14 Nov : Oscar winner Hollywood star Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman), the recent convert to Hinduism, says, “My opting for Hinduism is not a religious gimmick”.
In her telephonic interview published on the online edition of The Hindu (English daily which claims itself as “India’s National Newspaper” with a readership of over four million) dated November 13, Roberts adds: “It is similar to Patsy of Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham. We share a common aspect of finding peace and tranquility of mind in Hinduism, one of the oldest and respected religions of civilization”.
Roberts argues: “No, I have no intention of demeaning any other religion simply because of my fondness for Hinduism. I don’t believe in comparing religions or human beings. A comparison is a very mean thing to do. I have received real spiritual satisfaction through Hinduism.”
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it appeared that Roberts was tired of materialism and was exploring genuine spirituality.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, interpreting wisdom of ancient Hindu scriptures, suggested Roberts to realize Self (through meditation), which was pure consciousness and dwelled in all of us. Real happiness, instead of coming from the outer world, would come from within. Although God was beyond space and time, yet could be found within one’s heart through meditation.
Quoting Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Zed pointed out to Roberts to be always aware: The world is the river of God, flowing from him and flowing back to him. Stressing meditation, he quoted Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: meditate upon Self, and finally realize Self, you come to understand everything in life.
Rajan Zed further said that seeing Roberts’ devotion, he would pray God to lead her to the ‘eternal joy’. If she needed any assistance in deeper Hinduism exploration, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to help, Zed added.
Roberts reportedly became interested in Hinduism after seeing a picture of Hanuman devotee Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba, who died in 1973 and whom she never met. She revealed in the past that entire Roberts-Moder family went to temple together to “chant and pray and celebrate. I’m definitely a practicing Hindu”. According to reports, Roberts has been interested in yoga for quite some time. She was in Haryana (India) in September 2009 to shoot “Eat Pray Love” in an ashram (hermitage). In January 2009, she sported a “bindi” (vermillion mark on forehead) during her trip to India. She has a production company called “Red Om Films”, and “Om” in Hinduism is the mystical syllable containing the universe. There were reports that she was trying to adopt a child from India and her kids shaved their heads during her last visit to India. Roberts, however, grew up with a Catholic mother and Baptist father.
Julia Fiona Roberts, 43, one of the most successful Hollywood actresses besides a producer and fashion model, has won best actress Oscar for “Erin Brockovich” and earned Oscar nominations for “Pretty Woman” and “Steel Magnolias”. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
Dear Ms.Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman),
Thanks.
Yes, Hinduism does not make any discrimination in the society on the basis of color, race or gender. The meaning of Dharma (religion) is related to the service of society and environment. Every person is respected equally in individual capacity. Professions have been graded inter-se according to the contribution made towards the well being of society. This region is the origin of Bedas, Upanishads, Purans and Nitishastra. As the region has been irrigated by Himalaya borne rivers, several saints of different ethnicity have enriched it through spirituality and knowledge.Among all religions of the world, Hindu religion is considered as an ancient religion that is recognized as the foundation of civilization and as the most liberal democratic way of life.
31 Aug 2009 Newsweek magazine, USA >www.newsweek.com< Lisa Miller writes- According to a 2008 survey, 76 percent of us continue to identify as Christian (still, that's the lowest percentage in American history). Of course, we are not a Hindu—or Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan—nation, either. A million-plus Hindus live in the United States, a fraction of the billion who live on Earth. But recent poll data show that conceptually, at least, we are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways we think about God, our selves, each other, and eternity. The Rig Veda, the most ancient Hindu scripture, says: "Truth is one, but the sages speak of it by many names." A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Qur'an is another, Yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other; all are equal. Thirty percent of Americans call themselves "spiritual, not religious," according to a 2009 NEWSWEEK Poll, up from 24 percent in 2005. Stephen Prothero, religion professor at Boston University, has long framed the American propensity for "the divine-deli-cafeteria religion" as "very much in the spirit of Hinduism. And if going to Catholic mass plus the Yoga plus the Buddhist retreat works, that's great, too."
The ancient Vedic Hindu religion is the genesis of civilization. Vedic traditional Hinduism of the old age is the devotee of the Panchadeva (five Gods). ‘Omkar Jagat (followers of OM) is the devotee of Vedic Hindu traditions. The worship of Gods and Goddess- Ganesh (an elephant headed God), Bhagawati (Goddess), Surya (Sun), Shiva (Lord Shiva) and Bishnu(the creator of the world), is compulsory for one who is facing crisis. We confer respect to one another on account of the ancient Vedic Hindu religion. We want Nepal to remain a stable Hindu and Buddhist nation. Nepal is the birth place of both these two religion-Hindu and Buddha.
The birth of Jesus Christ was in a Hindu family of India. There is a statue of Christ’s mother 'Mary' in Florence. Such a statue is also found in the Church of Macmillan. In the statue Mary is wearing a just Nepalese & Indian's women's dress (Sari-Cholo) like that of Hindu queen and a red patch of vermillion (Tika) on the forehead like that of Hindus. Many western intellectuals have also believed that Christ took birth in a Hindu family. ‘God is Light’ is the line of Lord Shiva, light of Christians.
Hinduism is not only the philosophy but is a religion-the way of Human life. Hindu religion and its culture are respected by many big intellectuals around the world. The western renowned philosophers-Voltaire, George Bernard Shaw, German scholar Nitse, Megasthaniz and Fai-Han have written many books supporting the Hindu philosophy expressing the evolutionary process of the world's civilization. Hindu philosophy is incomparably greater intellectual work than the Bible?
Please reply me for discussion.
Thank you.
Dirgha Raj Prasai
Kathmandu,Nepal
Email:dirgharajprasai@gmail.com