Conversion

Since the Hindu scriptures are essentially silent on the issue of religious conversion, the question of whether Hindus should evangelize is open to interpretation.   Those who see Hinduism mainly as a philosophy or a way of life generally believe that one can convert to Hinduism by incorporating Hindu beliefs into one's life and considering oneself a Hindu.   Others view Hinduism as an ethnicity more than as a religion and believe one can only become a Hindu by being born into a Hindu family . Such people tend to assume that only people with Indian ancestry can be Hindus.   The Supreme Court of India has taken the former view, holding that the question of whether a person is a Hindu should be determined by the person's belief system, not by their ethnic or racial heritage.

There is no formal process for converting to Hinduism, although in many traditions a ritual called dīkshā ("initiation") marks the beginning of spiritual life . Most Hindu sects do not actively recruit converts because they believe that the goals of spiritual life can be attained through any religion, as long as it is practiced sincerely.   Nevertheless, Hindu groups operate in various countries to provide spiritual guidance to persons of any religion . Examples include the Vedanta Society, Parisada Hindu Dharma, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Arya Samaj and the Self-Realization Fellowship.

Hingedmind provides the following information on Hinduism as a starting point for better understanding.  We encourage you to explore the links section and the various pages on Hinduism.   Also, take the time to search on the web for specifics concerning your search.  

Hingedmind does not promote or endorse a religion, belief system, or practice.   Hingedmind believes no path is a wrong path.   Each individual is accountable for his or her path and decisions.   Hingedmind provides this information only as a reference and is not responsible for content authenticity or accuracy.