im Hndu, but on the verge of agnosticism. tomorrow theres a program at my tmple, n idk if i should go...?

Question

i was born into agnosticism, spent most of my life Hndu, n now im afraid i might be goin back to agnosticsm (if i aint already there).tonight, i tried prayin, but didnt feel the faith comin out, so i stopped. i have too many problems outta my control, n everybody tell me to pray more, but im loosin da faith! idk how strong i was in Hnduism, but im startin to feel like god is made up so ppl can have somethin to rely on, n what proof is there that god exists? too many ignorant ppl have a common misconception of Hnduism (we ONLY have 1 god, but represented through diff forms, symbolically showin that god is everywhere and in everything!) n we DONT worship images(we use the images as a symoblic way of devotion, n thru the image, god is invoked!) the image is NOT god, but god is in EVERYTHING! well, tomorrow we gotta religious event at my tmple, n idk if i should go, considerin id feel funny if i dont pray. my aunty said to go n just meditate, is it still a good idea to go?

Answer 1

Listen to your heart.
Forget the rest.

Answer 2

All religions which have a concept of super natural emanated from a divine source although contimanated and mutilated after passing through a long tempering by human minds.Agnosticism is merely a negation or to some extent a rebllion against the mutilated forms of religion.Your disappiontment from Hinduism could be a psychological rebellion.Religion is a continuous phenomenon of instruction from God as such should be expected to remain fresh.

Answer 3

Sometimes I feel really spiritually filled after visiting the temple.....or when I go with my friends of various faiths to their sacred places (church, synagogue, mosque). I may not have been born into Hinduism, but if there is one thing I've learned its that at the temple you don't necessarily have to go with the crowd. Everytime I journey to our local temple (which is a bit of a road trip for me) the one thing that always fascinates me is how you will have people praying before the murtis (at our temple there is seven murtis at the altar) and if you look out into the sanctuary you see some people meditating, others standing and talking to people, others reading, and yet others who may be chanting or singing bhajans (if it's around that time of day). The most beautiful thing about Hinduism to me is that it is so flexible and open and the temple reflects this. Here are many people from various denominations, sects, and subsects from Hinduism with varying beliefs and yet they all come and share the temple and let each worship, pray, meditate, etc in their own way. I'm a European-American (white guy) and I know lots of other folks who weren't born into a Hindu family, let alone an Indian-American family and yet we have no fear going to the temple. Some are very philosophical and not very devotional, and yet they go to the temple for their own reasons. Some are more devotional than philosophical and they go to the temple for their own reasons. So for whatever reasons you might have about going to the temple, then go....but go without being afraid to go. Afterall, if there is no God, then those are just beautiful pieces of art. On the other hand you are a part of a religion that is diverse in its concepts on God and the many paths one can take.

Still, in the end I'm reminded of what a Buddhist teacher once said to me (and I've heard it repeated by some of the Hindu teachers I've been fortunate enough to hear when they come from India to Oklahoma......and trust me it's not often that they make it to Oklahoma, mostly they go to California or New York...about as close as they usually get is Dallas, Texas) is "try it and if it doesn't work for you, move on to something else and try it." Thus if you don't feel like praying, try something else. If you've explored all your options in Hinduism, look at other religions. I know that before I came to Hinduism I studied a lot of other religions. When I discovered Hinduism I was amazed to find a religion that shared so much of what I already innately believed. However, that said, if in the end you choose to be Agnostic, then that's okay, too. As one of my Agnostic friends always tells me "The question of God's existence is irrelevant to me, but that doesn't mean I am not spiritual." And I even have a friend whose an Atheist who still enjoys studying religions and who enjoys going with friends or myself to our various religious functions. As she says "It's always good to learn more about the world and besides I enjoy the beautiful aspects of the various religious traditions." The sacred Divine isn't just in the temple and for some people it's not in a temple or house of worship of anykind. Some find it in nature or music, etc. But if you do go to the temple and you decide not pray, don't feel ashamed or bothered. It's okay if you choose to just sit back and watch or meditate.

Peace be with you.

Answer 4

Whether you go to the temple or not it is immaterial. But if you could concentrate and meditate on candle light, you can start practice it. First look at the flame for a few minutes, close the eyes, assume that the light is in between your eye brows above the nose. Keep your attention there and bring the image of light to the heart, keep it and think that all bad thoughts, influences etc flee from heart and bring it to eyes, think that your vision is purified and henceforth you will look at good things only, bring it to ears, you imagine the faculty of hearing is purified and you will listen only to good thing, then bring it to nose, henceforth you will smell only good smells. bring it to the tongue. henceforth you will relish only holy talks and holy foods, if possible avoid non-veg items. like wise bring the light to head to light the head with noble thoughts. all darkness from head flee away. bring it to hands. it will do only good works and help the poor and distressed and handicapped. bring it to the feet. henceforth you will visit only good places, you will not loiter here and there. you will go to holy places. help all. By this way and meditation you will definitely reap good results. you can become peaceful. all problems will become insignificant. practice. nagarajan.

Answer 5

Friend
Irrespective of whether ur a religious person or not just going to the temple for medication will not harm you get some peace of mind

Answer 6

I'd say definitely go - unless you have to do some sort of english/grammar test to get in. Probably give it a miss if that's the case.