Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The White Hindu

Home
Hindu
Indian Hindu Voices: Abhimanyu

Indian Hindu Voices: Abhimanyu

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:32 pm by Ambaa Choate

Indian Hindu Voices: Abhimanyu 2015-03-13T22:32:17-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today I have an interview with a friend from Twitter. What a great name Abhimanyu is! I cry every time at his story in Mahabharata. We both have Mahabharata names! 🙂

Anyway, Abhimanyu was kind enough to answer some interview questions about Hinduism in his life. (My notes in italics).

1) Can you tell us a little about yourself? Your religious background? Where you live?

I am 21 and Hindu. I was born in Gaya (where Buddha got enlightenment) but presently living in Chennai.

2) What does Hinduism mean to you and to your life?

I connect Hinduism with the Indian civilization. There is no India without Hinduism. So definitely Hinduism is everything to me.I quit my job because through my present job I could have done nothing for the society.

Ambaa: Impressive! That’s real dedication when you make sure that even your work life aligns with the goal of helping others.

Till 3 years back I was more like an agnostic. I used to make fun of gods but today same gods guide me in my life journey.

Ambaa: Which is why I don’t think the Gods take it too personally when we don’t believe in them or make fun of them. They just sit back and wait, knowing that we’ll be coming around eventually!

3) What do you think Hinduism’s most important contribution to the world is?

Hinduism’s most important contribution is the idea of pluralism. Almost every other faith in the world had tried to overpower other faiths. But India provided an honorable home to every persecuted community in the world from jews to zorostrians to Shia Muslims.

This happened because of the philosophies of Sanatan Dharma.

Today’s world needs pluralism and mutual respect for each other but people talk about tolerance. Tolerance is not a good idea because you tolerate others when you feel superior to others.

I believe this idea of pluralism and mutual respect is the next big thing in the human civilization.

Ambaa: I could not have said it better myself! I totally agree. And you make a great point about the word “tolerance.” It does have that negative connotation of just barely being okay with something. The respect of other paths to enlightenment is one of the things I most love about Hinduism.

4) Do people need religion, in your opinion?

People may or may not need gods in their life but they surely need to follow the path of Dharma.

Dharma is central to every religion which originated in India and I think they all have the same concept. I believe even if you don’t worship Mother Durga, she is still with you. Can a mother leave her own children?

Ambaa: Indeed! As I’ve said before, my atheist friends have impressed me with the level of Dharma they uphold.

5) What makes someone a Hindu?

What makes someone a Hindu is really a tough question. But even if I try to find a small answer then I will say its the path of Dharma (though it can be interpreted in different ways by different cultures) and the believing itself that s/he is a Hindu.

Ambaa: You’re right, it is a really tough question! It’s one of the questions that this blog keeps returning to again and again 🙂

6) How has being a Hindu contributed to your life and experience?

This is a good question because I was thinking for the last 2 years what is my role in this world. Am I here just to enjoy this world or I have some duties to perform or why there is life and stuff like that.

Whenever I listen the story of Ramayana, I find only one thing in the epic —– sacrifice. Lord Ram sacrificed for his mother, Mother Sita sacrificed her life for Lord Ram and for the society which never respected her… every person in the epic had to sacrifice to create a just society or say RamRajya (Lord Ram’s Nation ie..ultimate utopian society). By this I think every person is here for some specific work. This realization compelled me to search for another job where I can work for the society.

When Lord Shiva drank that bowl of poison after “SAMUDRA MANTHAN” then he wanted to give us a message that someone has to come forward and do the dirty job. This is what “SATYAM SHIVAM SHUNDRAM” means.

Ambaa: Those are some of my favorite questions to ask. I feel like we have to keep on checking in throughout the years and look at what our role is now, what our duty is, how are we aligned with dharma, etc.

7) What issues do you think it’s important for Hindus to address in today’s world?

The most important issues for Hindus is to create a new idea of a civilized society.

There is so much violence in the name of religion and even civilization.I think Hindus have to create a new idea of civilization where everyone performs his/her Dharma and lives in harmony with nature—- otherwise environmental degradation would be humans biggest enemy.

8) What else would you like the readers of The White Hindu to know?

I am not that much experienced to tell what others should know. But I want to share one thing which I heard from my grandfather:

If people want their children to be responsible and a good human being then their first role model should be their parents. It’s the parents who acts as a first Guru so they need to lead a life which their children would be proud of.

Thank you so much, Abhimanyu, for being a guest today. Your answers are inspiring!

http://www.totalbhakti.com/

Previous Post

April 3, 2014

Identity Is A "First World Problem"?

Next Post

April 5, 2014 Movie Club Discussion: 3 Idiots

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many friends came to speak with Job?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Four Three Five Two