tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post8928850425488161336..comments2024-03-21T00:42:18.535-07:00Comments on Koenraad Elst: How I did not become a HinduKoenraad Elsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503713923882807510noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-58301825052576251262018-09-07T12:02:37.965-07:002018-09-07T12:02:37.965-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Yogesh Jayant Khandkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14184336312458216867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-26497810897908867992018-07-17T01:45:37.952-07:002018-07-17T01:45:37.952-07:00You can adopt Hindu names as David Frawley is know...You can adopt Hindu names as David Frawley is known as Vamadeva Shastri. I know another calling himself Pandit.<br />No on can stop them. I even know Muslims with Hindu sounding names like Veena, Anand, Vikram, Tanvir etc.<br /><br />So what.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12902494430288605659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-23994245007659481582017-03-08T14:57:04.308-08:002017-03-08T14:57:04.308-08:00Dear Elst,
One question kept appearing in my mind...Dear Elst,<br /><br />One question kept appearing in my mind reading this article - why is acceptance by Hindus (or by a section of Hindus viz., hate mailers) important? Not just ISKON, we have a Hawaian Saivite (founded by Sivaya Subramanya Swaigal) organization which embraces people without assigning castes. I also feel that Varna as mentioned in the Vedas is different from Jati. Varna (I am not trying to pontificate - you know more than me) is more to do with which Guna you belong to rather than your birth. Eventually varna does degenerate to caste. But the corrective is already there in the Vedas to fallback on. Many Hindu saints have shown the way - they matter more than the hate-mailers. I know the main problem - you are an intellectual - a Jnani. Not a Bhaktha type. Venkat Ramanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11899816268521816001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-36441646278159625552017-01-09T11:24:05.654-08:002017-01-09T11:24:05.654-08:00Arya SAMAJ are not a caste. They don't even be...Arya SAMAJ are not a caste. They don't even believe in caste. They could be looked as a different branch of Hinduism. As there are Samkya and etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-74438443411515604502016-12-21T13:15:05.648-08:002016-12-21T13:15:05.648-08:00Caste is not relevant in the sense.. what u work t...Caste is not relevant in the sense.. what u work that becomes ur caste/jati... Or create a new caste/jati..these castes are not fixed, can be created / destroyd.. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08228991545610552009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-65403825258010179652016-12-08T20:15:24.941-08:002016-12-08T20:15:24.941-08:00Dr. Koenraad Elst is one of the very few individua...Dr. Koenraad Elst is one of the very few individuals who has a profound understanding of what Hinduism is. It would be wrong to see him a a non-Hindu missionary agent because his writings go far beyond the myopic view of a religion. I have benefitted from his writings and have come to respect his views. <br /><br />Indeed I too like you (and respect you) as you are. Thank you for your effort to help we the Hindus gain a better understanding of our religion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182731189244150950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-8893883456308856352016-12-08T20:15:15.857-08:002016-12-08T20:15:15.857-08:00Dr. Koenraad Elst is one of the very few individua...Dr. Koenraad Elst is one of the very few individuals who has a profound understanding of what Hinduism is. It would be wrong to see him a a non-Hindu missionary agent because his writings go far beyond the myopic view of a religion. I have benefitted from his writings and have come to respect his views. <br /><br />Indeed I too like you (and respect you) as you are. Thank you for your effort to help we the Hindus gain a better understanding of our religion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182731189244150950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-17720382802307712802016-12-08T20:14:08.776-08:002016-12-08T20:14:08.776-08:00Dr. Koenraad Elst is one of the very few individua...Dr. Koenraad Elst is one of the very few individuals who has a profound understanding of what Hinduism is. It would be wrong to see him a a non-Hindu missionary agent because his writings go far beyond the myopic view of a religion. I have benefitted from his writings and have come to respect his views. <br /><br />Indeed I too like you (and respect you) as you are. Thank you for your effort to help we the Hindus gain a better understanding of our religion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182731189244150950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-35345508643356230992016-11-06T05:27:58.989-08:002016-11-06T05:27:58.989-08:00nice post! please provide lingashtakam lyrics in e...nice post! please provide <a href="http://www.hinduismabout.com/2015/06/lingashtakam.html" rel="nofollow">lingashtakam</a> lyrics in english as am a english reader.Maheshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06764020321634213434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-55140623475918936262016-07-10T11:09:30.566-07:002016-07-10T11:09:30.566-07:00dear Koenraad elast you are a true vedantic hindu....dear Koenraad elast you are a true vedantic hindu.labels donot matter to you as you are a real karmyogi. Hindus can never repay back your debt on them as you kindled the arguments to them to go to their root source without a prejudiced mind.you are younger then me but i bow before you for your knowledge about the group of liberated souls called as sanatan dharmis or labelled as hindus,just like in epic age learned king Janak bowed before the young ashtavakra for his knowledge.<br />you are the best of hindu and i accept you as a part of vasudhava kutumbakam and your mission of opening eyes of the aryan( noble ) world view -the vedic view point of civilizing mankind-krinvanto vishwaaryan.<br />with warm affection<br />Dr. VishwadarshiAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12765133158516721439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-83989151923292187202016-06-01T15:44:49.235-07:002016-06-01T15:44:49.235-07:00Technically "Conversion to a Faith/Religion i...Technically "Conversion to a Faith/Religion is a "Sacrament". The ancient Vedic Rishis were of diverse origins. As far as practicing Hinduism is considered a "Deeksha" (Initiation) would be sufficient. Basically Sanskrit language, Vedas, Ayurveda, Yoga , NatyaShastra, Gita, etc belong to NO particular nation or ethnicity or caste or even region. <br /><br />I would also like to state about a second type of conversion i.e. "Sanyasa" or "Monkhood". Many orders like Divine Life Society, ISKON, Saiva Siddhanta Church, Ekasarana Dharma (Assam), Gorakhpanth, Kabirpanths, Arya Samaj have always accepted people from all backgrounds.Venkathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024837293369229902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-57570491818400648682016-03-22T13:39:20.795-07:002016-03-22T13:39:20.795-07:00Sir, Is there any ceremony needed to become a Hind...Sir, Is there any ceremony needed to become a Hindu ? AFAIK, there is no such thing like conversion. In fact going by the ancient texts the definition of religion becomes what is right. And not Islam, Christianity, etc. <br />One doesn't needs to be a part of any organized religion to follow the spiritual practices given in Mahabharat amd Ramayan.<br />Anyone can freely call oneself the follower of Hinduism, there is no bar, and no permissions needed.Sandeshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17902022936114176485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-56780575578291914252015-08-08T02:41:17.667-07:002015-08-08T02:41:17.667-07:00Koenraad, In the world of the real Hindus who have...Koenraad, In the world of the real Hindus who have no political axe to grind, you are already very well known and respected. My deepest respects and humblest pranams to you Sir. May your quest continue to enlighten us allAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688129422028466443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-61299154995172144872015-08-08T02:40:03.015-07:002015-08-08T02:40:03.015-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688129422028466443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-90056095518988690642015-08-06T07:45:45.033-07:002015-08-06T07:45:45.033-07:00Koenraad ji, no need truly for any change in name....Koenraad ji, no need truly for any change in name. As the Gita says, What was not is not going to be, and what is, always is. As a Hindu, I like you as you are. vamanan sighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12813288418008889733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-91769456139078484502015-04-04T02:38:10.472-07:002015-04-04T02:38:10.472-07:00My heartfelt thanks to you Sri Koenraad Elst. My heartfelt thanks to you Sri Koenraad Elst. Somasekharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06950996218698549833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-25604672521216491422015-03-24T08:27:35.883-07:002015-03-24T08:27:35.883-07:00Hinduisam does not get exalted by praise or denoun...Hinduisam does not get exalted by praise or denounced by criticism since it is based on attaining the absolute truth by certain religious observances related to caste by birth & eternal principles. If the caste system is taken out of hinduism the resulting Hinduism cannot be practiced as per scriptures. As such, the desired results of spiritual upliftment cannot be obtained. Hinduism is therefore unique in the sense that it is based on the Vedas and other scriptures which cannot be transgressed. Therefore a true conversion to Hinduism is not a viable proposition to any foreigner in my opinion. Westerners denounce Hinduism for its caste system not knowing that the bad effects attributed to the caste system are due to the way it is practiced by unethical persons. Such bad things exists in all religion's due to the existence of good and bad persons, the creation of whom is again an act of God. Westerners always feel that others should think and act like as they do and other things are sham. They have to be made aware that the system of democracy, equality etc practiced by them holds good only for materialistic prosperity and sensual enjoyments as an outcome or end result. Science and technology can find their limits in course of time and cannot give everlasting happiness. They can only better how life is lived. It should not be forgotten that the hindu seers attempted at the ultimate absolute happiness from primordial times which is not comparable to any type of sense pleasures. Since it gives the ultimate solution to the life's unending travails the path is also difficult and might look strange and crooked to westerners unused to such ideas and thoughts. That might be the reason, perhaps that God has oriented this great country with a unique system to approach him. If one thinks these are useless shackles imposing restrictions on human thought and actions it is better that they follow the materialistic/atheistic paths of self aggrandisement. Also it needs a particular temperament to be a hindu, which even many hindus have unfortunately lost due to imposition of western culture. As I think most westerners do not have this type of attitude, they will try to remould Hinduism to their taste if they convert to hinduism for some reasons beyond anyone's control. They think that Hinduism consists of weird notions and practices, which is unsuitable to them and has to be changed by pounding it and imposing their thoughts. As it is happening, only totally westernised hindus who have made bold to de-link themselves with hinduism for the sake of money other ideas projected as glittering and the only best way to lead a life, advise westerners to embrace Hinduism as they now have realised that their lives are dead ends and they want the best of both the worlds. KR Dasharathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14539749893526620977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-75433328547235295252015-02-03T09:37:41.582-08:002015-02-03T09:37:41.582-08:00Belonging to any particular caste is not a need to...Belonging to any particular caste is not a need to be a Hindu. Iam in my late 50s. So far I have lived a Hindu without any caste. In my educational certificates there is only Hindu but no caste is mentioned. Also for my daughter I have not put any caste, but only Hindu, like me. She is married a good boy doing software like her. Nowadays a lot of inter caste, inter state marriage is happening in India. It is better to understand the latest trends in India. My only worry was my daughter marrying Muslim or a Chrisitian. But that too I will agree provided that boy will convert to Hinduism. For me Hindu and Hinduism is most precious thing. According to me caste is good so far if one can make any financial gain or educational or government job reservations. Otherwise who needs a caste? I am born a Hindu, daily worship Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Hindu temples and at home and even run a Hindu religious magazine in my language, though infrequently and publish books occasionally based on Hindu spirituality and politics. My life's great dream is to spread Hinduism everywhere in the world, convert as many as to Hinduism including Latin Americans, Arabs,Wildest Africans etc. I want my religion which I believe is the super religion to be received by all. Of course it is born in India region and cultivated here. But that is no reason to block/limit its growth on filmisical grounds. In religion demography counts a lot. According to me it is the monopolistic thinking of Hindus in India that is prohibiting Hinduism spreading far and wide. If Buddhism born in Indian could be spread worldover, Islam and Christianity born in the middle east deserts could be propagated and spread world over why not Hinduism? Hinduuism used to go past the seas but something happened hindering its progress. Let all hinderences be removed including caste, color of skin or continents. Each Arab trader voyaging in the seas were the ambassodors of his religion. Christianity spend billions of cash and employ lakhs of men and women to spred it. They have got power, money, countries to back. Only Hinduism is living isolated. Even a mild religion like Budhism spread very soon and and still popular. madhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086293745498817076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-63111966402109004452015-01-04T01:23:21.967-08:002015-01-04T01:23:21.967-08:00Sir,
Anyone who speaks for the cause of truth can ...Sir,<br />Anyone who speaks for the cause of truth can call himself a hindhu.<br />Modern science ushered in during the renaissance period is in fact a quest for truth - to understand everything under the sun. Everyone treading this path is a hindhu. Karthikrajanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171891264654103091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-91719237702785929412015-01-03T04:16:39.745-08:002015-01-03T04:16:39.745-08:00Question of a brotherhood of purely Hindu faith is...Question of a brotherhood of purely Hindu faith is extremely problematic. <br /><br />Some swear on Upanishads, ISKON people say 'Krishna and Krishna Only, ones like Lingayats and Shaiva Siddhanta folks dont have no time for Vedas and Shaktas swear by Tantric traditions. <br /><br />So much opinions and thats fine - but where is the fraternity of faith? <br /><br />Maybe we must stop speaking about a geo-historical 'Hindu" and instead focus on a purely religious SMARTHA identity that is based on PANCHADEVATA (Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha and Surya) veneration. <br /><br />Imagine what would have happened if ancient 'Hindus' who were concentrated along banks of Saraswati had not taught wisdom of Rishis to people of rest of South Asia and South East Asia! Had it been so, 'Hinduism' would have by now become a faith of a small people who would be a minority in their own homeland - much like Yezidis.<br /><br />Sagar Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10366138017961737186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-76130613403649103992014-12-27T19:50:30.280-08:002014-12-27T19:50:30.280-08:00Brilliant. This antidote is always needed. Had the...Brilliant. This antidote is always needed. Had the opportunity to interact briefly with you in WHC-14 and as i shared then... in the final sense anyone working on himself is a hindu [in-do] and a State doing so is Hindi [in-deed]. Sanataani is the correct non-reactive term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-52824020278863771622014-12-27T03:09:10.458-08:002014-12-27T03:09:10.458-08:00Dear Koenraad,
I have followed your works for qui...Dear Koenraad,<br /><br />I have followed your works for quite some time. I believe that you have been in the wrong company of Hindus who believe that you are an outsider. I don't subscribe to this view. Lots of Westerners have converted to Hinduism after reading the Bhagavad Gita. I have always welcomed such people. Such people, I believe, are more knowledgeable than the average Hindu. Nothing stops you from practicing Hinduism your own way. And the best part is that no ritual is required.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15419078616608606163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-40776043167557044212014-12-19T06:39:09.127-08:002014-12-19T06:39:09.127-08:00Dr.Elst, please continue your great work. I consid...Dr.Elst, please continue your great work. I consider you a great Karma Yogi and an intellectual Kshatriya. Many people with shallow knowledge have cropped up on the internet in recent times who resort to abuses. Don't worry about them. There are many like me who have read your works and hold you in high regards. <br />I feel being an outsider who knows as much as an insider gives you an edge as you'd take an unbiased position. Your critique of RSS & BJP is in that direction only. Maybe if you had become a Hindu you might be obliged to praise the sangh. Your critique of the sangh is much needed.bharathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16578954349150728753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-51367346164838397382014-12-17T10:34:49.744-08:002014-12-17T10:34:49.744-08:00Dr. Elst it is better to have a utilitarian attitu...Dr. Elst it is better to have a utilitarian attitude. You have read the works of Yagnavalkya and Dirghatamas. Two people you seem to admire the most. Follow them and rejoice in your Immortality like Yama said to Nachiketa.<br /><br /><br />I have one question though what varna did Raikva who instructed Janashruti belong to?.<br /><br /><br />Finally Hinduism is also an ancestor worshipping religion, I suppose that is why many Hindus feel awkward about ANY non Hindu wanting to practice Hinduism. Who is he going to give offerings to? his non Hindu ancestors? Ritually speaking it is quiet Confusing.Shravan Tanjorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17298451633247843496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138082354348831474.post-39085578996819165982014-12-16T07:29:36.162-08:002014-12-16T07:29:36.162-08:00It seems to me that the geography of India is intr...It seems to me that the geography of India is intrinsic to Hinduism. The deserts, rivers, mountains and plains of India have played an important role in shaping the Hindu thought. Apart from the parts of Mahabharata, and Puranas which extol the glory of Bharata as a land, the very shaping of Hinduism has been strongly influenced by the indian land and its mix of tribal and migrant population. I think, Hinduism cannot be divorced from India, nor India from Hinduism. I wonder would Hinduism have been same, had it grown in an arid zone instead of fertile Gangetic Plains. Gururaj B Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03964816448433835494noreply@blogger.com