Why is religious commitment important? Aren’t all religions really one? How does one choose a name? Do you have to be born a Hindu to be a Hindu? Never have such questions been so boldly addressed as in this book about how anyone can honorably enter the world’s oldest faith. It records the conclusions of over fifty years of work and research in the field of personal belief and religious conviction which occasionally culminate in the need to transcend the boundaries of one’s faith by birth and seek solace in another. How to Become a Hindu is thus a practical manual to help guide those seeking to ratify their self-declared commitment to the Sanatana Dharma in all its dimensions: spiritual, social, cultural, economic and educational. It’s package deal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Once in a while on this Earth there arises a soul who, by living his tradition rightly and wholly, perfects his path and becomes a light to the world. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami is such a being, a living example of awakening and wisdom, a leader recognized worldwide as one of Hinduism's foremost ministers. In 1947, as a young man of 20, he journeyed to India and Sri Lanka and was two years later initiated into sannyasa by the renowned Siddha Yogi and worshiper of Siva, Jnanaguru Yogaswami of Sri Lanka, regarded as one of the 20th century's most remarkable mystics. For over four decades Subramuniyaswami, affectionately known as Gurudeva, has taught Hinduism to Hindus and seekers from all faiths. He is the 162nd successor of the Nandinatha Kailasa lineage and satguru of Kauai Aadheenam, a 51-acre temple-monastery complex on Hawaii's Garden Island of Kauai. From this verdant Polynesian asrama on a river bank near the foot of an extinct volcano, he and his monastics live their cherished vision, following a contemplative and joyous existence, building a jewel-like white granite Siva temple, meditating together in the hours before dawn, then working, when rainbows fill the sky, to promote the dharma together through Saiva Siddhanta Church, Himalayan Academy and Hindu Heritage Endowment. Gurudeva is known as one of the strictest gurus in the world. His Church nurtures its membership and local missions on five continents and serves, personally and through books and courses, the community of Hindus of all sects. Its mission is to protect, preserve and promote the Saivite Hindu religion as expressed through three pillars: temples, satgurus and scripture. Its congregation is a disciplined, global fellowship of family initiates, monastics and students who are taught to follow the sadhana marga, the path of inner effort, yogic striving and personal transformation. Gurudeva is the recognized hereditary guru . of 2.5 million Sri Lankan Hindus. His is a Jaffna- Tamil-based organization, which has branched out from the Sri Subramuniya Ashram in Alaveddy to meet the needs of the growing Hindu Diaspora of this century. He has established a branch monastery on the island of Mauritius and gently oversees more than 40 temples worldwide. Missionaries and teachers within the family membership provide counseling and classes in Saivism for children, youth and adults. HINDUISM TODAY is the influential, award-winning, international monthly magazine founded by Gurudeva in 1979. It is a public service of his monastic order, created to strengthen all Hindu traditons by uplifting and informing followers of dharma everywhere. Gurudeva is author of more than 30 books unfolding unique and practical insights on Hindu metaphysics, mysticism and yoga. His Master Course lessons on saivism, taught in many schools, are preserving the teachings among thousands of youths. Hindu Heritage Endowment is the public service trust founded by Gurudeva in 1995. It seeks to establish and maintain permanent sources of income for Hindu institutions worldwide. In 1986, New Delhi's world Religious parliament named Gurudeva one of five modern-day Jagadacharyas, world teachers, for his international efforts in promoting a Hindu renaissance. Then in 1995 it bestowed on him the title of Dharmachakra for his remarkable publications. The Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders for Human Survival chose Subramuniyaswami as a Hindu representative at its unique conferences. Thus, at Oxford in 1988, Moscow in 1990 and Rio de Janeiro in 1992, he joined religious, political and scientific leader from all countries to discuss privately for the first time, the future of human life on this planet. At chicago's historic centenary Parliament of the World's Religions in September, 1993, Subramuniyaswami was elected one of three presidents to represent Hinduism at the prestigious President's Assembly, a core group of 25 men and women voicing the needs of world faiths. In 1996 Gurudeva upgraded the newspaper Hinduism Today to a magazine, a quantum leap that placed it on newstands everywhere. In 1997 he responded to President Clinton's call for religious opinions on the ethics of cloning and spearheaded the 125th anniversary of Satguru Yogaswami and his golden icon's diaspora pilgrimage to Sri Lanka. Recently Gurudeva has been a key member of vision kauai, a small group of inspirers (including the Mayor and former Mayor, business and education leaders and local Hawaiians) that meets to fashion the island's future based on spiritual values. If you ask people who know Gurudeva what is so special about him, they may point to his incredible power to inspire others toward God, to change their lives in ways that are otherwise impossible, to be a light on their path toward God, a father and mother to all who draw near.
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