April/May/June 2003

LETTERS

Devotees Don't Hit Children

Hinduism Today's last two issues talk a lot about abolition of corporal punishment. These articles give an impression that this [movement to stop hitting children] is a Western concept. I believe it is an Eastern concept, lost under Western influences. The Tamil saint of yore, Abhirami Bhattar, sang: "Devotees with such soft feet that they are frightened even to tread on cotton blossoms do not hit their own children."

Dr. A. Somasundarampillai, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Survival Through Tolerance

My gratitude to all at Hinduism Today for the sheer pleasure your articles provide with their insightfulness. Most impressive was your cover (Jan-Mar 2003) figure of Shri Dada J.P. Vaswani. His embodiment of tolerance and love of God in whatever form, while knowing the depth of truth to be the lofty principles of Hinduism, is the very reason why Hinduism survived all the years of onslaught from religions which are insensitive or intolerant to others. In spite of our constant exposure, on a daily basis, to rabid evangelical propaganda in India and Islam's absolute intolerance of any other religion, is it not surprising that we Hindus still constitute the majority population in India? May Sanatana Dharma usher in the New Age as civilization seeks for greater ideals through its lofty eternal principles!

Narayani Nandhi, aananda27@aol.com

Yoga Is a Hindu Practice!

Recently you stated that "the exception is hatha yoga which, as a stand-alone practice divorced from religion, has increased in popularity." ("Megatrends," Jan/Mar 2003) This is a very damaging statement. No form of yoga can be honestly separated from Hinduism. The modern unethical trend to divorce hatha yoga (simply called "yoga," only adding to the confusion) from Hinduism is religious bigotry.

Jyothi Kumar, inlight@aol.com

Agreed. The knowing separation of hatha yoga from Hinduism is deceptive. But, today, many teachers are simply unaware of yoga's Hindu roots and spiritual goals.

Emphasize Brahmacharya

In a recent talk I gave at King's college, London, on Hinduism's relationship to modern sciences, one youngster asked about Hanuman. This topic brought into focus a serious flaw in the portrayal of Hinduism to Hindu youth in the West. I asked what is the main difference between, say, Superman and Hanuman? I am not asking for love of Rama or God, just the simple human attributes of Hanuman for youth to emulate! These are three. He represents bala, strength. Whatever we do, we have to do it with full vigor, give our best. Invoke strength, without which we cannot achieve anything, spiritual or even secular. He represents buddhi. If something does not agree with common sense (let alone laws of induction and deduction), then reject it, even if it comes in the name of religion. The third aspect, not emphasized by modern Hindu teachers, is perhaps Hanuman's most important brahmacharya, celibacy. No namby-pamby "sense management," pure and simple, celibacy, absolute celibacy, even in our dreams. Someone said, "Then the Hindu youth will go away from religion!" So be it. Religion is not a fashion accessory! The reason Hanuman is greater than Superman is because if "Lois Lane" flutters her eyelashes at Superman he turns to jelly. If a beautiful lady flutters her eyelashes at Hanuman, he would say, "Mother, you have something in your eye let me clear it!"

Dilip Lakhani, Vivekananda Centre London vivekananda@btinternet.com

More Souls Come From Where?

Regarding Mr. Thomas drew's query and the reply by Sashi H. Dave on the origin of souls ("Letters," Jul/Sep, Oct/Dec, 2002 ), [postulating a limited number of souls.] When the wave rises on the surface of the ocean, does it rise only after the one before it dies down! Does the number of waves remain the same! If not, who or what creates the additional ones! The concept of soul in Hindu thought is pure energy, a speck of the universal energy, usually referred to as the "Absolute." The Bhagavad Gita says, "By a speck of my energy I have pervaded the entire universe." "This cosmos is but a partial revelation of the Infinite," explains Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. "Whatever aspect of the Absolute could be brought under enumeration is but a small fraction of what remains of the Absolute beyond the power of enumeration," explains Nataraja Guru.

K. R. Parvathi, nraman@pd.jaring.my

Western Youth Voice Needed

My name is Sailaja Ganti, a young american Hindu. First, I would like to thank you for writing some amazing articles about our religion. You have given me new insight into my religion as well as answered numerous questions. I think the magazine needs a young voice from someone who is dealing with the concerns and issues of being Hindu in a Western world, the ridicule that comes with being so open of our faith.

Sailaja A. Ganti, ganti.s@neu.edu

Priests Decline

The decline in priests is a feature of all religions today, since the salaries of full time priests will never match other jobs ("Megatrends," Jan-Mar 2003). Solutions include: 1) permit part-time priests and enlarge the pool of recruitment to all communities, including non-Brahmins. The true test should be motivation, not pedigree or caste. Hereditary Brahmin priests are a relatively recent occurrence in Hinduism's five millennia of existence. The earlier we get rid of this practice, the better it is for the survival and spread of Hinduism. 2) He/she must be willing to work for less money, because the person likes the job and considers it a calling. 3) Worship in local language, using the mother tongue is legitimate and necessary. My children (US born) complain that they do not understand the services. If people do not understand the service, they should not be blamed for converting to another religion, where the mother tongue is used. The best way is to use Sanskrit, Tamil and the mother tongue so that Sanskrit and Tamil texts are understood by the devotee.

Mrs. Jumuna Vittal Ph.D, mvittal@aol.com

Big Help for Pandit's Sermons

May the light of our Gurudeva be with us forever. I am getting Hinduism Today quarterly. It plays a very important role in the delivery of my Sunday morning sermon at our Edinburgh Hindu Temple.

Pundit Tiwari, Edinburgh, Trinidad

Child Labor Can Be Honorable!

In our present-day system of life, everyone must do something to earn and live with honor. But if in our India a child wants to keep his morale high and works, it is called "child labor." I do not understand this modern thinkers' double standard. East or West, the rule of honor must be the same. It is a matter of honor for the child to work if the family is financially in trouble.

Varun Gupta, India, varun_gupta@vsnl.net

Too Down on Christians?

I am an American yogi and a devotee of of many Hindu Deities. I admire the Hindu tradition which, except for recent comments by some of the more radical groups, respects and tolerates people of every faith. But many of your reporters revel in exposing Christian groups and their dark and sinister motives, while many Christians have relief of human suffering as their main goal. Once their relief efforts have been successful, they are happy to tell people about their faith, but do not coerce anyone into embracing it. I understand that the Hindu world is under incredible pressures from Muslim and Christian prejudice. But over-reacting to every perceived slight is only making the situation worse and does not give a balanced or favorable impression of Sanatana Dharma. I am afraid this tendency has been increasing since your founder's Mahasamadhi.

Ted Czukor, Ted's Gentle Yoga, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami included in his editorial mandate for Hinduism Today, a nonviolent, "holding the Hindu front line." A review of past issues since 1979 shows that we have always highlighted Christian incursion on Hinduism. Our daily news service, Hindu Press International, which he himself instituted, simply opens a channel for sharing the hundreds of reports we have been getting for many years. That was his goal. As for missionaries' motivations, in more than thirty years of research into these issues, we have yet to find a single Christian missionary effort where conversion was not a central item on its agenda, albeit perhaps cloaked to its Western sources of funding. Nor have we any record of any Christian missionary publicly declaring that conversion was not among his intentions.

Best in the World

Circumstances kept me in the U.K. for some time, far from my Australian home. During that time, I eagerly looked forward to reading HINDUISM TODAY, that treasure house of knowledge. While you sit comfortably in an armchair, it takes you around the globe. I wish HINDUISM TODAY greater success and popularity. It is the best religious and spiritual magazine in the world, a happy blend of East and West. It has removed the veil of ignorance, shedding light in the darkened world of today. The birth of HINDUISM TODAY was a spiritual event, dispelling gloom and bringing spiritual advancement to humanity. It is getting more and more beautiful with the charming photographs and religious topics. You have brought the universe to our door. There is no necessity to wing our way to places of interest, for HINDUISM TODAY is taking us all over, to all the best of all the holy temples.

Nageswari Nadarajahsurrey, England

Help HINDUISM TODAY Serve Hindus Better

Ensure the growth and perpetuation of HT for tomorrow's Hindus

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, our founder, at one of his last Publisher's Desk meetings before his Mahasamadhi said to his swamis and the staff of Hinduism Today: "We need to think of the future. Hinduism Today is the best and it should be fully endowed, just like National Geographic. There are people out there who will help ensure that Hinduism Today lives forever. We can make a difference and present the Sanatana Dharma at the highest level. So we have started the Hinduism Today Editorial Trust Fund as one of the many funds in the Hindu Heritage Endowment. And you should tell people about this in Hinduism Today itself."

 What Does It Take to Make a Magazine?

Even though the editorial team of sannyasins produce the magazine as a service, without salaries, there are many costs involved. Writers, photographers, researchers, artists, designers, computers, printers, scanners, air and train fare, taxis, hotels, meals, film, books, software, Internet sites and servers, communications costs for global networking with associates—that is what it takes to make a well-crafted magazine. Fortunately, Hinduism Today has been able, just barely, month-to-month, to stand on its own, with the loyal support of subscribers, advertisers who believe in the mission of Hinduism Today and generous patron subsidies for technology.

 Let's Make It the Best!

Our ability to report the news is limited by budget constraints. If we had more money for our stories, we could send our reporters and photographers to distant places to collect the most significant stories. For example, for this issue we sent Rajiv Malik to Mumbai from Delhi to collect the TV story; we flew Lavina Melwani to London. These were budget trips, to be sure, but a big step for us. Only in covering the last two Kumbha Melas have we been able to send our reporters and photographers on multi-day assignments to get what may have been the best Kumbha Mela reports in the world. We have the people at ready, but we need the funds. A two-million dollar endowment safely invested will yield five percent a year, or ^us$25,000.00 per issue. That would be a good first step. One generous man has already granted life insurance policies to the Hinduism Today Editorial Trust. If you believe in our mission, donate today. Write us, email letters@hindu.org or go to http://www.hheonline.org/funds/htdf_htpf.html.

---

---

Return to the Table of Contents
Return to Hinduism Today Home Page