Re: What to call myself
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté and hello Rose (et.al)
On occasion I am asked if I am religious/what religion I follow as a non-Indian I have a hard time responding truthfully that I believe in and practice Hinduism. My husband is in the army so people often assume that I can a Christian (this really comes from some serious misconceptions on the US military) I hate being perceived as a Christian. I have never followed that religion and to assume it is the default in this country is disrespectful to Christianity and disrespectful to me. Honestly, I find all unmpromptes discussion of religion rude and invasive but in practice I can never respond with "none of your business." I have in the past described my self as "philosophically a Hindu" or some such response often followed by the asker commenting that I am simply "spiritual" to which I take great offense. What do other converts say in these sorts of situations? I should add this often happens in casual conversations between coworkers so I really don't feel comfortable creating animosity or a tense situation. Additionally, I often find that people expect me to explain my choice (I got questioned one day on my choice to buy vegetarian shoes).
I only wish to add a point or two; this is not a directive or ‘ you should do this or that ’ post. I take my lead from devotee’s post above with the hope of extending some his ideas not only for Rose but for our HDF (hindu-dharma forum) community.
Note that if you are not co-mingling what you do with who you are then all is right with the world. Then it becomes quite easy to answer your conundrum of ‘What am I’.
If you choose to answer to what you do as who you are then that is the fly in the ointment as you can be many things... see the point ? Even practicing one particular
religion ( from the Latin term ‘to return to the source’) is a ‘what I do’ condition.
If you say oh I am a hindu. That is all well and good. Yet if one does a little research you will find multiple sects , schools, and divisions . I have counted no less than 22 major ones and this is just the top ones. One then may ask ‘which form of hinduism do you align to ?’ and that extends the conversation a bit further. Hinduism is vast and wide. It is predicated on sanātana dharma and that gets one to the source of hinduism .
Also note you also have been given a great gift in being offended. What’s this ? Being offended as a gift ? For the moment let’s say being offended is a point of friction. This friction can be with another or it can actually be within one’s self. For now let’s say this friction comes to you from the outside from another.
It is my opinion and point of view that others can (help) expand your container, a catalyst if you will. What I am suggesting is when there is a rub to you, some irritation there is some friction (saṃgharṣa¹) you feel in a discussion or encounter this suggests there’s an opportunity at-hand that may afford you a learning moment. This moment may be as simple as to compare-and-contrast your view of what you think compared to another view or school ( or person’s view). This friction point is an opportunity.
This friction says something to us - 'I do not think like another'. Why is that? What does that other person see that I do not? Now, that does not suggest you have to accept it or that your way or the other way is incorrect. Yet is there a learning experience there? It is okay to reject the view, but allow the mind to at least ponder it. Now friction (saṃgharṣa) becomes an asset and not a thorn.
I use this approach and I know others that I talk with also use this... it allows one to look under the hood of not only one’s own values & hot buttons, but others’ point of view. Even if you leave mad/offended and irate , at a later date one can also review what was the irritant. In most cases it comes down to this: That other person did something that you would not do – and there is the learning moment about the things you do, and who you think you are by ‘doing’ vs. Being.
..as always, do as you see fit.
इतिशिवं
iti śivaṁ
1. saṃgharṣa – rubbing together, friction;
Last edited by yajvan; 22 August 2016 at 10:15 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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