Redefining Religion

*WARNING: Religion is about to be discussed in the coming post. If you are offended or have no interest in reading about my sudden revelations, please, skip this post. Thank you.*


Today, I became a Hindu. I know what you're thinking: "But Devi! I thought you already were a Hindu!" Ahh, very true my friend, I have been calling myself a Hindu my entire life. It's what I grew up with, what my parents practiced, there were signs of it all around my house, right down to the mini shrine in our house for our most revered God. What other religion would I have belonged to, which other religion could I have followed?

But that is exactly why I was never truly a Hindu. It was a blind faith, an acceptance of what was supposedly normal for me, an ignorant worship of something I didn't ever really understand. I am happy to say that this has begun to be rectified. So, this is how the story goes...

Today, my entire family took a trip to the outlet mall to do some nice summer clothes shopping. (Yes, I bought some gorgeous tops and awesome shorts and four pairs of shoes. Now, back to the topic at hand) Grandfather sat on some bench outside, too bored to even come into the shop, while mom and grandma spent hours upon hours in each store. So what do father and darling Devi do? They discuss things, of course. Topics ranged all the way from college to politics, eventually coming to a rest on religion. And then... Devi's entire perspective changed...

I realized for the first time, that Hinduism is not a religion. There are no conversion procedures, not a single holy scripture places any importance on the act of praying or going to the Temple, and none of them actually talk about God. Ok, the last one isn't quite true, of course they talk about God... But it's all mainly about how as long as you believe in a divine being, any divine being, and do good deeds, you're going to be alright.

No, Hinduism is no religion. It is a way of life. The holiest of scriptures, the very first records of Hinduism to be found, written in the most obscure fashion are the Vedas. All the books were written by a community of men and women, all of them containing nothing but different ways to keep good karma and be an individual with morals and integrity. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." Sounds so simple, doesn't it? That right there, is the only thing it all boils down to. There were no prophets or whispers from God on how to become closer to him/her/it. There was only the belief that by living an honest life, the soul would be saved in the afterlife.

Do I understand everything about my religion now? Of course not. There is so much still to read, so much to ask my father or my grandmother. But I am happy to say that it became much clearer today. It doesn't matter how many times a day I pray, or how many days a week I fast, or how many times I go to the Temple in a month. As long as I am honest in everything I do and believe in my heart that I am a good person, I'm pretty sure I'll be alright. This may be my first life, or my last. It doesn't even matter.




P.S.- I'm so sorry about this guys... I had to get it out there... I promise, I'm not ragging on any other religion, I love religions! I'm sure Christianity or Islam or Buddhism are just as amazing and cool as I think Hinduism is at this point. I really do hope I haven't offended anyone with my random 2 A.M. ramblings about things I've been thinking of all day. Please forgive me if I have =)