Download Objectives of the booklet

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Objectives
of the
booklet
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading this little booklet produced by Hindu Centre
Singapore.
Being a multi-racial, multi-religious society, it is inevitable that Hindus
in Singapore from all walks of life will interact with people of other
faiths regularly. In the course of these interactions, sometimes attempts
are made to convert Hindus into another faith. The situations where
such attempts are made can vary from schools and colleges to workplaces
and even door-to-door.
The objective of this booklet is to help us Hindus know what it means
to be a Hindu and help us deal confidently with religious conversion
efforts (proselytization) by people of other faiths and emerge from such
interactions dispelling misconceptions of Hinduism. As such, the booklet
is aptly named “Why I am a Hindu……and wish to remain one”. The
basis for such a response can only come if one has an understanding
of what it is and what it is not, to be a Hindu. The hope is also that
this booklet will encourage and interest Hindus to gain a foundational
knowledge on Hinduism.
It is seldom appreciated that Hinduism is a rich, well-structured,
knowledge-based religion, which goes back about 4,500 years, making
it possibly the oldest living religion today. There are approximately 800
million adherents all over the world. Simply put, Hinduism is a religion
comprising a philosophy that manifests as religious practices which can
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shape an individual’s way of life, yet provides a great deal of leeway for
the individual’s own expression of it. To know Hinduism is to appreciate
its strengths and its relevance to help meet the challenges of modern day
living. Hinduism is too beautiful religion to be given up on the basis of
misconceptions of others who have not taken the trouble to understand
it fully.
This booklet provides basic information on Hinduism, the misconceptions
often associated with Hinduism, how to deal with conversion attempts
and finally, reasons for one to feel a sense of pride in being a Hindu. For
further information, please visit or follow:
Website: www.hinducentre.org.sg
Twitter: @hinducentresg
FB: www.facebook.com/hinducentresg
Hindu Centre is a non-profit society dedicated to the
spiritual progress of Singapore Hindus through the
three pillars of Jnana (education), Bhakti (devotion)
and Seva (service). We hope you will enjoy reading
this booklet and join us in our activities.
"Hinduism is not just a faith.
It is the union of reason and
intuition that cannot be
defined but is only to be
experienced. Evil and
error are not ultimate.
There is no eternal Hell,
for that means there is
a place where God is not,
and there are sins which
exceed his love. "
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Hinduism and
the nature of God
Hinduism is a way of life that helps an individual fulfil the
human need for security (for example housing, health, wealth,
family) and pleasures. It spells out clearly that such securities
and pleasures should only be pursued in strict accordance with
right conduct (Dharma) so that he can be freed from the cycle of
life and death or moksha.
In essence, these human needs (i.e. security, pleasures, right
conduct and freedom) are achieved through an understanding
of the relationship between
oneself, the universe and God,
"Without a form how can
with the Hindu scriptures
God be mediated upon? If
(Śāstras) being the roadmap.
(He is) without any form,
where will the mind fix
The primary Hindu scriptures
itself? When there is
(Śruti) are God’s direct
nothing for the mind to
revelations like the Vedas
attach itself to, it will slip
and Agamas that were
away from meditation or
revealed to sages and seers
will glide into a state of
orally. Secondary Hindu
slumber. Therefore the
scriptures (Smritis) such as
wise will meditate on
the Ramayana, Mahabaratha,
some form, remembering,
Thirumanthiram, Thirukkural
however, that the form is
and Puranas are human
a superimposition and
authored but based on the
not a reality."
Śruti.
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The Hindu scriptures state that the entire universe, including man,
is a manifestation of God. For a Hindu therefore God does not
reside in a particular place but is everywhere (all pervasive). For
a Hindu, this universe is put together in an intelligent manner by
God, who is the Supreme intelligence, all knowing (omniscient),
all powerful (omnipotent), formless and with form at the same
time. Thus, there is only one God (known by different names)
and there could be literally thousands of manifestations of Him
for the devotee.
God governs this universe and mankind via a law of right
conduct called Dharma that spells out how everything and
every being that manifests from God should conduct itself and
live. The universe functions harmoniously if it is aligned to
Dharma. All beings, including man, therefore should adhere to
their respective Dharma, which can be known from the Hindu
scriptures (Śāstras).
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Freedom of
Choice and Will
Man, given his intellect, is unique and unlike animals, has a
faculty of choice. The Hindu scriptures dictate that this choice
should be exercised to align his thoughts, words and deeds, to
Dharma (right actions) so that he earns punya (merits) and avoids
accumulating paapa (demerits). See diagram below.
Time delay – can be this birth or later births
COMFORTABLE
EXPERIENCES
Seen result
punya
Action
If action is dharmic
UNCOMFORTABLE
EXPERIENCES
Unseen result
If action is adharmic
paapa
Time delay – can be this birth or later births
The punya earned by an individual will eventually come back as
comfortable experiences either in this life or the next while the
paapa will result in uncomfortable experiences either in this life
or the next. The time and place for punya or paapa to fructify
back to the individual can vary. It can be in this birth itself or in
a subsequent birth and can even take place in another plane of
existence. This is the law of Karma.
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Right and wrong actions that lead to punya and papa respectively,
are not subjective but are determined by what the Hindu
scriptures deem as actions aligned or not aligned with Dharma
(i.e. dharmic or adharmic actions). The law of Karma thus allows
you to change your destiny by the choices you make in your
positive actions.
Hinduism is thus not a fatalistic religion where man is at the mercy
of his pre-ordained fate. You have the freedom to make choices
to carve out happy, comfortable experiences and situations for
yourself both in the present and future births by following right
(dharmic) actions. An individual is the author of his own life.
A Hindu thus lives his life by working towards minimizing
his paapas by abstaining from adharmic (wrong) actions and
maximising his punyas via dharmic (right) actions. Examples
of dharmic actions include adherence to ethical values stated in
Hindu scriptures such as truth, non-injury, being upright, honest,
non-stealing, compassionate, determined, forgiving, patient,
moderate eating and inner and outer cleanliness. There is also a
body of religious observances that are to be practiced by Hindus
such as worship, fire rituals, prayers, fasting, pilgrimage, charity,
service and maintaining equanimity of mind.
Scholars describe modern Hinduism
as the product of religious
developments in India that span
nearly four thousand years, making
it the oldest surviving world religion.
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Misconceptions
about
Hinduism
1)
Are there many Gods in Hinduism?
There is only One God in Hinduism, who is formless without
gender and who can take any form from time to time. The
different deities that are found in temples, like Shiva, Vishnu
and Kali, are mere manifestations of one or more aspects of the
all-pervasive God. Just as the same person is seen differently
as a father, a son, a husband, a friend and in many other ways
by different people, one God is viewed in various forms and
worshipped by different means.
2)
Does Hinduism encourage idol worship ?
A Hindu who prays to an idol, is not praying to an inanimate
object. He is merely using the idol as a symbol of the Lord and
his attributes, just as a national flag symbolizes the values and
attributes of an entire nation (which is why so much respect is
given to a flag when physically
it is just a cloth with colours
and patterns). Symbols help
the human mind to focus and
connect to the objects they
represent. Hence Hindus have
different forms representing
a formless and all-pervasive
God and his ideals such as
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purity, compassion and holiness. The Hindu thus worships the
ideals that are represented by the idol and not the idol per se.
3)
Do Hindu rituals and festivals have any meaning?
In Hinduism prayers can be expressed verbally, mentally or through
rituals which are physical forms of prayer. When an individual
who consistently leads a life of righteousness (Dharma) carries
out a prayer, the fruit of the prayer sought accrues to him. God’s
Grace is also invoked through prayers carried out during rituals
and festivals. Many Hindu festivals hold spiritual significances
to remind Hindus of man’s relationship with God. A Hindu
should therefore try to find out what a Hindu ritual or festival is
and what is not. Sometimes,
due to ignorance, a mere
Hindus regard all
superstition may attain the life forms as sacred since
status of a ritual.
they are a part of God
4)
Is Hinduism mainly mythological with no historical
evidence?
Archeological evidences for the existence of the ancient Vedic
civilization and thus Hinduism, in the Indus valley are well
documented. Similarly, the existence of the rock bridge between
South India and Sri Lanka attest to the possibility that many
incidents stated in major Hindu texts such as Ramayana could
have been historical events. There are some mythological stories
in Hindu scriptures (as there are in other religions too), created to
teach man the fundamental principles of Hinduism. This way the
principles and teachings would be better assimilated by man.
5)
Do Hindus worship animals?
Hindus regard all life forms as sacred since they are a part of
God. As a result, many animals such as elephants and cows
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are generally honoured in Hinduism. Cows, in particular are
honoured for their contribution to the sustenance of people in an
agrarian society. Many Hindu rituals too, require dairy products
from the cow. The Hindus’ reverence for animals helps us to live
in harmony with nature. Sometimes, certain animal features may
also be adored, as these features symbolize the corresponding
attribute that the devotee wishes to cultivate in him/her. (An
example would be the worship of the elephant form where the
large ears and small mouth of the elephant teaches man to listen
more and talk less).
6)
Is caste discrimination inherent in Hinduism?
In ancient times, the division of labour, namely the specialisation
of cooperating individuals and communities who perform
specific tasks and roles, was practised. Historically, every
society had division of labour. The Mesopotamians, medieval
Europe and ancient China all had such systems. Ancient India
was no different and the divisions were the warriors (kshatriyas),
priests (brahmanas), traders (vaishyas) and workers (shudras).
The Hindu scriptures did NOT advocate one division as superior
to another. The principle behind the divisions was based on
occupation/skills (karma) and character (guna) as attested by
Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, and not based on birth (jati)
alone. This allowed for social mobility (i.e. movement of people
from one division to another) in the ancient Hindu societies too.
The discriminatory nature of the caste system in its present form
is an outcome of the changing historical, social and political
landscape of India and has little relevance and absolutely no
sanction from the Hindu scriptures. It is something modern
Hindus should dispense with altogether, since educational and
employment opportunities are available without discrimination
in today’s society and one’s place is determined by one’s effort,
intelligence and enterprise.
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Hinduism’s views
on other religions
Hindus have peacefully lived alongside other religions for many
centuries. We acknowledge that every faith has its unique beliefs,
practices and goals, although these may not necessarily be
aligned to ours. More importantly Hindus do not object when the
practices of these religions are in conflict with ours; respecting
the fact that all religions are inherently good. As such, Hindus do
not go out to convert people of other faiths into theirs.
Religious conversion efforts and evangelizing is based on the nonverifiable belief that one's religion is the only true religion and
everyone else should convert to it. Hinduism holds the view that
all religions are good and beneficial even if all religions are not
the same. An example to illustrate this non-similarity of religions
would be the difference in the understanding of the individual’s
relationship with God and the Universe. For Hinduism, at the
highest level, God, individual and universe
are one; while some other faiths may
Religious
maintain the eternal distinction between
conversion
the Creator and creation.
Hindus, with a good understanding
of their religion, would be able to
confidently explain why they are
Hindus and wish to continue with their
way of life and practices with pride,
thus addressing religious conversion
attempts. Moreover, Hindus hold their
religious practices and the underpinning
philosophy as the fullest expression of
Truth and openly accept anyone who
wishes to enter the Hindu faith.
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efforts and
evangelizing is
based on the
non-verifiable
belief that
one's religion
is the only true
religion and
everyone else
should convert
to it.
Strategies for
dealing with
religious conversion
attempts
Be clear in your position, and state it firmly but respectfully.
- I am a practicing Hindu and want to remain as one.
- Hinduism is an authentic, rational and compassionate
religion
- It is a structured religion that caters to all the needs of
mankind
- Hindus do not object to other faiths; respecting that all
religions are inherently good; I expect you to do the same.
- This is my choice, and I do not want to be converted.
Children at school
Scenario 1: Someone at school tries to convert your child into
another faith
Suggested response: Teach your child to report back to you
any attempts to convert him or her. You should then report to
Ministry of Education the attempted conversion.
Children are easily influenced and like to follow their friends.
Regular exposure to Hinduism will give them a strong association
with Hinduism. As such, parents should ensure this exposure
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by regularly visiting temples, participating in Hindu festivals,
making children attend Hinduism classes and praying regularly
(everyday) at home
Scenario 2: Someone at school distributes pamphlets on another
religion.
Suggested response: Teach your child to bring the pamphlet
to you so that you can share about being a Hindu and discuss
the difference between Hinduism and the other religion, before
disposing of the pamphlet. Have regular conversations with
your child about God which might alert you to any conversion
attempts on the child in school. Peer Groups involving Young Adults
Scenario: The friends / peers of young adults try to convert
them during social gatherings, or invite them to prayer meetings
or at times of personal stress or crisis such as examinations:
Suggested responses:
- I am willing to discuss religion with you, if you are
willing to hear about my religion;
- I will never consider converting to some other religion
without discussing it with people close to me;
- I have found my own Faith and its practices show me a
way to finding happiness in life;
- I understand your desire to share and show concern for
me, but I am happy and good as I am;
- Religious beliefs are a personal matter, so we should
not let this spoil our friendship;
- I need your support as a friend please do not use this
time of stress to talk about your Faith;
- I do not want to convert you, so why do you want to
convert me?
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Religious conversion in public places AND going
door-to-door
Scenario: They approach you in public or come to your door
and ask to share their beliefs with you and how it can help your
life. They invite you to common gatherings and offer to help you
in times of distress
Suggested responses:
- I am willing to discuss religion with you, but I will not
convert to some other religion because I am not willing to
give up my source of strength;
- I am deeply rooted in my own religion which I believe
is the Truth;
- I understand your desire to show your concern for me,
but I believe that I can lead my life comfortably, practicing
my own religion;
- I will not convert to any other religion, so please leave
me alone;
- I do not want to convert you, so why do you want to
convert me?
- I know where to go when I am distressed, they will
help me in the way I am used to.
If they question your beliefs, respond firmly with specific
answers by referring to relevant parts of this booklet.
"In the history of the world, Hinduism is
the only religion that exhibits a complete
independence and freedom of the human
mind, its full confidence in its own powers.
Hinduism is freedom, especially the freedom
in thinking about God."
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Adults in the office
Scenario 1: You are approached by your colleagues trying to
share their faith with you.
Suggested responses:
- I am a Hindu and this is my personal choice
- I appreciate the Hindu philosophy, it makes sense to
me in all aspects of life
- It has many holistic practices that have helped me
many times
- I understand these practices and they form the
foundation of my integrity of character
- They are a part of my personal make-up and affect
every aspect of my behaviour, even in the office
- Hinduism is deeply rooted in me so I have no need to
for your intervention in my personal beliefs
Scenario 2: Knowing that you are not keen to discuss their faith,
they invite you to common gatherings under the guise of office
work but to discuss their faith.
Suggested response: If it is not possible to avoid participating,
attend the event but politely
say that you do not wish to
participate in the religious
“The Great Soul of
activity.
Scenario 3: Office colleagues
use office meeting rooms for
religious activities during lunch
time.
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India will topple our
World”
Romain Rolland
French novelist, art
historian and mystic.
Suggested response: Raise the issue with your Human Resource
Department and ask them if this use for religious activities is
officially endorsed by the company/organization.
Family members at home
Scenario: A family member or relative has just converted into
another faith and is very zealous in wanting to convert other
members of your family and relatives.
Suggested responses: If the person trying to convert others
is not an immediate family member, monitor the activities
that this member does with your children. Limit the amount
of unsupervised time your child has with this member. Be
particularly careful of converts (i.e. people who had converted
into the new religion), as they are more zealous in wanting to
convert others as a deep-seated need for reaffirmation of their
own decision to convert.
- Make the following points clear to the member :
- My family and I are Hindus and we do not wish to
convert to your faith.
- I appreciate the Hindu philosophy, it makes sense to
me in all aspects of life
- It has many holistic practices that have helped me many
times
- I wish to raise my children as good Hindus and would
greatly appreciate it if you do not interfere in this process
and create confusion in their minds.
Hinduism is unique in that it considers
wrongdoings as a dimension of ignorance
which can be remedied through proper
practice and teachings.
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Why it is invaluable
being a Hindu
Hinduism states that a direct experience of God is possible
here and now. This eliminates all sorrows, making one’s life a
state of continued happiness. Unlike other religions, it does not
make a promise now to deliver something in the future. None
are condemned and everyone is an aspect of God. As such,
divinity is present in everyone with no inherent traits of sin
or any other forms of blemish. Hinduism is unique in that it
considers wrongdoings as a dimension of ignorance which can
be remedied through proper practice and teachings.
The Hindu Philosophy is based on logic and thought-reasoning,
unlike non-verifiable belief systems. The method of enquiry
in Hindu Philosophy is to raise objections against itself and
subsequently answer them logically, thus establishing the stated
position. We have a tradition of raising objections that cannot
even be imagined by others and then answer them convincingly.
This is done because we want to explore and discover the truth.
There is also a rich tradition of science, mathematics, astronomy,
medicine, architecture, literature and language within Hinduism.
The proof of the grandeur of Hinduism is easily seen in that
other ancient religions that pre-dated it have either faded away
or ceased to exist while Hinduism continues to grow in strength
every day. Hinduism is a beautiful and practical religion that
has stood the test of time and one that will continue to thrive
forever.
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Mission
The Hindu Centre is dedicated to the spiritual
progress of Singapore Hindus through the three
pillars of Knowledge (Jnana), Devotion (Bhakti)
and Service (Seva).
Vision
Hindu Centre Singapore aspires to be a trusted
voice on Hinduism and a focal point for Hindus
in Singapore, through its teaching, learning and
practice of vedic scriptures and values.
HINDU CENTRE SINGAPORE
Hinduism teaches man to follow the three paths to Godhead, namely
karma marga (service), jnana marga (knowledge) and bhakti marga
(devotion). Almost 40 years on, these three paths continue to form the
Centre’s foundation for its programmes and activities. Today, the Centre
continues to offer a range of educational programmes encompassing the
teachings of Hindu Vedantic philosophy, and opportunities to engage
in devotional and service activities to guide the Hindu in his or her
obligations to society.
Educational Programmes
• Balagurukulam classes on Sundays for 6 to 16 year olds
• Courses for adults include Basic Hinduism, Worship, Home Puja, Prayers and Shloka chanting, Samskaras or rites of passage, and ethics like Dharmashastras.
• Marriage preparation course for Hindu couples with HEB
• Regular satsangs and talks by visiting spiritual leaders from different parts of the world.
• Publications
Bhakti Programmes
• Monthly bhajans. The bhajan group also performs on special occasions like Ramanavami, Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chaturti as well as Navarathri. These events are held at the Centre’s premises.
• HCS also takes the lead in organising broader community events such as Rakshabandhan and Krishna Jayanti.
Seva Activities
• Mitra Counselling for inmates and families
• Bandhu visiting Hindus in elder-care homes
• Chakra for juveniles
• Financial assistance to children of inmates
Funding and Volunteering
Hindu Centre is a volunteer-run organisation. We welcome you to
volunteer your time, experience and expertise to the Centre. HCS depends
on members’ contributions and donations to provide and support all its
activities. We would appreciate your support through a monthly GIRO
deduction to Hindu Centre to support and grow these activities. You
can also support specific projects which are closer to your heart or in
honour of a loved one.
Your continued support will benefit all Hindus in Singapore, including
those who need a helping hand to get through their lives. Please help us
to help them.
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132 Owen Road, Singapore 218935
Tel: 6291 8540
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: hinducentre.org.sg
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