Re: Impossibility/Empty Rituals
Originally Posted by
Haridas
Namaste.
As a Western convert to Hinduism, I've begun to face many impossibilities and some empty rituals. Many rituals people are telling me to do and they are without any meaning to me. I don't want to recite a mantra that worships Surya in the morning and Chandra in the evening while at the same time believing in Shiva, "He without a second", the Supreme Being, Who is the only worthy of worship. Some things are impossible, such as puja. However, I'm told that when I want to worship Shiva the way I see fit, it's "against the Vedas" and therefore "not accepted". Is there any reconciliation between worshiping Shiva the way you see fit vs. having to worship according to the Vedas? Also, are any other Western converts facing these same issues?
On a side note, this was the one reason why I was so interesting in Gaudiya Vaishnavism; because then I only have to chant 16 words 108 times a day to worship. Now, I have to perform empty rituals and somehow travel to temples and this is the only way I can worship.
Strict adherence to Vedic mode of rituals is not imposed on all and certainly not to new converts. The way of the life of the dwija where from sunrise to sunset to going to bed is done under many restraints and many prostrations to many gods is meant for the true brahmin (by birth, nature, samaskaar and behaviour).
This mode of life is not meant for just seeking God but for "lokakhema" i.e benefit of the entire universe all lifes...its a great duty entiled to a section of the community for benefit of all.
Please don't burden yourself with such a duty when you are not ready for it. Sanatana Dharma accepts simple devotion as a means for God-realization.
However original vedic dharma is not just about god realization for an individual but for benefit of all beings. We have forgotten this fact and the entirely social scope of our dharma and hence plunged into depths of abyss as a society. Vedic Varnashrama Dharma sets the same aim as Mahayana Buddhists ~ but the scheme is different and much more scientific for it was created by God himself.
Namaste.
What is Here, is Elsewhere. What is not Here, is Nowhere.
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