Namaste all,
I have been a Hindu for at least four years now. I actually have lost track of the time. I go to the temple at least once a week, if I can. I do daily puja and study. My priests are very warm and welcoming and so is the Hindu community I am involved in.
I know there are no mentions of a conversion process in the scriptures. I have read, and believe, that this is so because the people who wrote (well, heard in the case of the Veda) those scriptures automatically assumed whoever they met to be a Dharmi, just like they were. So, there was no need to put in such information.
My question is, why do so many people think you have to be born Hindu or you have to be Indian to be Hindu? How in the world did this absurd conclusion come about?
Sanatana Dharma is limitless. By saying those comments, they are putting a limit upon something which is impossible to have limits imposed upon it. I honestly wonder how many potentially great Hindus we've lost because of such misinformed statements.
I have also read that the Brahmana section associated with the Sama Veda contain the rituals of how to bring in non-Aryans into the Aryan religion. Is this true? I have also been told that some Hindus in other areas of the world were definitely not born into it, but are considered full Hindus anyway. I forget the exact locations of these Hindus.
I know I shouldn't make such a big deal out of it. But I get very hurt every time I read such statements. I know it shouldn't hurt me, but it does nontheless. And, this does impact me on a personal level.
So, what's the deal?
Thanks,
Justin
I have been a Hindu for at least four years now. I actually have lost track of the time. I go to the temple at least once a week, if I can. I do daily puja and study. My priests are very warm and welcoming and so is the Hindu community I am involved in.
I know there are no mentions of a conversion process in the scriptures. I have read, and believe, that this is so because the people who wrote (well, heard in the case of the Veda) those scriptures automatically assumed whoever they met to be a Dharmi, just like they were. So, there was no need to put in such information.
My question is, why do so many people think you have to be born Hindu or you have to be Indian to be Hindu? How in the world did this absurd conclusion come about?
Sanatana Dharma is limitless. By saying those comments, they are putting a limit upon something which is impossible to have limits imposed upon it. I honestly wonder how many potentially great Hindus we've lost because of such misinformed statements.
I have also read that the Brahmana section associated with the Sama Veda contain the rituals of how to bring in non-Aryans into the Aryan religion. Is this true? I have also been told that some Hindus in other areas of the world were definitely not born into it, but are considered full Hindus anyway. I forget the exact locations of these Hindus.
I know I shouldn't make such a big deal out of it. But I get very hurt every time I read such statements. I know it shouldn't hurt me, but it does nontheless. And, this does impact me on a personal level.
So, what's the deal?
Thanks,
Justin