How Hindu Dharma Has Impacted America Over the Last Two Centuries
Hinduism and america is a coffee-table book which presents the nearly 250-year-long journey from the arrival of early Sanskrit translations to the 20th-century influence of swamis, yogis and spiritual teachers who brought Vedanta, yoga and other Hindu teachings to American soil. It concludes with the current transformative impact by present-day resident Hindu citizens on the social and cultural outlook in the United States. The introduction observes: Nearly two-thirds of Americans, even while professing to be Christian, Jewish or just spiritual, now believe that there are many equally valid paths to spiritual truth—a quintessential Hindu idea. A third of them believe in life after death, reincarnation and the law of karma. The advent of thousands of yoga studios, meditation centers, ayurvedic health centers, vegetarian/vegan restaurants and the rising popularity of meatless products attest to a massive social movement that has its roots firmly planted in Hindu thought.
Jointly authored by Dr. Jai G. Bansal and Kalyan Viswanathan, the book chronicles the bold and courageous dissemination of key Hindu concepts by visiting swamis, yogis and gurus, as well as the trials and tribulations of immigrants who slowly incorporated these Hindu ideas in a rather unintentional natural manner while they integrated themselves into society in pursuit of the American Dream. In the authors words, This transformative change in American attitudes did not happen overnight. It is the result of an organic movement that spans a period of almost 250 years. It is a movement without any master plan or directive force and can be divided into three partially overlapping phases. The book narrates the key contributions of early pioneers who led this spiritual transformation, along with the real-life achievements of Hindu Americans who have continued it, and the core values and beliefs behind it.
In the foreword, Phil Goldberg, author of the award-winning book American Veda, notes, Hinduism—along with the other Dharmic traditions birthed in India—is not just an interesting new theology or a collection of doctrines to be denounced or tolerated or appreciated. It represents a fundamentally different way of understanding and expressing the universal spiritual impulse that drives human beings to worship the divine and to turn inward in search of wholeness and unity. For that reason, Hindu citizens are contributing day by day to the transformation of Americas spiritual landscape. He continues, Core elements of Hindu dharma have become commonplace fixtures in America. A more yogic perspective has become prevalent—one that prioritizes inner spiritual experience and recognizes the individuality of the quest for divine illumination.
The book is organized into three broad parts, each illustrated with biographical sketches, historical anecdotes and reflections on how the ideas of Hindu Dharma were received, adapted and absorbed into the wider Western lifestyle.
The first part touches upon how the core Hindu social and cultural traditions, and the thought system that underpins those traditions, have influenced America. In particular, it presents them not as archaic, but as a living, relevant tradition for the modern world due to the inherent ability of Hinduism to offer a pluralistic alternative to dogma. Titled Cultural Heritage, it gives an introduction to the foundational tenets of Sanatana Dharma, mainly karma and reincarnation, which facilitate the souls evolution over multiple lifetimes. It also highlights Hindu values on the nature of reality, focusing on internal growth, self-experience and the rejection of forced conversion. This section provides a foundational overview of how these deep-rooted traditions, often mischaracterized by Western perspectives, are being brought into the American context by practitioners.
The second part, titled How Hindu Thought Influenced America, presents the history of the transmission of Hindu thought to the Western Hemisphere, particularly America. It delves into how American society received core Hindu practices—specifically yoga, meditation and spirituality—from Hindu spiritual leaders. It describes the ways in which American society was transformed by the adaptation and integration of Hindu ideas into American daily life in the 125 years since Swami Vivekanandas arrival in Chicago for the Parliament of the Worlds Religions.
The last part, titled Perspectives of Contemporary Hindu Americans, spotlights legally immigrated Hindus in America, who in the last five decades have integrated into professional, cultural and civic life and made meaningful contributions to Americas multicultural landscape in subtle and overt ways while simultaneously preserving their traditions to pass them on to the next generation. They have not only carved out an important place for themselves in the socioeconomic sphere but also significantly impacted the cultural landscape of American society.
Consistent with the subtitle of this book, How Hindu Dharma is Transforming the West, facts are presented that project a very positive side of the exposure of Hinduism in America. This could mislead readers into thinking that Hinduism is being accepted by the majority or that its presence in America is the panacea for intercultural and inter-religious harmony. A case in point to the contrary is the controversy in the State of California over the misrepresentation of Hinduism in middle-school textbooks, which created a rather negative outlook in the minds of young students. The recent incidents of vandalism against Hindu temples and the currently ongoing criticism, such as in Texas, of Hindu statues and temples that were all legally built, display the other side of the coin that is just as factual as what the book portrays. Hence, some readers looking for a more balanced academic analysis may find the narrative a bit skewed.
Overall, this book gives a generally comprehensive and graphically rich account of how Hinduism has interfaced with American society over the past two and a half centuries. Its narrative blends historical research with personal stories, making the book a useful read.
Hinduism and America—How Hindu Dharma Is Transforming the West by Jai G. Bansal and Kalyan Viswanathan, 202 pages.