The future of Hinduism in America

[Vinayaka]

50 years ago there were no Hindu temples in America, including Canada. Today there are upwards of 1000, and many many arguable (leaning towards Hindu?) things like yoga studios, Indian restaurants, vegetarianism, and more. It took off in the 60s for a bit, then lessened, and then got going again with the flow of immigrants who happened to be Hindu. What will it be like in 50 more years. Where is this trend headed?

 

[Vrindavana Das]

In my opinion, the reasons for this trend are varied. However, at the core is the Economic law of demand and supply to fill an existing 'need'. Need of material development for a nation (met by Hindu population) and need of spiritual development for it's people (met by Hindu religion).

1. For furthering the material development of any country (which includes America & Canada), there is a need for intelligence and talent. For a rapidly advancing nation, 'local demand' is greater than the 'local supply'. Thus, in the scarcity of such intelligence and talent at a local level; a 'need' for that country and an 'opportunity' for rest-of-the-world arises. For Canada, I understand that their country's population is in the high age bracket. Because of which also, they are inviting younger population from the world over. On meritorious grounds, as Hindus are a race of typically intelligent, hard-working and dedicated people; Hindus have been given preference in both America and Canada to fill this 'need'.

With the population, comes their culture, practices, religion....so a rapid rise in the number of Hindu Temples, Yoga studios, vegetarianism etc. as noticed and pointed out by you.

I understand, as the Hindus were taking the better paid jobs, this even led to the rise of a hate group in New Jersey - 'Dotbusters' in the late 80s.

2. Many locals, the world over, including America & Canada, are changing their faith to Hinduism. So, again it means more Hindu Temples, Yoga studios, vegetarianism, Ayurveda and so on.

This is my take on the matter.

 

[Maya3]

I think that Hinduism will become more and more popular, I think more westerners will find it.
Same thing with Ashrams. My ashram has been around since the early 60;s and it is thriving right now.

I think that people who feel spiritual but feel constrained by Abrahamic religions will find a freer sense, more acceptable sense of spiritualism in Hinduism. The similarities and acceptance to scientific thoughts is also going to bring more people to Hinduism.

This is what I think anyway, it was certainly like that for me, even though I was not raised with a religion.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

I agree with both of you. Right now we still sort of have two styles, the 60s western people who found Hinduism or components of Hinduism, which led to several well known ashrams practicing Hinduism for all intents and purposes, but perhaps not calling it Hinduism, and then the more recent Indian immigrants that Vrindavana mentioned. I see these two groups coming closer, each slowly taking on some of the better components of the other.

Examples might be Indians discovering and using the incredibly healthy organic vegetarianism of the west (brown rice) and western yoga teachers offering hatha yoga cloasses in Hindu temples.

 

[Surya Deva]

things like yoga studios, Indian restaurants, vegetarianism

This has got barely nothing to do with Hinduism. The vast majority of Americans who practice in Yoga studios, eat at Indian resteraunts and who practice vegetarianism do not classify themselves as Hindu. Actually, Yoga aside, find it quite amusing you think eating at Indian restaurants and vegetarianism is somehow related to Hinduism!

Hinduism has certainly played a huge part in the development of cultural, religious and philosophical landscape of America today, but Americans on the whole have not actually taken to Hinduism as a religion, but have assimilated its ideas as their own as a part of the new age religious movement, neo-paganism, quantum mysticism etc

Hinduism, like Bollywood, still very much is a niche religion for the Indian demographic.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Increasingly commercialized or otherwise watered down by ethnic immigrants straying further and further from their culture and religion despite nominal adherence; degeneration to 'let's go to [church] on sunday and compare clothes' communal "religion."

 

[Vinayaka]

I guess I'm a tad more optimistic than all that. Sure some immigrants lose it, but some also only lose it temporarily, and once they' realise what they're missing, they return full force, stronger than ever. At least this has been my experience. I know people who were vegetarians at home (read India) then became omnivores here, but after 10 years, and encountering well spoken western vegetarians or doctor's advice, they happily returned. The grass wasn't greener on the other side of the fence.

 

[Vinayaka]

As far as yoga and vegetarianism and the 'western' watered down 'neo-Hinduism' goes, what ever happened to the idea of taking a small step? That's how I see it ... a step in the dharmic direction. With reincarnation a firm belief, it may take several lifetimes for a soul to get it, and start calling it Hindu, or moving to more traditional methods. Anything away from hate is a step.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

I'm not sure Western yoga is a small step in the right direction.

 

[Vinayaka]

Anything that may awaken the sleepers.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

I don't think it does though - most so-called "yoga" anyway shares but the name and little else, and as such, misleads people away.

Honestly, I think it just promotes the idea that we can be happy, fulfilled ratracers armed with a few Hallmark-card eastern philosophies - or platitudes that are taken as such, and some stretches with a fancy exotic name and expensive mats, along with our other lifestyle accessories.

Let's take a parallel example, "tantra" in the West. Is this taking people towards awakening?

 

[Surya Deva]

As far as yoga and vegetarianism and the 'western' watered down 'neo-Hinduism' goes, what ever happened to the idea of taking a small step? That's how I see it ... a step in the dharmic direction. With reincarnation a firm belief, it may take several lifetimes for a soul to get it, and start calling it Hindu, or moving to more traditional methods. Anything away from hate is a step.

I am not sure what you mean by your definition of Hinduism. If by Hinduism you mean the Vedic religion of India, then of course the vast majority of Americans have not taken to this. If you mean by Hinduism Santana dharma, as in a set of universal principles then you have a stronger case, as growing number of spiritual Americans practice Yoga, believe in reincarnation and karma, astral planes, have some notion of dharma and even some understanding of Vedanta. However, they do not call this Hinduism, they call it spirituality.

Hinduism has played a massive part in shaping the cultural, religious and philosophical landscape of America. If you have not read it already, I recommend you read the book "American Veda" which shows clearly how Hinduism has shaped America. However, there is no evidence and any reason to believe that Americas are ever going to identify as Hindu. They will just take its ideas and mix and match them with their own religious and cultural traditions - e.g., how many Christians combine Yoga with Christianity and have formed their own brand Christian Yoga. How Christian churches have incorporated japa meditation techniques from Hinduism, and call it Contemplative meditation and claim it is from their own indigenous esoteric Catholic culture.

Much of what we call 'Hinduism' today is being assimilated into science with new terms. Hinduism as a religion is becoming increasingly more redundant, and trend is not going to change.

It is fair to say that America leads the world in spirituality today and not India. I meet far more spiritual Western people than I meet spiritual Indian people. Indian Hinduism is Puranic, Western Hindusim is Yogic and isn't even called Hinduism.

 

[Vinayaka]

Only time will tell. But with the tone here now, I'm out. Enjoy yourselves. I see the cup half full.

 

[Jainarayan]

I see the cup half full.

I do too. With one enormous temple (now one of the largest in the US) completed, two more being planned, and about 30 just in NJ, I'd say Hinduism is doing pretty well.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Should we measure catholicism's health by its material infrastructure and opulence?

 

[Jainarayan]

Should we measure catholicism's health by its material infrastructure and opulence?

No, but by the participation of the "community". I see few high end vehicles in the parking lot, mostly all family mini-vans and sedans and young and middle-aged families attending. Therefore, we can't say it's a few rich people attending. The rich doctors may very well be financing the construction and support of the temples, but it's the young and middle-aged families who are participating. Of course I can only speak for the temple I go to. The northern part of NJ has a much higher population density, with the highest concentration of temples and south Asian population; I don't see why the situation there would be any different than here.

 

[Surya Deva]

No, but by the participation of the "community".

This community must include the larger community of America too, including other ethnicity other than Indian, to show that Hinduism has become a success in America. The reason why so many opulent temples are being built in America is because America has a very rich and influential Indian minority. It is for this reason why Bollywood movies also make a lot of money in America. Both these Hindu temples and Bollywood are being consumed by Indians, not by non-Indians.

Like Bollywood, Hinduism is yet to crossover in America. However, like with Bollywood, Hinduism elements are being assimilated by the wider American culture without actually becoming members of Hinduism. Americans, an 80% Christian country will never identify as Hindu. Hinduism will always remain an Indian only phenomenon, it will never become a global religion and this is because Hinduism in its popular Puranic form is distasteful to the majority of non-Indians and other religions, especially Christians.

 

[Maya3]

My ashram has a Hatha Yoga school, and hatha yoga classes.
My temple is both a South Indian Hindu temple and a yoga studio.

Examples might be Indians discovering and using the incredibly healthy organic vegetarianism of the west (brown rice) and western yoga teachers offering hatha yoga cloasses in Hindu temples.

I agree!

Maya

 

[Riverwolf]

American Hinduism is destined, I believe, to take on an identity of its own, distinct from Indian Hinduism; much in the same way as Chinese and Japanese Buddhism are distinct from each other, and both are very distinct from Indian Buddhism.

Hinduism is a world religion. It's only got a little longer to go before it fully breaks free of geographical and cultural restraints.

 

[Surya Deva]

American Hinduism is destined, I believe, to take on an identity of its own, distinct from Indian Hinduism; much in the same way as Chinese and Japanese Buddhism are distinct from each other, and both are very distinct from Indian Buddhism.

Hinduism is a world religion. It's only got a little longer to go before it fully breaks free of geographical and cultural restraints.

However, will American Hinduism be called Hinduism?