New here

[Spiritualseeker]

Namaste,

Hello everyone. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Juan Valderas. I am 23 years old and married to a great spiritual wife. To tell a bit about my spiritual life or lack of, when i was around 12 I began to learn a bit about Christianity (my family was never religious) and began praying to God in the christian way, but later I learned about buddhism and hinduism. Which I was attracted to immediately. However, due to lack of understanding I did not really practice. I then met a muslim friend and began investigating Islam. I felt that intellectually it made sense and so I converted to Islam. I stayed upon Islam for about 7 years. Then just about 6 months ago or so I left it officially though my heart died in it about a year before that after reading Eckhart Tolle's books and Buddhist books.

I began doing meditation about a year ago (even as a muslim). I had a dream once in which i was on a piece of Land that was suspended in air and I saw a huge Statue of Lord Ganesha and a huge statue of Lord Siva. This happened as I was muslim. So after leaving islam I began learning more about hInduism and bought the book "Loving Ganesha" "Lord siva and his Worship" and "Dancing with Siva". I find that hinduism and buddhism not only are intellectually sustainable as a true spiritual path, but are also experiential.

I realized that my belief as a muslim was simply just thought forms. So I just had a thought that there was this Allah who was above the heavens and that I had to believe in only him. I realize that these were just formulation of thoughts. There was no experience to them. So the most I could be was a muslim with intellectual rational proofs. But without experience my heart is dead. So I felt Islam cannot teach me how to experience God, atleast not how islam is taught nowadays.

So now I find myself Enrolled in the Self Realization Fellowship course that Sri Yogananda started up. I find myself invoking Lord ganesha and Lord Siva and trying to See God within all things. I have not officially converted to Hinduism and I feel like I dont need to because I am simply going to do my puja and practice Kriya yoga. I dont think I have to make it a show that I am a hindu. Perhaps I am not a hindu, but regardless as to who accepts me or not I want to follow the Hindu way of life and Experience God through the great Scientific way of the Rishis of old
-juan

[Arjuna]

Welcome. The winding path that led you to Hinduism (or more properly Santana Dharma) is a familiar tale, at least to me.

I am glad you have found your way to such a rich spiritual tradition that celebrates truth in all it's multiplicities. This tradition is at once both intellectualy and experientially fulfilling. A life lived in harmony with the natural way is free from fear and illusion. Let us celebrate the journey that leads us beyond illusion to the deathless state.

Kharma Jaya!

Arjuna