My current version of Hinduism

Aupmanyav · May 30, 2019

adrian009 said:
Having the prophet of my cherished Faith compared to a dog is something I have never heard before. I know now you are the beloved of God and His love and forgiveness embraces you at every moment. However much you curse my religion, the joy in my heart I feel for you and @LuisDantas is undimmed. If one as lowly as I feels such love how much more my God will manifest His Love on you both.

Where did I do that? I said according to Hindu 'advaitist' thought, every thing is Brahman and none other, because nothing else exists. I have been quoting various Hindu 'great sayings' (Maha Vakyas) from Upanishads. You too are 'that'. I won't repeat them here again. I do not even exclude Caliph Ibrahim, Hitler, Stalin, Pot Pot, Gaddafi, Saddam, Osma from the list. One God and all which relates to it is fiction.

Jim said:
@Aupmanyav @LuisDantas Have you decided not to answer this question? Do you think that all the Baha’is who used to think they were Hindus, without any exceptions, were never really Hindus?

Jim said:
Do you think that all the Baha’is who used to think they were Hindus are less honest, less responsible, or less well informed about Hinduism than you?

The question of being 'less' or 'more' honest, responsible or well informed about Hinduism does not arise. If they have changed their belief, then they are no more a part of Hindu society. However, they have every right right to do so, the Constitution of India guarantees them this freedom.

Aupmanyav · May 30, 2019

Jim said:
- Would you deny that there are thousands of people in India who call themselves Baha’is, who used to call themselves Hindus, and whose Hinduism was never doubted or questioned by anyone?
- Why should anyone believe anything that you say about the Baha’i Faith?
- Why should anyone believe anything that you say about Hinduism?))

Thousands or millions, I do not know about Bahai statistics of India, and to a billion, it does not matter.
It is OK if anyone does not agree with me. It is not a necessity.
- ditto -

adrian009 said:
OTOH I’d like you to know I’m not the slightest offended at anything you’ve said, truly enjoy talking with you and find you interesting, intellectually stimulating and entertaining.

If anyone is offended, he/she should drink more water (Pāni pio).

Dawnofhope · May 30, 2019

Aupmanyav said:
Where did I do that? I said according to Hindu 'advaitist' thought, every thing is Brahman and none other, because nothing else exists. I have been quoting various Hindu 'great sayings' (Maha Vakyas) from Upanishads. You too are 'that'. I won't repeat them here again. I do not even exclude Caliph Ibrahim, Hitler, Stalin, Pot Pot, Gaddafi, Saddam, Osma from the list. One God and all which relates to it is fiction.

I think you have a unique communication style and part of its culture. I’m not offended.

Aupmanyav said:
The question of being 'less' or 'more' honest, responsible or well informed about Hinduism does not arise. If they have changed their belief, then they are no more a part of Hindu society. However, they have every right right to do so, the Constitution of India guarantees them this freedom.

Freedom of religion in some ways is much more important than having the right religion. If someone wishes to become a Baha’i or Hindu I’m totally fine with it. I met a Hindu recently who believes in Bahá’u’lláh but chooses to identify as Hindu. Once again it’s cultural.

Jim · May 30, 2019

@Aupmanyav Sorry, I started taking what you were saying too seriously again.

atanu · May 30, 2019

@Aupmanyav says the following:

I said according to Hindu 'advaitist' thought, every thing is Brahman and none other, because nothing else exists. I have been quoting various Hindu 'great sayings' (Maha Vakyas) from Upanishads. You too are 'that'. I won't repeat them here again. I do not even exclude Caliph Ibrahim, Hitler, Stalin, Pot Pot, Gaddafi, Saddam, Osma from the list. One God and all which relates to it is fiction.

I wish to record that no advaita teacher teaches ‘one God and all that relates to it is fiction’.

Individuality is a fiction. It’s source, is not a fiction.

Jedster · May 30, 2019

Vinayaka said:
And many roads don't lead to Chicago at all.

I travelled to Chicago from New York in 1985.....by aeroplane.

... just sayin'

Aupmanyav · May 30, 2019

atanu said:
Individuality is a fiction. It’s source, is not a fiction.

Agree with you. Source (Brahman) is not a fiction, but Brahman is not 'One God' of Abrahamics.

Vinayaka · May 30, 2019

Jedster said:
I travelled to Chicago from New York in 1985.....by aeroplane.

... just sayin'

A guy could walk too, but by sea, up the St. Lawrence would be the most adventurous.

atanu · May 30, 2019

Aupmanyav said:
Agree with you. Source (Brahman) is not a fiction, but Brahman is not 'One God' of Abrahamics.

Brahman is one God too. Else Bhagwan Krishna would not be God.

Jim · May 30, 2019

@LuisDantas I’m all better now. Sorry for the outburst.

A lot of what you say about Baha’is and the Baha’i Faith, including everything you said in the post I quoted, looks to me like it contradicts what I’ve said repeatedly about me and about the worldwide community that calls itself “the Baha’i Faith.”

SalixIncendium · May 30, 2019

Tony Bristow-Stagg said:
Good cheer, best wishes, stimulating conversation, boundless love, friendship.

Thats what I try to offer.

Then why does it perpetually come across as proselytizing?

SalixIncendium · May 30, 2019

Vinayaka said:
Luis, I still have yet to figure out why people are interested in other peoples' faiths to the extent they are. You have a faith or a world view.. Just shut up and practice it. But it seems to be a core tenet of some to poke their ideas into other people's despite not even being that welcomed. Maybe if you're that interested in other faiths, you're not that happy in your own?

Initially, this is the very reason I started learning about other faiths. Eventually, I after trying a few on in the fitting room, some of them either made my look fat or made my butt look too big. So I ultimately pieced together my own based on my understandings resulting from my own experiences. Ultimately, I stumbled upon a label whose worldview that just happens to parallel these experiential understandings and realizations.

But personally, I continue to be interested in other faiths to better understand what makes people tick.

SalixIncendium · May 30, 2019

adrian009 said:
Baha'u'llah's audience was mostly Muslim, so He had little to say about Hinduism.

"Was" being the operative word here. As is evidenced by the 9 pages of conversation here, his current audience appears to have a great deal to say about it.

Vinayaka · May 30, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
Initially, this is the very reason I started learning about other faiths. Eventually, I after trying a few on in the fitting room, some of them either made my look fat or made my butt look too big. So I ultimately pieced together my own based on my understandings resulting from my own experiences. Ultimately, I stumbled upon a label whose worldview that just happens to parallel these experiential understandings and realizations.

But personally, I continue to be interested in other faiths to better understand what makes people tick.

Sure, but you don't tell others 'You should ..." or proselytise about the faith you've settled on. Big difference between asking questions or reading for knowledge versus preaching at others, or telling them they're wrong.

SalixIncendium · May 30, 2019

Jedster said:
I travelled to Chicago from New York in 1985.....by aeroplane.

... just sayin'

So spontaneous mystical experience, then?

SalixIncendium · May 30, 2019

atanu said:
Brahman is one God too. Else Bhagwan Krishna would not be God.

Saguna Brahman can be "one God." However, Nirguna Brahman, in my view, is not.

atanu · May 30, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
Saguna Brahman can be "one God." However, Nirguna Brahman, in my view, is not.

Yes. Agreed. The point however is that as long as one is an individual, where is nirguna? So, saguna is more true than an ego that denies the saguna.

ajay0 · May 30, 2019

atanu said:
Probably. Even monotheists are diverse though.

The Sikh, Arya Samaj, Prajapita Brahmakumari pov that Krishna was not God but a great soul and prophet like figure of the past is more or less similar.

The Brahmo Samajis of course, do not have faith in avatar like characters and worship Saguna Brahman who is similar to the formless Waheguru in Sikhism or Aum in the Arya Samaj.

For the Lingayats, the Shivalingam is the symbol of the formless God, and they do not worship Rama or Krishna.

The common denominator of all these Dharmic monotheistic sects is the theme that God is non-anthropomorphic.

SalixIncendium · May 30, 2019

atanu said:
Yes. Agreed. The point however is that as long as one is an individual, where is nirguna? So, saguna is more true than an ego that denies the saguna.

Indeed, but there is a difference between denial of the Saguna and acknowledgement of the Saguna without need or desire for bhakti practice.

atanu · May 30, 2019

ajay0 said:
The Sikh, Arya Samaj, Prajapita Brahmakumari pov that Krishna was not God but a great soul and prophet like figure of the past is more or less similar.

The Brahmo Samajis of course, do not have faith in avatar like characters and worship Saguna Brahman who is similar to the formless Waheguru in Sikhism or Aum in the Arya Samaj.

For the Lingayats, the Shivalingam is the symbol of the formless God, and they do not worship Rama or Krishna.

The common denominator of all these Dharmic monotheistic sects is the theme that God is non-anthropomorphic.

Yes. So, from these POVs, Shogi Effendi could not be correct in saying that Baha’u’llah was an avatar of Krishna. Nether he could be correct from Vaisnava POV.

My current version of Hinduism

Be your own guru

Be your own guru

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i

Nets of Wonder

Member

Well-Known Member

Be your own guru

devotee

Member

Nets of Wonder

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

devotee

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Member

Well-Known Member

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Member