Vannakkam Believer: Don't get me wrong here. In the west, any sense of 'validity elsewhere' is welcomed so for Joe westerner universalism is a step up but for traditional Hindus its a step down.

Universalism, after all, is far more open than a dogmatic, 'we are the only way' you're all going to hell mindset of others. It is also a step up from the no religion at all group as that one doesn't require much inner thinking at all. So in that sense I commend them. Basically they're Hindus who haven't yet seen the reasons for discarding certain invalid thoughts, or found the personal disciplines required for tradition.

On a deeper intuitive level. I see universalism as a step in the right direction, perhaps lasting a lifetime or two, in the evolution of the soul towards some valid sampradaya within SD. But hey its just one man's thoughts here.

Aum Namasivaya