Re: "You are a mleccha!" X(
Namaste Harinama,
I've experienced the same thing when I first regarded myself as Hindu online somewhere (not Facebook). I remember being very upset by it at the time. I guess like yourself I was a little naive about the whole thing. I had this fool's hope that all Hindus would be welcoming me with open arms. I even at one time actually believed all Hindus were vegetarian and followed a strictly sattvic lifestyle! I guess that maybe it's just hard for neophytes not to be wide-eyed and idealistic. For those who say, "shrug such things off", yes, it helps to grow a thicker skin. But it can be easier said than done, especially if you are new to all this. You really have no idea how much it hurts the first time you come face to face with it.
IMHO, this persistent and very stubborn belief among some Indian Hindus that you need to be born into a Hindu family in order to practice Sanatana Dharma is something that will have to change in the future if it is to continue to survive. I'm surprised that with the rates of people converting either to Christianity or Islam, some of these more traditionally-minded Hindus aren't thrilled to see growing numbers of non-Indians willingly and very passionately wanting to embrace the teachings of their beautiful faith. Even though I admit that being born Indian or Hindu would have been a great convenience, I cannot say that I'm sorry for the body I was born with! Sanatana Dharma is universal, timeless; therefore, it has no inherent racial basis. It has always been, and been everywhere, waiting to be realised by the great souls of our world. It so happened that all this wisdom took root in India and flourished from there. People have confused the cultural wellspring that is India from which Hinduism has grown with the ethnic distinction itself of being Indian as a requirement for being Hindu. And yet, what good is it to be born into a Brahmin family, if the individual grows up a nastika? Can karma be excluded so blatantly from all these considerations?
There is no gene for racism.
Yes, and thank God for it!
Om namah Shivaya
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye namah
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu
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