Vannakkam: I remember my mother used to refer to 'the old country' . She had never been to England, but her parents had immigrated and found pioneer agricultural life in Canada to be tough. For sanity and comfort reasons, thoughts would return to the old country of England. Fondly reminiscing of olden days in their youth brought comfort. They passed it on to my mother, in words, and ideas. Even some of her favorite flowers were right out of England. (Maltese Cross, or red sumthin or uther was one of them) http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Maltes...1t:429,r:1,s:0
My mother-in-law, a supposed Christian, readily admitted her lack of belief in the Bible, yet she continued to attend church, visit with the people, just enjoy Sundays. It was the same principle. Although her parents did believe in the Bible, and read it daily after supper, she simply didn't. but she went back to those same childhood memories simply for the same reasons of my mother. It brought a certain comfort level, this remembering of happier days.
So recently through discussions and observations, I have seen the same principle with some of the born Hindus who have immigrated to the west. The Christian education, the striving for material wealth, western ideas and more has knocked the actual belief in God right out of them. The only reason these folks come to temple is nostalgia. It gives them comfort. It brings back memories of going to temple with family and playing with friends in their childhoods. In other words, its the comfort of culture. Food, sounds, a chance to speak the mother tongue. Its not actually belief in Gods at all.
Now, I'm certainly not talking about all of my friends, just some. But the question is: "What can we do to turn this around, if at all?"
Has anyone else observed the same thing, or am I out to lunch?
Aum Namasivaya
Bookmarks