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In search of Bob's bamboozling questions on Hinduism, I stumbled upon a book entitled The Eternal Tradition - Sanatana Dharma by Dr David Frawley. The author, who is also known as Vamadeva Shastri, is one of the few Westerners ever recognized in India as a "Vedacharya" or teacher of the ancient Vedic wisdom. In this book, he addresses certain basic questions that people in the West are accosted by while interfacing with Eastern religions, particularly Hinduism.
Eastern
Religions & the West
Some people in the West believe that Eastern religions have no place in the
West. According to Frawley, such people do not understand that "Eastern
dharmic traditions are not religious belief systems, but universal ways
of spiritual knowledge." Then, he goes on to question, "Why should
it be a problem for us if anyone finds spiritual benefit from a teaching that
arises outside of their given cultural context?"
Geography
& Religion
"True religion, whether it predominates in the Eastern or Western parts
of the world, is not a matter of geography," says Frawley. "All the
religions of the world are followed in areas far beyond the geographical locale
of their origin. Religion speaks of the ultimate issues of life and death and
should orient us to the Eternal and the Universal. In this respect, Hinduism
with its universal view has greater relevance for all human beings than any
belief system, which divides humanity into believers and non-believers."
The
Religion of the Earth
Frawley considers Hinduism to be a religion of the Earth, because, as he describes
beautifully, "…it honors the Earth as the Divine Mother and encourages
us to honor her and help her develop her creative potentials. The deities of
Hinduism permeate the world of nature…they don't belong to a single country
or book only. It is not necessary to live in India to be a Hindu. In fact, one
must live in harmony with the land where one is located to be a true Hindu.
"I see Hinduism as a religion eminently suited for all lands and for all people because it requires that we connect with the land and its creatures - that we align our individual self with the soul of all beings around us. Hinduism finds holy places everywhere, wherever there is a river, a mountain, a large rock, or big tree, wherever some unusual natural phenomenon be it a spring, a cave, or a geyser."
What
Attracts Westerners to Hinduism?
The fact that Hinduism is not like religions such as people in the West have
been accustomed to, and that it offers spiritual practices outside of organized
belief systems, is what attracts Westerners, who may like to adopt Yoga and
Ayurveda, without having the need to become Hindus.
Next page > The Universal Tradition > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
