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Why Are Hindus Apologetic About Being Hindus?
First, Hinduism as the formulation of a universal tradition is not an aggressive system. It
encourages humility and respect for all peoples and all religions.
It promotes itself through peace and love, not through preaching and
condemnation. In the modern world, which has little of spirituality
in it, many Hindus find that their tradition appears out of place.
This has caused them to feel
apologetic about their practices as part of an attempt to
accommodate others. On the second level, the Hindu social system
contains various regressive social customs, like untouchability,
which Hindus feel ashamed of in the face of modern humanitarian
political values.
Only those Hindus who don't
understand the real meaning of their tradition as Sanatana Dharma
and the centrality of its yogic approaches to world spirituality can
be dominated by either of these views. In fact Hinduism, through
Vedanta or the science of Self-realization is the teaching of
lion-hearted souls. It is for the fearless and independent, for
those who are willing to transcend the external view of reality.
Yet not all Hindus are
apologetic about being Hindus. The apologetic Hindu may soon be a
thing of the past, as the great value of Yoga, Vedanta, Ayurveda,
Vedic knowledge and Sanatana Dharma spreads throughout the world.
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