Enjoying the Experience

Namaste Jesus

Namaste Jesus

Praise the Lord and Enjoy the Chai
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Hello everyone. I'm a relatively new member here. I've been posting for a couple weeks now, but haven't really introduced myself. I'm a Christian presiding over a Hindu Temple in Maryland. Yes, you read that right, a Christian presiding over a Hindu Temple.

You see, about 25 years ago I married a Hindu girl from the Fiji Islands. At the time, I didn't know much about her religion, but didn't see it as a major problem. I just figured she'd pray in her corner and I'd pray in mine. Over the years and countless trips to Fiji, my understanding of the Hindu faith grew and grew. To my surprise, my wife and all of my in-laws were very accepting of my faith and were more than willing to share ideas.

Early on I was invited to participate in various ceremonies. I didn't understand much at first, but there I'd be in the middle of everything reciting the Lord's prayer. As time passed and my understanding of Hindi increased, I found more similarities in the two faiths than differences.

Some time ago, I had promised my wife that if we were ever able to purchase a big enough property, I'd build her a small Hindu Temple. Well, we did purchase such a property and I kept my word. It started out as a private little chapel for my wife to pray in, but has since grown into what's now known as the Namaste Jesus Ministry, embracing Hindu philosophy and Christianity.

We do however acknowledge other faiths and believe that we all pray to the same God with the only difference being the method in which we choose to worship. I joined this forum because of the insightful and knowledgeable people that were posting. It's the only forum I've encountered that doesn't have a, (my God can beat up your God), mentality. Anyway, I'm glad to be here and enjoying the experience.
 
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NJ, that indeed is a beautiful journey...

So, you said you 'preside over' a Hindu Temple... which means you are a pastor (or a guru, I should say) ...? Do you preach the Bible or the Hindu scriptures, or both??

I'm not very familiar with Hinduism, but am interested in learning. Do many Fijians (or do you) admire Sathya Sai Baba? I recently read about him and am very intrigued...


"We do however acknowledge other faiths and believe that we all pray to the same God with the only difference being the method in which we choose to worship."

This, I can't agree with you more.

My view is this... the mysterious spiritual force governing this universe has been recognized by many people all over the world all through the human history... and no matter how many different names have been issued to address 'it', we have always been talking about the same entity which many people, including me, happen to call God. But it's just that the interpretation of God (or how we understand and describe it) widely varies culture to culture, or even person to person.


Tad
 
"As time passed and my understanding of Hindi increased, I found more similarities in the two faiths than differences."

--> It is an important part of my religious belief that original Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, etc., were practically identical, and that all of these religions have originated from a single source. I have done a lot of studying on the topic, and I have found amazing similarities between 'original' Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism. (What has become of these religions down through the centuries is an entirely different topic.)

NJ, I think it is also very possible that you are a reincarnated Hindu.
 
"NJ, I think it is also very possible that you are a reincarnated Hindu."

Funny you should say that. When preparing my wife's original visa, we had to make several trips to the US Embassy located in Fiji's capitol city, Suva. My wife and brother-in-law, who went with us. They had never been to that part of Suva before and I had never been to Fiji at all. No one knew exactly where the Embassy was, but before my brother-in-law could ask for directions, I told them where it was and led them directly there. Everyone was puzzled including myself, but we didn't think too much of it.

Prior to this, starting in my late teens, I had this reoccurring dream about being killed by a grenade during WWI. Never really thought too much of that either until one day, after being married for several years, I stumbled across a very interesting tid-bit on the web. It seems that a small battalion of men from the Fiji Islands composed of Europeans, Native Fijians and Indo-Fijians had taken part in one of the earlier battles of WWI. Nearly all were killed in a grenade attack, but wait, it gets better. It seems, this battalion was trained in Suva; on the site that was later used to house the US Embassy!
 
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Tadashi said:
NJ, that indeed is a beautiful journey...

So, you said you 'preside over' a Hindu Temple... which means you are a pastor (or a guru, I should say) ...? Do you preach the Bible or the Hindu scriptures, or both??

I'm not very familiar with Hinduism, but am interested in learning. Do many Fijians (or do you) admire Sathya Sai Baba? I recently read about him and am very intrigued...


"We do however acknowledge other faiths and believe that we all pray to the same God with the only difference being the method in which we choose to worship."

This, I can't agree with you more.

My view is this... the mysterious spiritual force governing this universe has been recognized by many people all over the world all through the human history... and no matter how many different names have been issued to address 'it', we have always been talking about the same entity which many people, including me, happen to call God. But it's just that the interpretation of God (or how we understand and describe it) widely varies culture to culture, or even person to person.


Tad
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My small ensemble gave me the title of Pastor, but most address me as, Uncle. That's what the kids called me in Fiji and it stuck.

I don't preach either scripture per se. I do refer to the Old and New Testament as well as the Bhagavad Gita and even the Torah from time to time, but seldom chapter and verse. I try more to give life affirming lessons and the importance of faith rather than telling people how to believe or what to believe. Religion and faith are deeply personal and each must follow their own path.

Fiji's population is varied, but is primarily composed of 2 main groups. Native Fijians and Indo-Fijians. The Native Fijians are mainly Christian while the Indo- population, those descended from India, are mainly Hindu. Of those I believe some do follow the teachings of, Sathya Sai Baba.

What's amazing to me though, is just how many devout Hindus acknowledge and accept the teachings of Jesus Christ. Pity it doesn't work the other way around in the Christian world. I just have the simple view that it's not important what or how you believe, only that you believe.
 
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"I told them where it was and led them directly there. Everyone was puzzled including myself..."

--> Wow, that's a great story. I have had similar experiences in Japan.

"Prior to this, starting in my late teens, I had this reoccurring dream about being killed by a grenade during WWI."

--> Here is a story of a present-day little boy with a similar type of memories:

Reincarnated! Our son is a World War II pilot come back to life | Mail Online

"I just have the simple view that it's not important what or how you believe, only that you believe."

--> I, on the other hand, believe that some belief systems accelerate our progress towards enlightenment and then on to nirvana faster than others.
 
Nick the Pilot said:
"I told them where it was and led them directly there. Everyone was puzzled including myself..."

--> Wow, that's a great story. I have had similar experiences in Japan.

"Prior to this, starting in my late teens, I had this reoccurring dream about being killed by a grenade during WWI."

--> Here is a story of a present-day little boy with a similar type of memories:

Reincarnated! Our son is a World War II pilot come back to life | Mail Online

"I just have the simple view that it's not important what or how you believe, only that you believe."

--> I, on the other hand, believe that some belief systems accelerate our progress towards enlightenment and then on to nirvana faster than others.
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Hey, thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading that. Wow, my dream wasn't that vivid. Just a jammed rifle and a WWI style grenade landing next to me and I'd wake up. Oddly, those dreams stopped once I'd visited Fiji. I know what you mean about some paths leading to enlightenment a bit quicker than others. That's one of the reasons I began applying Hindu philosophy to Christianity.
 
NJ, thank you for telling me about your ministry... so, your temple seems to be more about people gathering for a spiritual connection with each other and encouraging one another to freely worship God in his/her own way... I think that's wonderful. :)

Yes, I've noticed that 'some' Christians, especially fundamentalists, tend to insist that Christianity is the only true religion (not only for them, but for everyone else too), and I feel saddened when I hear such a statement.

But I think things are slowly changing though... that more Christians are starting to realize 'our oneness' beyond countries, cultures, and religious beliefs. Interfaith dialogues we engage in here can also help us moving towards that direction.

Your story of surprisingly easily finding the embassy, the recurring dream and the tidbit on the web is truly amazing...

And the story of the boy being the reincarnation of the WW2 fighter pilot and remembering in such detail... wow...

Tad
 
Tad and NJ,

I would agree that Christians are making just as much good progress towards heaven as people who do not believe in God, pray to God, or worship God, for example, Zen Buddhists. (I do not think a belief in God is required in order to make progress towards heaven.) This applies to virtuous atheists too.

Yes, I believe that good atheists will go to heaven after they die, and I believe their not proclaiming a religious creed in this life will not hamper them at all.

(This brings up the topic of "hungry ghosts", but this is way off-topic.)
 
Nick the Pilot said:
Yes, I believe that good atheists will go to heaven after they die, and I believe their not proclaiming a religious creed in this life will not hamper them at all.
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I agree. It really doesn't matter what you say about who you are or what’s in your 'head', it only matters “what’s in your heart.” I think God pays little attention to "the labels humans give to themselves", since He can directly look into each person's heart.

Tad
 
Tadashi said:
I agree. It really doesn't matter what you say about who you are or what’s in your 'head', it only matters “what’s in your heart.” I think God pays little attention to "the labels humans give to themselves", since He can directly look into each person's heart.

Tad
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Tad and Nick,

there's a book online, 'God's Plan for All', that points out a few mistranslations in the New Testament regarding hell and who gets saved. I don't completely agree with everything the aurthor says, but he addresses the issue you bring up very well. It's a very interesting read, Home
 
Tad,

I agree with you. This is why I believe that, when we attempt to achieve enlightenment, we are not even asked if we believe in Jesus, Buddha, etc.
 
Namaste Jesus said:
Tad and Nick,

there's a book online, 'God's Plan for All', that points out a few mistranslations in the New Testament regarding hell and who gets saved. I don't completely agree with everything the aurthor says, but he addresses the issue you bring up very well. It's a very interesting read, Home
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Hi NJ,

I skimmed through the first few pages of the book and am glad to see that the authors believe in universal reconciliation as I do. But I have to disagree with them on biblical inerrancy, even for the Autographs (which don't exist anymore, so how can we be so sure about something we can't examine?). My view is that anything that goes through human hands cannot be free from errors. And I don't believe God 'dictates' in human languages.

But I'm passionate about the idea of universalism, so thank you for bringing the book to my attention. I also want to study the work of Robin Parry (pen-name Gregory MacDonald), Thomas Talbott and Rob Bell. Also I recently found a forum hosted by evangelical universalists, so I'm thinking of joining it.

Tad
 
Tadashi said:
Hi NJ,

I skimmed through the first few pages of the book and am glad to see that the authors believe in universal reconciliation as I do. But I have to disagree with them on biblical inerrancy, even for the Autographs (which don't exist anymore, so how can we be so sure about something we can't examine?). My view is that anything that goes through human hands cannot be free from errors. And I don't believe God 'dictates' in human languages.

But I'm passionate about the idea of universalism, so thank you for bringing the book to my attention. I also want to study the work of Robin Parry (pen-name Gregory MacDonald), Thomas Talbott and Rob Bell. Also I recently found a forum hosted by evangelical universalists, so I'm thinking of joining it.

Tad
Click to expand...

I part company with the author on several points as well. What originally caught my eye though, was his explanation of the Hebrew words mistranslated to mean 'Hell' in Christian scripture. This puts things more in line with Hindu teachings on that subject.
 
I'm unable to conduct regular religious services at our Temple for health reasons, but the father of one of our Jewish members happens to be a Rabbi. He was in town this weekend and offered to conduct services for me.

Even though our ministry does not follow Jewish doctrine, it's always a treat to hear Rabbi Segal speak. This Sunday was no exception. In less than a minute he had everyone in stitches. I'd like to share with you the highlights of his sermon.

After exchanging pleasantries I sat on the lawn with the others as Rabbi Segal took up my usual position on the Temple steps.

He began by looking out over those in attendance and shaking his head. Then, while looking up at the sky and gesturing toward the group he said,

"Look at this mess.... 2 Hindus, 6 Christians and 3 Jews." Everyone burst out laughing. "All over the world, in Churches, Synagogues and Temples, people gather to affirm their faith by sharing common religious beliefs."

Long pause.

"Except here. Here, people affirm their faith by putting aside their religious beliefs."

"When my son told me about this place I didn't believe it. How can you worship side by side with people of dissimilar religious backgrounds? But after attending a couple of services I realized what was going on. You folks aren't here to worship. You're here to wait!"

"Let me explain. Our people, (Jews), are waiting for the coming of the Lord. Now, the Christians say the Lord has already come and gone. So you'd think their wait was over, but no, they're all here waiting for him to come back! Of course there's no need for the Hindus to wait for God. They've got so many manifestations of him, if you miss one, another will be along in a minute or two. They're just here waiting to be reincarnated!"

Everyone laughing.

"Okay, okay... I'm poking fun, but seriously. You people have achieved something very few will ever realize. You've found the common ground that unites us all despite our differences. We're all just waiting. Waiting for the answer to the eternal question... what is the meaning of life? Unfortunately, that's not something mere mortals can answer. We can however comfort one another in our quest. So, be patient, tolerant and have compassion for your brethren. They're just here on the planet waiting like everyone else."

"Okay folks, let's eat!"

Spontaneous applause from the members of the ministry and the next door neighbors who had been eavesdropping.
 
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