[Advaita-l] How to sustain Sanathana Dharma at Rural India.

[Siva Senani Nori via Advaita-l]

I was listening to Dr. K. Aravinda Rao the other day speak about this aspect. Apparently Hinduism is portrayed so negatively in some (?) American schools - like videos or photos of dead bodies floating in the Ganges and of people saying that Ganges is holy and bathing in the Ganga - that some kids feel ashamed and make statements such as "I am ashamed to be a Hindu". Dr. K Aravinda Rao wrote a book "How to tell Hinduism to your child" (http://advaita-academy.org/pages/BooksSingle.aspx?BookId=135). I did not yet get a chance to read the book (the copies were not adequate during the book-launch) but knowing the author (ex. DGP of Andhra Pradesh), present editor of advaita-academy.org, with a Ph. D. in Sanskrit - I am sure the book has some good pointers.

Misrepresentation of Sanatana Dharma is to be found everywhere. Some do it our of ignorance, some do it in order to provoke, some do it to become famous, and yet others do it purposefully to discredit. The last group silently, covertly influences, facilitates, encourages the general population to denigrate Hinduism and then highlights it. 

What can we do? Participate in the discourse and dispel the mis-representations to the extent we can.

Regards
N. Siva Senani




On Saturday, 20 September 2014 3:21 PM, Sujal Upadhyay via Advaita-l <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
 

>
>
>Namaste,
>
>It all begins with tiny tots - Nursery, kgs students. Teach them our
>shastras like stories from puranas, give them explanation that they can
>digest. Teach them message of Gita. But first we should educate ourselves
>:) Then someone can take a lead and start taking tutions.
>
>For elders who are students give them rational explanation and menaing
>behind certain protocols and our culture like why we do namaste, why ladies
>cover their head, how to pray and does prayer mean merely riciting sloka-s,
>etc. Hindu Janagagruti and forum for hindu awakening is doing good work
>trying to give scientific explanation. Search on net for similar websites.
>Yogic explanation is very helpful. How can one attain peace of mind by
>controlling our passions and desires and their benefits. Benefits of
>chanitng God's name, etc and other day-2-day issues like meaning of
>navaratri and holi and what we should do for inner purification as per
>shastras, quoting them (if possible) and giving references from shastras
>for our rituals (wherever possible, as customs are handed orally).
>
>Please read 'Hindu Dharma' by Kanchi Paramacharya
>
>http://www.kamakoti.org/newlayout/template/hindudharma.html
>
>One chapter is missing, which is an important one. It is found here:
>
>http://indiaspirituality.blogspot.in/2013/10/missing-chapter-in-online-version-of.html
>
>This book will give much clarity and lots of ready material to teach. The
>language is very simple. I hope this helps.
>
>
>Hari OM
>
>OM
>
>Sujal Upadhyay
>
>"To disconnect from the self and to become Aware of anything else is
>nothing but unhappiness" - Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi
>
>He who has faith has all
>He who lacks faith, lacks all
>It is the faith int he name of lord that works wonders
>FAITH IS LIFE, DOUBT IS DEATH - Sri Ramakrishna
>
>On Sat, Sep 20, 2014 at 1:34 PM, Kishoore via Advaita-l <
>advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Loving Sairam to you.Hope you are doing well.
>>
>> I am Kishoore Chelikani from London,United Kingdom. However back in India I
>> am from Ch.Pothapalli,West Godawari District,AP,India
>>
>> As you are aware of that our dearest lord Sri Sathya Sai Baba Varu says
>> that "if you are a Hindu Be a Better Hindu" henceforth I would like to
>> serve my religion (Hindu).
>>
>> I have witnessed personally the decline of Hindu religion in particularly
>> Sanathana Dharma at our village Ch.Pothapalli.
>>
>> Mahatma Gandhi said that the real India lies in the villages. Development
>> is possible when the villages prosper!
>>
>> Can you all advise us on How to promote Sanathana Dharma in Rural India.
>>
>> With Best Regards
>> Kishoore Chelikani
>> 0044-7872383637
>>
>> Please consider the environment  - do you really need to print this e-mail
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