Last year, on a trip to Bali, we had a tour guide named Dickie. He told me that most Balinese people are Hindu unlike the rest of the Indonesian archipelago, which is predominantly Muslim. We discussed Hindu beliefs as we toured the area. We stopped at a few Hindu temples and this Western woman thought ‘no wonder why I dont fit in religiously in the US, I’m Hindu as far as spiritual callings go.’ I was pleased that my claim of ‘being spiritual but not religious really’ and ‘agnostic,’ if you will, finally had a name, a purpose, and an extremely long background; arguably much longer than any religion predominant in our culture.
The basics of Sanatana Dharma, its true name ‘the eternal religion’ or as we know it: Hinduism, are: Karma and reincarnation; both of which I subscribe to wholeheartedly.
Karma is defined as ‘the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person’s existence, regarded as determining the person’s destiny’ by both Hindus and Buddhists; and reincarnation is defined as ‘a rebirth of a soul in a new human body.’
Yes, I am a Hindu, living in a recyclable soul in a recyclable universe…
This is a long subject to cover so today I’ll wrap up by giving you the major players of one version of the creation of Hinduism story, there are many Hindu creation stories, often the modern contradicting the old, so bear with me, and it, its’ all interesting stuff!
and the players are: Brahma, creator of our solar system; Vishnu, creator of our galaxy, the Milky Way; and the Goddess is in control of all universes in ALL dimensions of being, forever, everywhere! WOW, talk about female power : )
Fun Fact: the Swastika was originally a Hindu symbol representing happiness and good luck; Hitler flipped it and gave it a whole new meaning in the Western world. Yeah, thanks for that, Adolf.
Tomorrow…? ‘A day in the life of God’ - and the vastness of the time scale of Hinduism…
on May 7th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Hi there ZL: I also like to think of myself as spiritual, as opposed to being religious. I am also one who believes that religion ought not be organized. There is no name, as I do not completely subscribe to any one set of spiritual beliefs, so I do not belong to any one spiritual group.
Rather, I use an eclectic combination, a collage, a smorgasbord of spiritual ideas from many different sources. Put together, not for convenience, but for what seems to work for and make sense to me. What coincides with how I understand things at that moment in time.
Hinduism’s cool (and for a while I thought that was what I would be), but I have found that to put any name on a belief system to be too restricting, and limiting (this is just me). Like trying to put spirituality in some kind of box, or package. To follow another’s ideas, rather than to look inside, and discover for my self what I can never define, because it is always changing.
I can dump an idea that isn’t working, or one that becomes obsolete for me in an instant. And I will understand differently tomorrow than I do today, and can change my conceptions, ideas, or beliefs as I learn more. If I have an idea about a spiritual concept, I can replace it the instant I discover a new or more suitable idea.
I try and stay open to all ideas, and check many angles and theologies, get a lot of information, and then search deep inside for what works best for me at that point in time. As I grow (yes, even Al can grow) everything continues to change for me.
These are only my ideas, and I am not trying to recruit or convert anyone to Alanism (there is no such thing). But this has worked very well for me in the past and still does when I honestly try and apply whatever I believe to be “doing the right thing” is. I can also regress very quickly whenever I don’t feel like doing what “I know that I should“. My conscience makes a great guide.
These ideas work well for me, as I have been far too stubborn and cynical to follow any particular belief system. Sort of like spirituality for flunkies, this is what I have found to work best for me.
I can’t wait to read “a day in the life of God” tomorrow. WTF will you have to say about this? So curious. I am sure to take something of value away from it, and thank you for choosing this topic and for providing me a place to express my own ideas about it.
I think that each has to find their own path. This is mine for the moment. Weird huh.
I8er Edgy,
Al
on Sep 17th, 2008 at 9:08 am
ur tite