Namaste SS,
I'm glad to hear you are feeling so much contentment in Sanatana Dharma and that now even your wife is trying to learn more about it! What was her religious background before you introduced her to Lords Shiva and Ganesha? It seems to take only a little bit of exposure to Hinduism for foreigners and Westerners to develop a curious interest for what different rituals and gods are, later growing into a thirst for knowing more about it - like the smallest of sparks creating a strong flame, and then later a huge fire.
I spoke to my family (my parents in particular) last night about my new found faith, and I'm so happy to say they completely respect my wishes. I was worried mainly about my father not accepting the news, but to my immense relief he seems to understand what I meant when I told him "all paths lead to God" and that I felt this as well as Buddhism were the ones most fitting for me. I give my thanks to Lord Ganesha for removing the obstacles so that I can keep my family, an important part of my life, close to me.
I think it is interesting to hear it was Lord Ganesha who introduced you into Sanatana Dharma. It is the same with me, and I'm sure with many other Western Hindus. It started for me when I was mildly curious about ancient Indian customs and decided to buy a small Ganesha murti I'd seen in a flea market while on holiday. From there, my mild curiosity soon blossomed into hunger for knowledge of God and the Supreme Reality and greater awareness of this Oneness that is in all things (something I never truly considered and now can't stop thinking about when I deal with other people and creatures). It's fitting really, as Lord Ganesha is the guardian of the Dharma, the Gatekeeper if you will, to the world's oldest faith.
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