Re: Safe hindu practices for the unitiated
Namaste Ekam,
You have a lot of questions ! Let me try to answer them one by one.
Originally Posted by
Ekam
First of all, I'm not a hindu (formally).
Though it helps being formally initiated as Hindu but once you adopt Hindu way of life, you are considered a Hindu.
I'm a westerner, meat eater and not a celibate.
That is no criteria to judge if one is a Hindu or not. A great majority of Hindus are meat eaters and not celibate. However, if by "meat", you mean "beef", there is a real problem because Hindu community is very much sentimental about it though slowly people have started rationale behind such hue and cry on beef eating. For present, I would advise you to move towards any other type of meat which is acceptable in Hindu Dharma.
I've been reading some books about the tantras and I'm convinced that they are the presiding hindu shastra for this kaliyuga. And also I got that the Guru is of primal importance in this tradition.
In the place I live there are no temples or gurus to get initiation.
I feel you have got attracted to tanra just because of your attachment to meat-eating and not being celibate. Celibacy is only for the Brahmachaaris which is very difficult to follow and I doubt if even 1 % of Hindus can sicerely adopt the life of a Brahmachari.
If you ask me, I have some genuine doubts over the path of tantra as the common Hindus normally don't adopt this path. This path is not considered safe unless you have the guidance of a true Guru.
In some places of the tantric texts it's even said that without a guru, mantra japa, puja, and other rituals are innefective and can even be malefic to the practitioner.
Of course ! This path is full of dangers, as far as I know.
I've been all my life reading the phylosophical aspects of Hinduism, but I can't practice it integrally for the reasons above stated.
I want your opinion on what is safe for me to do at the moment, without a guru, and eating meat.
If you ask me, I would advise you to be like a non-sectarian Hindu first. See, when you join a sect, you have to follow the way of life they tell you. Do what a common non-sectarian does and keep learning until you find a true Guru which attracts you to His path. What does a common "good religious" Hindu do ?
a) Believe in divinity of everything within and outside us. Everything is divine.
b) Respect the life of every being. Don't hurt anyone/any being unless it is necessary for your survival or for protecting dharma.
c) Get ready in the morning by taking bath etc. and pray to his/her chosen deity or many deities whatever attract him/her. He has no qualms in worshipping Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Goddess Durga. Lord Ganesha etc. together. In my pooja place, I have pictures of my Guru/Param Guru, Shiva-linga, images of Lord Vishnu and his other avataras, Mother Goddess in her various forms, Lord Ganesha and many more.
I was a meat-eater (not beef) for more than 45 years of my age. I left it only a few years back. I am a married man.
d) Celebrate Hindu festivals like Deepavali, Holi, Durga Pooja, Maha ShivarAtri, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc.
e) Adopt Hindu way of greeting people. Hindus fold hands together for greeting anyone. Most Hindus touch the feet of their parents, elder brothers, elder sisters etc. for seeking their blessings and if they themselves are elders they bless their younger ones by keeping hand on their head and saying, "Khush raho" (Be happy), "Chiranjeevi ho" (May you live a long life), "Safal ho" (May you be successful) etc.
f) Do not keep any feeling of animosity towards other religions. Hindus go to the worship places of other religions with same respect and take care that the people of other faith are not offended. You will find many Hindus visiting dargahs of Muslims, Churches etc. with full reverence. They see the same God everywhere.
Just go this way for a few years. Slowly, you will achieve higher spiritual planes and a time will come when you will meet your true Guru. Till that time, just relax and enjoy Hindu way of life.
OM
"Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"
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