apr/May/Jun, 2008) focused so nearmy topic, the Yoga Pada of the Agamas. Ican’t believe the simplicity with which thevery same content has been presented bySatguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Whatis said in the Agamas has been condensedand simplified for easy, everyday use. I amin awe!Sivasri T.S. Shanmukha SivacharyarChennai, Tamil Nadu, Indiahinduism today is as colorful, attractiveand enlightening as always. The article“The Fine Art of Meditation” (Apr/May/Jun,2008) is very informative and educational.Many spiritual teachers are practicing andteaching meditation in different ways. It isimportant to have regular practice for anhour or two each day to get transformationin life. Being on this path and meditatingregularly is beneficial toward managing dayto-dayproblems and living in peace.Prof. B. C. HarinathSevagram, Maharashtra, India∫ bch@jbtdrc.orgOpening Doorsyour magazine has been a very positiveinfluence on my life. I have been interestedin Hinduism for years and when Istarted reading your magazine it opened upso many new doorways for me. I love yourarticles. Thank you so much.Dana Stearn∫ dds696969@aol.comIdol Worshipin a recent letter to the new indianExpress, March 9, 2008, Swami Dayanandawrote of a new rapprochement betweenHindu and Jewish religious leaders. “The historicmeet,” wrote Swami Dayananda, “emphasizedand illustrated the importance ofhonest dialogue between any two religioustraditions to resolve seemingly irresolvabledifferences.” At issue was the question ofthe Hindu worship of Gods and idols which,for centuries, Jewish theologians have foundirreconcilable with their own traditions thatprohibit idolatry. To begin, perhaps SwamiDayananda is not aware of the negativebaggage the word idolatrous carries. Whatastonishes me more than anything is howburdened Hindus still are with these loadedlabels (pagans is another), bearing extremelyderogatory connotations, foisted on them byinvaders and colonizers down the centuries.One would have trusted that with independence(1948) these misconceptions wouldhave been lifted and Hindus would be allowedto hold their heads high regarding keyissues of their belief system. Articles such asthis one, written by a leading exponent ofthe faith, make us realize that there is everpresent the need to be accepted—and thisby faiths that have never reached the heightsand depths of Hinduism.Patrizia Norelli-BacheletKodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, Indiathe issue of hindus being idol worshipershas been going on ever since the Islamistsand Christian missionaries came toIndia with their evil program. The theologicaland the intellectual response was givento them a long time ago. But the chargemade by the opponents of Hinduism is noton the basis of theology or intellectualism.It is a political question, and thus has to beresponded to at the same level. The politicalanswer is: “Yes, Hindus are idol worshipers.But what have we done wrong? Some of usmay worship statues made of stone, but wedo not throw stones at others. We do not goabout saying that our idol has told us to convertthe whole world to Hinduism. We donot go about saying that those who do notworship an idol are unbelievers and have tobe either converted or killed.”Ashok ChowguleMumbai, Maharashtra, India∫ ashokvc@chowgulegoa.comLetters with writer’s name, address and daytimephone number should be sent to:Letters, Hinduism Today107 Kaholalele RoadKapaa, Hawaii, 96746-9304 USAor faxed to: (808) 822-4351or e-mailed to: letters@hindu.orgLetters may be edited for space and clarity and mayappear in electronic versions of Hinduism Today.∫ indicates letters received via e-mailinterviewMeat-Eating’s Wider EffectsA nonvegetarian diet has a devastatingimpact on our planet’s well beingSwami DAyananda Saraswatihe himalayan glaciers have been the perennialsource of water for rivers such as the Ganga,Yamuna, Brahmaputra and Sindhu. Now the disturbingnews is that the glaciers are receding due toglobal warming. This problem is real, and in India it willcause irredeemable damage if it is not addressed. Onewill find it difficult to believe the contention of someecologists that the Ganga and other rivers of Himalayanorigin will cease to flow in six to forty years.As a human being, I have a custodial relationship toMother Earth. Global warming testifies to how indifferentand careless we have been in discharging ourcaretaking responsibilities. A report from the UnitedNations in 2006 revealed the surprising fact that “raisinganimals for food generates more greenhouse gases thanall the cars and trucks in the world combined.” Tens ofbillions of animals farmed for food release gases such as methane,nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide through their massive amountsof manure. Animals such as cows and sheep, being ruminant, emithuge amounts of methane due to flatulence and burping. “Thereleased methane,” the report says, “has 23 times the global warmingpotential of carbon dioxide.” It is very alarming to note that thelivestock industry alone is responsible for 37 percent of humaninducedmethane emissions. To make room for these animals tograze, virgin forests are cleared. The livestock industry also needsvast stretches of land to raise mono crops to feed the animals. TheResponding to Hinduism’s Direst NeedsOne gift has immense impact for generationses, i’m encouraged by the vitalityof our faith today,” Dr B. M.Lathi explained to our staff. “Butwhen I see the array of powerfulforces working hard to undo Hinduism,and the mass of misinformation circulating,I worry. If we want our grandchildrento to resist the onslaught, we’ve gotto react ! We need intellectual clarity asnever before. It is not enough to buildtemples. We need to understand theirfunction and value, then inspire ourchildren with that knowledge—not justa youth here and there, but a majority ofeach generation. That is what it will take.It’s a big job and, as I see it, time is short.”To do his part, Dr. Lathi, a retiredprofessor of electrical engineering livingin California, generously supportsHinduism Today. “We must make surethis pure voice of dharma is heard aswidely as possible. I know of no otherpublication like it. It proudly declares itselfto be Hindu and ceaselessly works torectify misconceptions and abuse franklyand courageously. And especially, it is doingpioneering work to present our faithin a way that is intellectually satisfyingand spiritually inspiring. Here is ourchance; let’s make the most of it!”Dr. Lathi established a charitable remaindertrust which, when it maturesin 13 years, will grant $300,000 to theHinduism Today Production Fund, apart of Hindu Heritage Endowment.Earnings from this gift will enable thecarbon dioxide that the trees and plantsstore escapes back into the air when theyare destroyed.Growing fodder for farmed animalsimplies heavy use of synthetic fertilizersproduced from fossil fuels. While thisprocess emits a huge amount of carbon dioxide,fertilizers themselves release nitrousoxide, a greenhouse gas that is 296 timesmore potent than carbon dioxide. Alarmingas these facts are, I see in them a reasonfor hope. All that people all over theworld have to do is to avoid meat eating.In the absence of demand for meat thereis no more need for breeding millions ofanimals for daily slaughter.The meat lobby cannot do anything ifthe change comes from the individuals. Asingle person, by simply not consumingmeat, prevents 1.5 tons of carbon dioxideemissions in a year. This is more thanthe one ton prevented by switching froma large sedan to a small car. One needsto have an honest commitment to saveMother Earth, who has been relentlesslypatient and magnanimous. There is nojustification for one to continue to be anonvegetarian, knowing these devastatingconsequences.Promotion of vegetarianism does not require any legislation fromthe state. It does require a change of heart on the part of meat eaterseverywhere. I cannot appeal to the tigers and wolves. They areprogrammed to be what they are. Being endowed with free will,only a human being can make a difference by exercising his or herchoice responsibly.swami dayananda, 78, a sannyasin of the Adi Shankara and VedaVyasa tradition, founder of Arsha Vidya centers in India, USA,Canada and Australia, has taught worldwide for over 40 years.“The world needs Hinduism as exemplar.Here is a faith evolved out of meditation,not conflict.” Dr. and Mrs. Lathi withchildren and grandchildren.editors to produce an ever more potentmagazine. Happily, Dr. and Mrs. Lathialso benefit from their gift in a numberof ways. Find out more about Dr.Lathi’s charitable remainder trust here:hheonline.org/reports/2007/jan-feb-mar/and ask for our Production Fund e-newsletter at hhe@hindu.org.12 hinduism today july/august/september, 2008 july/august/september, 2008 hinduism today 13