I think there's probably a lot of truth to Hinduism (I'm no expert on the religion, but I'm interested, and I"ve done some reading), but it seems like for all practical purposes it's so embedded in Indian/South Asian culture that it could never be a good cultural fit for a Westerner like me. In the end, I'd be adopting the faith of another people, not finding a faith that is universal enough to fit me.

Or am I wrong?

I've had the same issue about Indian culture and Hinduism for a number of years, since I was denied entry to a temple in India, because I am a white woman. I've debated briefly about this issue a few years back, and I've found that there will never be an easy answer to this question. When I raised this issue before another poster replied, fairly, that us white Hindu converts or "wanna-bes" should stop expecting the red-carpet welcome and being hailed as visiting royalty. I agree, but that wasn't my point.

The most orthodox Hindus will deny your being Hindu. You are not Indian, you are not, therefore, able to understand the depths of Hindu culture, Other Hindus will give you openly curious glances at temples and Hindu religious functions, but will not deny you the right to be present and participate in religious functions. Some Hindus will go out of their way to welcome you and you will feel as if your soul had always been Hindu.

Hinduism is a product of the Indian subcontinent, and so a strong tie to the culture is understandable. But times are changing. We in the West are learning more about Hinduism, and we find it attractive. We come from a different culture, but we want to convert. So it is too late to put the genie back in the bottle: Hinduism cannot be an Indian-only religion. And, throughout history, other non-Indian cultures adopted Hinduism, and no one seems to be able to respond to the Indian culture question then: the Balinese, the Nepalese, and possibly the Laotians and Cambodians going far back in history.

Because there is no single controlling Hindu authority, no one can technically deny you the right to call yourself a Hindu, and if you believe that the truths you find in Hinduism are universal and resonate within you more deeply than anything else, then you are not necessarily accepting the faith of another people's. You are acknowledging a truth that most Hindus, Indian or otherwise, would argue are Universal, not mean only for the people of the Indian subcontinent. But, you may be like me in that you will always have that feeling, more or less, of being an outsider.

Peace,

K-D

If hindus could change their religion to christianity during the portuguese time and
the mughal time, where in they had to eat beef and pork (which is a taboo in hinduism. Why is it so difficult for whites to adopt hinduism. Its an easy religion.
No baptism etc. Just think hindu and you become a hindu but when you learn
about hinduism you feel satisfied that you are a hindu.

According to me its, WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERES A WAY

Greetings, Tina, and thanks for the encouraging words. My Indian born husband always says the same thing you do, if you think you are Hindu, then you are.

I subscribed to Hinduism Today for many years, and it pointed to a way that whites could be Hindus in the truest sense: if you believe, then you are. My sense of being an outsider comes from being barred from certain temples in India while the rest of my huysband's family went in, and from things I've read over the years. Even though I wear saris and a bindhi and a mangal sutra when I go into temples in India, I always have that shrinking feeling that I will be stopped.

But maybe that's not all there is to being a Hindu, going to pray at whatever temple I want, and that feeling I have of being an outsider is my own problem, and not something that's been imposed on me from the outside.

You're so right, Tina, where there's a will, there's a way!

Blessings to you,

K-D