How I became Hindu-Narun Rama

Discussion in 'Conversion Stories' started by Aum, May 11, 2015.

  1. Aum

    Aum New Member

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    Namaste!

    I was given this e-mail address by Mr Thakur to write about my introduction and experiences within Hinduism. I am more than happy to do this for you.
    My name is Max Roberts (my Sanskrit name is Narun Rama). I was raised in Baptist environment, and then I converted to neo-paganism, then Hinduism. I have been a Hindu for nearly 2 in a half years, which is filled with many types of experiences.

    I was introduced to Hinduism by my own cultural curiosity. I used to live in Rogers, Arkansas, which is near Bentonville, Arkansas, which had a large population of Indian immigrants.

    I had looked into the Indian culture and history and it had changed my life. I began reading on Hinduism, who's non-dual theology, and means and practicality to attain 'moksha' touched me.
    I decided to begin a vegetarian diet (upholding ahimsa), and began devotional practices to Sri Siva (at that stage I was chanting Om Namah Shivaya, or the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra). Just a couple months of practicing meditations and mantra japas, I began to feel his Ananda. :)

    My devotion to Shiva and the gods grew very much from that day on.

    As I developed along the Sanatana Dharma, I adopted a satguru, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (or Amma).
    Being under her guidance, I have learned to practice the Yoga’s (Bhakti, Karma, etc.), and further my spiritual development.

    I still yet have to meet her body and receive a Guru Mantra from her.
    One experience that I've had that has moved me is a particular moment when I was chanting the Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotram (1008 names of Lalita).

    The third time I had attempted it, half way though, a descent of what I can call Ananda (Bliss) decended on me. I was so much in tears, that I couldn't continue the Stotram for nearly 5 minutes. I'm not sure how often these experiences happen with other Bhaktas, but my faith in the Goddess and Shiva had multiplied thousands of times!
    Today, I am learning the pujas for Shiva (writen by Swami Satyananda Saraswati) and another Puja for my Satguru Amma. I am developing a practice I can have every day that won't disrupt school and study, while improving my spiritual being. I pray to God and the guru to aid my being into Shiva, and to help me to help others. I wish to be an asset to the world, in science, education, spirituality, and even religion.

    My feelings for Hinduism are very fond. I have built a love for the gods, the yoga’s, the sages, and saints. I love the people, the rituals, the symbolism, the idealism, the effort people make to reach this idealism. What's surprising is that this idealism is reached! There are hundreds of saints, sages, yogis, and sadhus who experience this idealism, who express it (depending on the shakti they emit). This idealism is becoming recognized by the West as Vedanta, and the theologies derived from it, are being varified by modern science, the spread of the Bhakti Movement, and the practices of Asana/Pranayama/Dhyana. Perhaps this is evidence the Kali Yuga is closing. :)

    My journey through the Sanatana Dharma has been short, but very moving. So much has happened in 2 1/2 years. I hope much, much more will happened in 80 years! Perhaps even 400 if I keep up with Asanas and Pranayamas. ;)

    Om sarva devibhyo namah, om sarva devebhyo namah!
     
  2. Senthil

    Senthil Active Member Staff Member

    Nice story. There are a great many of us ... eastern souls in western bodies. My story resembles yours with a couple of exceptions. This lifetime started out agnostic, and it's been 40 years plus now.
     
  3. Aum

    Aum New Member

    please share your story so that others get inspired to learn more
     
  4. Senthil

    Senthil Active Member Staff Member

    Namaste Aum,

    It's a long story, but sure I can hit the highlights. Personally, I distinguish between adoptive and convert. Adoptives enter the religion from no religion, whereas converts have to give up something first, or disown their previous religion.

    I'm pretty enthusiastic, go to temple a lot, do daily sadhana, go on pilgrimage, am under vows, changed my name legally, and am also culturally Hindu as much as I can be, in regard to clothing, diet, general attirude.. My sampradaya (school) is Nandinatha sampradaya within Saiva Siddhanta within Saivism.

    Not everyone who takes on Hinduism is like that, but for sure it is an absolutely and totally different paradigm than Abrahamism.

    If there was a single event, I'd say it was confirmation of my inner experiences from Hinduism. At first I didn't know there was a belief system that corresponded to the inner experiences.

    Two and a half years is a long time for you, too. It is quite the sojourn, and I can attest to that. For starters. seeing oneself as a soul on a journey, rather than an individual with a name for the body/mind that is for this lifetime is quite the paradigm shift in itself. Hard to remember in the mundane some days, yet right there too. Best wishes with your sojourn.
     
  5. Aum

    Aum New Member

    well if u could post a seperate post narrating ur journey we would be able to share it in our networking channels...as we have already shared this post.

    thanks
     
  6. Senthil

    Senthil Active Member Staff Member

    It would be a book, so no. (I'll stick with the spirit of humility found in Hinduism.) But the main thing people need to know is "YOU CAN CONVERT TO HINDUISM". There is a fairly common myth that we don't accept converts. I believe this myth is perpetrated by Abrahamics with the thought that if conversion can only go one way, they win. With just a wee bit of research or common sense, yes you can convert.
     
    2 people like this.
  7. ShaktiShiva

    ShaktiShiva New Member

    I can relate to your story. I am just beginning my journey however and I came from 8 years being Wiccan to 1 year Christian now I'm on my journey of Santana Dharma.
     
  8. Senthil

    Senthil Active Member Staff Member

    I feel there are a couple of important points that newcomers to Hinduism need to know, especially if you're coming from an Abrahamic background.
    1) We're not scripture based in the same sense. Yes, we have scriptures, but there are more, and the importance attached to them is considerably less.
    2) Hinduism is primarily experience based. Doing home sadhana, serving others, going on pilgrimage, attending temple regularly, and more are some of the things Hindus do regularly.

    In that spirit, my first recommendation for newcomers is always the same ... go to a Hindu temple, or better yet, 2 or 3, and experience the vibration (sannidhya) first hand. It can reall cut to the chase, so to speak.

    Aum
     
    2 people like this.
  9. Ignorant

    Ignorant New Member

    please write your story as well ..i would love to read your story in conversion stories...i will definitely share ur story in my twitter account...i have read almost all conversion stories in the forum
     

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