Dear Dan,

May God bless you. I am a student of and try to follow the teachings of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.

Yuyutsu

My knowledge of the Krishnas, was from the early sixties in Kings Cross.
They had a soup kitchen which was popular, and very visible for the times.
They were a happy lot.

What was your traditional religion, prior to Hindu?

Dan

Dear Dan,

So sorry, but I am unable to divulge such private information on a public forum.

Yuyutsu

Ok. Keeping the question more generalised, and for the sake of curiosity; anecdotally I have personally concluded, people appear to me to choose a working model religion for themselves to perform the task of placating the fear of death.
That’s a fear that presents itself in many disguises.

Our old mate Don, the author of this article, is in the category of the overly comfortable in life, who rely on the accumulation of wealth and other worldly securities, to give themselves a (blind IMO) sense of satisfaction from self achievement, which smothers the nagging question of humanity, IE. what after death? Death is the great leveller, that’s what I love about the view from this side of life!

Now onwards! The greatest misconception Christians (nominal), blindly believe, is their misconception their belief takes them to a better world: The narrow road V the broad road.

Now we get to the point. What is your motivation, (as a comparison to the belief system of Christianity), to make a personal choice towards the teaching of Hinduism?

Dan

Dear Dan,

«people appear to me to choose a working model religion for themselves to perform the task of placating the fear of death.»

Scripture tells us why people approach religion:

"four kinds of pious people engage in my devotion - the distressed, the seekers after knowledge, the seekers of worldly possessions, and those who are situated in knowledge." [Bhagavad-Gita 7:16]

The fear of death is clearly a cause for distress, so it falls into the first (probably the most common) category.

«Our old mate Don...»

Assuming this to be the case, there's nothing wrong with it, a necessary step in one's evolution towards God. Someone who seeks wealth may pray to God to get it, thereby falling into the third category. Two verses later, Shri Krishna mentions that all four types of seekers are noble.

«The greatest misconception Christians (nominal), blindly believe, is their misconception their belief takes them to a better world: The narrow road V the broad road.»

Well only if this belief propels them into good actions and avoidance of evil!

«What is your motivation...»

Most important is my personal motivation to approach God, rather than a specific religion.

Since early childhood I have naturally been wanting to know about God. Still so, but other motives were added over the years, essentially to eliminate suffering, and especially to never ever be conscripted again. Nobody of course would want to take me now in my mature age, but if I am to be born again then only God can protect me from going through that nightmare all over again.

Now in my darkest hour of despair, I was 19 at the time and got a short leave from the army when I stumbled upon and initiated into Hindu-based meditation. I can only say that the sky opened up for me at the time, I found hope and inner strength and inner peace beyond anything I could imagine. There's no way I could have survived that terrible period otherwise. Only much later, and still, I got to also seriously study the religion and philosophy behind my experience.

Yuyutsu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdwLAD7VEJ0

I put a disclaimer here, since this is OLO, and the following is my interpretation of the comparative nature between Christianity and Hinduism. I’d be interested to hear your own.

I’ve put this link to a profound song (J D Hart), which defines the impossible road to travel for the Christian to meet his God, once having passed through the vail of death, at the end of this physical life. It’s beyond good works.

If one is not a believer in the spirit world, and the war between good and evil in that spiritual realm, then as a Christian you are not one.
The Christian walk, as opposed to Hinduism, must ignore the influences of emotions, and focus its energy onto the interpretation of, and recognition of the spiritual influences

Hinduism to my limited experience with it through the 60’s when it was more out there, as they say, appeared to be very fixed on emotional cognition. Good works were connected to good feelings.
It’s a religion the carnal man can identify with, without the need for a trust in a third party such as The Christian need for Christ as a go between to his God. Very difficult.

Your conversion story had the hallmarks of Paul’s conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus.
I don’t think religious conversions necessarily need happen in such a startling way as that. But that’s another conversation maybe.

Well thank you for your time Yuyutsu.

Dan