Thursday 3 October 2013

My Faith

I am a Hindu, because my parents were Hindus.  It was not a choice I made.  I know most people in the world did not choose their religions.

I was brought up as a God fearing child by my parents, I was made aware that if I do something wrong, then I will be sent to hell.  I learnt the religion by watching my grand parents and parents, and doing what they did or wanted me to do.  My grand parents and parents prayed and fasted a lot, and my grandfather did chores at temples.  So, I too believed in fasting, praying and doing chores at temples.

My formal education in Hinduism started at Grade 1, with a Q&A book on Saivam (Saiva Vinaa Vidai).  I remember the definition of God in that book: 'He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent'.  I accepted it, and I do so even today.  If one person can know everything everyone knows, can do everything everyone could do and can be everywhere people are present, then He has to be God.  The book did not refer to other religions.

As a teenager I went to a nearby temple almost everyday, and at least once.  Later as a University Student, I put in a lot of time to get things done at a Hindu temple.  Whenever I came back to my home town, Jaffna, again I went to temples everyday.

I was also influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's teachings, that religions are different paths to the only God.  I prayed at Churches and Buddhist temples.  As a teenager, I went to a Catholic church every Tuesday, and when I was in the University, I spent time hanging around a Buddhist temple on full moon days. I liked the breeze, moon light and light from all oil lamps lit.

In Sri Lanka all religions are respected.  I often notice in three wheelers in Colombo, there's always a series of Gods and Goddesses from all faiths.  Even at home, I have never heard my elders talking down of another religion.  Recent days, as I travel through rural parts of Sri Lanka, I see a Ganesha sitting under huge trees.  He is not replacing Lord Buddha, but Ganesha is now giving Buddha company.  So are Vishnu, Lakshmi and Murugan.  Almost all Hindu temples in Colombo are flooded with Buddhists, and the Hindu priests are now fluent in Sinhalese to communicate with them.

Once I left Sri Lanka, I had been to many  historic places of worship for Muslims and Christians in Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, Turkey, Italy, France and Germany. This is on top almost all ancient  Hindu Shrines in Tamilnadu and a few in North India.  Having lived in Muslim countries for nearly 15 years, I find many common beliefs with them as well.

Why am  I like this?  What is it that I want from God?  Am I getting insurance from all religions, so that if one path is blocked, the other could remain open.  I am not sure.

I met Roberto, a Brazilian graduate student in Texas in 1980.  Very helpful person, who wanted to know which Church I belong to? In Texas there are all sorts of Churches.  I told him that I belong to Church of Prathapar.  It was meant to be a silly joke.  But, may be it is what is true.  I seem to have my own opinion and ways of relating to God and practicing religions.  Although I am a Hindu, I do not believe in reincarnation.  I think if I do some thing good I will be rewarded in this birth, and for doing wrong, I will be punished now in this birth.  Although, I could never understand why children are born into poverty, disabled or handicapped.  They have not done anything wrong yet, have they?

It now looks like to that what I told Roberto is not a silly joke, its a state of my mind about God and Religion.

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