KAUAI, HAWAII, November 13, 2003: Hinduism Today is preparing an article on the subject of common misconceptions and mistakes about Hinduism in the Western world. For this we need quotes from text books used in US, Canadian or UK schools that misrepresent Hinduism, are outright mistakes, or present a Hindu concept in the worst possible light. Here’s one example: “By 600 bc, brahmans, or priests, had emerged as the highest caste. They alone could perform the rituals that guided the soul to reunion with the universal soul.” That’s from World History, Pattern of Civilizations, produced by Prentice Hall and used in US schools. The problem with it, of course, is that Hinduism doesn’t hold that reunion with the universal soul is the result of rituals performed by priests, rather it is the result of yoga well performed under the guidance of a guru. We need more such quotes to illustrate the various ways Hinduism is being erroneously presented to Western youth. Please send any you have to “source” above.
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