Teaching
Hinduism to Non-Hindus
By Gadadhara Pandit Dasa
One
in five hate crimes in America are religiously motivated. Most hate crimes are
rooted in ignorance of other cultures, beliefs, and traditions. Religious
education will play a crucial role in reducing and perhaps even preventing
religious violence from taking place.
The
cultural and religious landscape of America is becoming increasingly diverse.
Our neighborhoods can consist of people from a variety of different faith
backgrounds. In order for us to live in
harmony with each other, it is imperative for everyone to be knowledgeable of
one’s own and other people’s philosophies and practices of prayer and
meditation.
Of
all the major faith traditions, the West is least informed about Hinduism.
Through many popular Hollywood movies, Seven
Years in Tibet, Kundun: the Movie
and the multiple biographies of the Dalai Lama, Buddhism has made its way into
mainstream American culture. Most monks within Hollywood movies are from the
Buddhist tradition. Over the last 14 years, 99% of the people who approach me,
while I’m walking around in New York City in my saffron robes, ask me if I’m a
“Buddhist” monk. Once, a person asked me “if I was a Shaolin monk and if I knew
Kung-Fu.” This is the result of people getting their religious education from
television and movies. This type of “Hollywood” education has proven very
detrimental for those of the Muslim faith whose members have been singled out
after acts of terrorism of a few religious fanatics.
Therefore,
I feel that it is especially important for the student community, high school
and college level, to learn about the various religious traditions that
surround them. Younger minds are more open and receptive to all kinds of
knowledge. They have an easier time learning and accepting the differences that
exist between people. It’s only when we get older and fixed in our own paths
that we have a harder time accommodating others. This increases the risk of
developing the mentality “my way is the only way.”
One
teacher cannot represent all traditions and therefore, it is crucial for
students to get exposed to practitioners of the various faiths who can properly
represent and be the face of that tradition. Hearing from a practitioner brings
the religion to life, which allows the student to see members of other faiths
as people and as a result become more sympathetic to them and their beliefs.
Visits
to houses of worship provide a wonderful, eye-opening experience for students.
This takes them out of their comfort zone and allows them to step into the
world of worship experienced by people of a different culture. We fear what we
don’t know and understand. That fear can lead to discriminatory behavior, which
can even lead to acts of aggression. However, if from an early age, that fear is
dealt with in a positive manner, through acts of education, the next generation
of adults can be more sympathetic and help reduce the religious-based violence
in the world.
Growing up
in Glendale, California in the 1980s, I had the experience of being the only
Hindu kid in school and in my entire town.
Although, I wasn’t discriminated against, I did experience bits of
ridicule from some students about worshipping eight-armed goddesses and
monkeys. I made sure to never bring up religion so as to avoid uncomfortable
situations.
My parents
maintained an altar with pictures of multiple Hindu deities. Daily we would
offer incense and flowers to the gods. I would also participate and recite
prayers and mantras as part of my daily ritual. I didn’t understand the reason
behind the rituals; however, the practices made me feel connected to God.
For the
first time in my life, at the age of 21, after the collapse of my family’s
multimillion-dollar jewelry business, I began an exploration of the Bhagavad
Gita in hopes of finding answers about karma, reincarnation, god, and the
purpose of life. Many years later, in an attempt to explore my spiritual life
in depth, I moved into a monastery in Mumbai, India and have been a monk for
the last 14 years. Currently, I live in a monastery in New York City and work
as the Hindu Religious Life Advisor (chaplain) for Columbia University and New
York University and as an interfaith chaplain for Union Theological Seminary.
I draw upon
my experiences of growing up in this country as an exploring Hindu and attempt
to teach the beliefs and practices of the Hindu faith to a western audience, in
a way that is accessible, relatable, and universal.
Gadadhara Pandit Dasa (aka, Pandit) is
a Hindu monk, a dynamic lecturer, and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for
Columbia University and New York University. Pandit regularly contributes to
the Huffington Post and recently
published his autobiography, Urban Monk -
Exploring Karma, Consciouness and the Divine. Recently, NPR featured Pandit
in its story, ‘Long Days and Short Nights of a Hindu Monk.’ He will be the opening speaker at the upcoming conference, Why Study Religion? at Illinois State University. His talk will be in the State Farm Hall of Business in room 148 at 10am on Friday, October 25th.
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