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Bob's problem in embracing Hinduism seems to have emanated from cultural alienation and symbolic confusion. He confesses: "When, however, I have tried to make some form of Hinduism my main spiritual practice, I find it difficult because the forms, images, rituals seem at times "exotic" or foreign.
Hinduism
"Not For All"
"One British writer of a small book on Hinduism's basics made the point
that neither Judaism nor Hinduism could ever be a "universal" religion,
i.e. one that could be considered as a possible religion for all mankind. He
argues that both of these two spiritual paths are so greatly tied to the culture,
history, tradition, art, and life of their respective people that outsiders
will find it very difficult to relate to them and make them their own spiritual
paths.
Stephen
P. Huyler's Book
"In the spring of last year, I bought a marvellous book - large, beautifully
illustrated with photographs: Meeting God: Elements of Spiritual Devotion,
written by Stephen P. Huyler, who is an art historian and a cultural anthropologist.
He has lived in India for many years and is a great admirer of Hinduism with
a real love and understanding of its devotional practices as they relate to
various aspects and stages of the lives of Indians.
"Out
of Place"
"After reading the book and gazing at the photographs, I really seemed
to be able to understand how powerful and real Hindu devotions are to the people
of India. Having said that, I, as a Westerner, still feel rather "strange"
or out of place when trying to make Indian devotions mine…
Fundamental
Questions
"Is Indian religion, Hinduism, difficult for Westerners to enter into and
make theirs? Are there ways we Westerners could get over our feelings of being
outsiders?"
~ Yours Bob H. S.
A Complete Approach To Life
Is Bob's predicament common to Westerners in general? There are 750 million
Hindus in the world. And it's believed that you're either born a Hindu or you
are not. The BBC Guide to Religions of the World points out: "Like
other Eastern religions, it doesn't fit comfortably into the same box as Western
religions like Christianity. Hindus do not separate religion from other aspects
of life. For Hindus in India, Hinduism is an inextricable part of their existence,
a complete approach to life that involves social class, earning a living, family,
politics, diet, etc., in addition to the things Westerners view as religious."
Thus, it's natural that a non-Indian will feel like an alien in the Hindu world.
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