HINDUS MUST DEVELOP A BACKBONE FOR STANDING STRONG FOR DHARMA

Hindus Must Stand Strong for Dharma
By Stephen Knapp
I’m sure that most of you who are reading this are quite ready to stand
strong to defend Hindu Dharma in all kinds of situations and answer all kinds of
questions about it. But I’m also sure that you know there are plenty of Indian
born Hindus who are not. And this should change.
Some Hindus may simply be too timid to want to enter what could become a
confrontation with others. Some Hindus may simply not want to deal with those
who may be ignorant of the ways of Hinduism and yet remain quite presumptuous
about it. Some people, without knowing the customs of the Hindu tradition, may
want to demean or criticize it. Thus, they may make derogatory statements
about it to embarrass or provoke Hindus. Or some Hindus simply do not have
enough knowledge to feel confident about properly presenting Vedic Dharma to
others or in answering questions.
Some Hindus also do not have sufficient pride in their own culture to feel
bold enough to take on some criticism that they may hear others say at times.
So they would rather remain silent and unnoticed.
We have to help such people feel differently about this by giving them what
they need, such as the proper information and views so they realize and
understand the greatness of Vedic Dharma and how to present it to others. And they
should be able to answer questions of all kinds, at least to cover the
basics. These should be answered in a quick and concise and effective manner,
regardless of whether they are criticisms or simply asked by those who are
misinformed but sincerely interested. This way they can show that the Hindu
tradition is not some shallow philosophy or a bunch of ancient myths or
superstitions, which is exactly what some non-Hindus think. We have to show them that
this is a profound way of life that has been descending down through generations
for thousands of years. And that it contains deep insights and spiritual
knowledge that has been found no where else and which has been a guiding light
for all of humanity. But to do that all Hindus must be properly educated in
their culture.
Defending Vedic Dharma should be accepted as a collective effort for each of
us. If we do not defend Dharma in the world, then ruin to you and society is
automatic, either gradually or quickly. Dharma means the universal Spiritual
Truths that maintain balance in the world. Without that, imbalance and
deterioration will surely follow.
So just as when a person wants to be expert in martial arts, he or she must
practice regularly so he can defend himself in any number of situations or
from any kind of an attack. Similarly, we have to practice defending our
culture in any kind of circumstance in which we may find ourselves or from any kind
of questions that may be presented. And we need to be able to take on such
questions without getting emotional or defensive or provoked into anger. We
must take them on coolly, calmly and confidently. And this takes practice.
Regular workshops should be held in temples or even in homes so Hindus can
practice being prepared with the proper information and response. If this is
done in a group setting with others involved, this could be quite fun,
entertaining, educational, and certainly bolster pride in their own culture and
invoke the courage to defend it whenever the need arises.
If someone asks you questions about Hinduism, then suddenly you become a
representative for the whole Hindu culture and everyone else who is a Hindu.
Then you and Hindus in general will be judged not only by your response, but
also by the depth of your answer, as well as your attitude, meaning whether you
are cool, calm or confident, or if you become flustered, emotional,
defensive, angry, or have little depth to your answer. Thus, we have to be prepared.
We all have to have the pride and be educated in our culture to defend it and
provide succinct, accurate and thoughtful answers. And these have to make
sense, whether it is to those who are looking to criticize, or to those who may
sincerely be asking a question but simply do not understand Vedic culture.
An example of what I mean is when I was in Siliguri, India back in 2003
when I was on a lecture tour. I, along with some of the elders from a local
Hindu organization, attended a press conference. The press from the local
newspapers started asking various questions. I thought they were simple enough, but
the questions were not answered in an uncomplicated manner. The elders
started getting worked up by the questions and the lack of understanding of the
press, and then members of the press also started getting aggravated. Emotions
started running high with misunderstandings all the way around. Then I got up
to speak and made a simple introductory statement and then took questions. I
answered each one directly and briefly.
As I did so, I could see members of the press become quiet, possibly because
I was a Westerner and they wanted to hear what a non-Indian had to say about
Vedic culture. But I could see their heads nodding up and down in a positive
way. Then, as they were taking notes, they said, “Yes, these are the kind of
answers we wanted to hear. We can use this in our reports.” So they were
satisfied then. And a positive press report was published in the next day’s
paper. But I wondered what would have happened, and what kind of news article
would have been printed, if I had not answered some of the questions and handled
the press conference the way I did. I’m sure it would have come out much
more negatively. I had become a representative of the Hindu community, and the
local Hindus that were there were not adept at handling questions and the
press appropriately. This certainly does not attract others to their point of
view.
So when it comes to who will speak for Hinduism, we all must be ready to
speak for Hinduism, but we must be educated to know what to say. We need to make
all the necessary information easily accessible to all. We need to be sure
the proper books are available. We need to use modern technology to our
advantage to make inspiring presentations. We must have classes for presenting
powerful views on the advantages of Vedic culture with insightful speakers. And
if we do not know what to say to others, we must learn from those who do
know.
This is one of the reasons why I have written and supplied so many books,
such as “Vedic Culture: The Difference It Can Make in Your Life” and “The
Power of the Dharma”. These books not only show the various ways Vedic culture
can be used for people to reach their highest potential, but also explains the
basics of the Hindu culture and Dharmic philosophy so people can understand it
quickly and easily and then be able to explain it to others. As Hindus
become prolific in sharing the advantages and benefits of their culture, others
will also see the importance of its spiritual philosophy and way of life.
Another example of what I’m talking about is that at a conference in Houston
in July of 2006, I met one Westerner who had put a slide show together on
Hindu culture and had shown it at a school and three churches, Catholic and
Methodist. These were for people who were sincerely interested. However, the
teachers at the school told him that they had asked the parents of some of their
Indian students if they would like to give a presentation on India and
Hinduism. However, the parents responded that they did not know enough about their
own culture to give such a talk. So here was an opportunity wherein Indians
could give a correct understanding of what Hinduism is all about in a friendly
environment and they could not do it. This should not be the case.
Fortunately, the need for such a presentation was fulfilled by a Westerner who had
sufficient knowledge and interest to give the students and teachers at the
school some genuine insights into the Vedic tradition.
Sometimes it is plain to see that Western Hindus, those not born into the
tradition but have enthusiastically adopted it, have more pride and knowledge
of the culture than many Indian Hindus. This should be a source of inspiration
for Indian born Hindus. We have many such bold and inspiring speakers in my
organization, called The Vedic Friends Association [_www.vedicfriends.org_
(file:///A:/vedic_friends_assocation.htm) ] who can lecture and have written
books on the dynamics of Vedic culture. Anyone can contact them to schedule
talks and check out their books.
Furthermore, if the parents do not know enough about Hindu culture and do not
enough pride or care to teach their children properly, or at least enroll
them in classes at a local temple or balgokulam, then with all the emphasis on
conversions displayed by the monotheistic religions, that Indian Hindu
family will no longer be Hindu in about two generations. However, I’ve talked to
some Indian Hindus who have said it would take only one generation for the
sons and daughters in that family to lose their Hindu faith. This is a reason
why in many areas strong Hindus may be disappearing. There is a solution to
this, and that is to make sure Hindus are educated in their own culture enough
to know how and why they should pass it along to the next generation.
What is Vedic Culture
The Vedic tradition is a spiritual path and a way of life. It is a process
by which we understand how to be better human beings, how to realize our
spiritual nature, how to recognize that spiritual essence in each and every living
being, how to understand our relationship with God and the universe and all
other living entities, and how to live according to that relationship. It is
the most dynamic means of elevating the consciousness of humanity and society
available today.
It is also a means of understanding our spiritual connection with each
other. By having respect for everyone=s spiritual identity, we can perceive that
my contribution to your well-being is an automatic contribution to my own
existence. Thus, we all work together toward attaining a clean mind and pure
heart. In this way, by working together, society at large is in a state of
constant improvement. That is one of the goals of the Vedic way of life, and all
those who seriously follow it. So who should be afraid to explain this?
Being a Vedic Ambassador
In this way there is a need for what I call Vedic Ambassadors. This is
similar to the term Intellectual Kshatriyas, meaning those who are strong enough
to stand up for Vedic Dharma. As Vedic Ambassadors:
1. We need to be educated in our scripture and traditions, and why we
do things.
2. We need to show and share how it has improved our own lives.
3. We need to defend ourselves against the ignorance or simple
misunderstanding of others.
4. We need to be pro-active both politically and socially. There are
already organizations that are working in such ways in which we can
participate.
5. We don’t proselytize, but we are ready and willing to open our doors
to all community members to let them see what we have and who we are, and
even how they may also participate.
6. We must also support our own community and its causes, and those
programs that support and defend our culture. After all, we are here to pool our
resources and channel them in a way for the upliftment of all people as well
as for the protection of our own culture, Vedic Dharma.
7. We need to show the universal nature of the Vedic Dharma and how it
is based on spiritual Truths that are applicable to anyone from any
background. It is such a profound culture that we need to show that it is not only for
a few Hindus, but for the upliftment of all humanity.
We are a part of the hope for the future. We should have confidence in what
we can do because history has shown that we have already made a difference. In
this way, if we all become Vedic Ambassadors, then you will see a great
coalition that brings a bright future wherein people respect all beings and all
religions. You will see a freedom for the individual to develop according to
the spiritual level most suitable for him or her. At that time, we will see a
spiritual and cultural freedom like we have never known before. Then the
universal Spiritual Truths as found and presented in the Vedic tradition will
gain respect and be accepted by many more millions of people across the planet.
This could certainly change the course of history and manifest the spiritual
dimension in the world.
Other Articles to Read:
_Vedic Culture: As Relevant Today as Ever_
(file:///A:/vedic_culture_as_relevant_today_as_ever.htm)
_A Call for Vedic Ambassadors_
(file:///A:/a_call_to_be_vedic_ambassadors.htm)
_Giving Vedic Culture to the Next Generation_
(file:///A:/giving_vedic_culture_to_the_next_generation.htm)
Free E-books:
_Why Be a Hindu: The Advantages of the Vedic Path_
(file:///A:/why_be_a_hindu.htm)
Books to Read:
_The Power of the Dharma_ (file:///A:/power_of_the_dharma.htm) ,
_Vedic Culture: The Difference it can Make in Your Life_
(file:///A:/vedic_culture_book.htm) ,
_The Heart of Hinduism_ (file:///A:/heart_of_hinduism.htm) ,
_The Secret Teachings of the Vedas_
(file:///A:/secret_teachings_of_the_vedas.htm) ,
_Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence_
(file:///A:/proof_of_vedic_culture's_global_existence.htm) .
[This article and the above articles and books, plus more information are
available at: www.stephen-knapp.com]