i'm treading a new path

nirvana1979

hello everyone:)

i have long wanted to 'be' a buddhist as i felt more comfortable with it's teachings and it's way of life. i was born a hindu and my parents are hindu.

i 'converted' (if this is the correct word?) in november. i had just ended, mutually, a 3 year relationship with my fiance and have had to move back in with my parents.
i questioned what happened in the relationship, spoke to a priest for guidnace and looked for peace. i did not want to hate my ex, or bear bad vibes, etc as she had also started seeing someone when we were just collapsing our relationship, and i had suspicions on this.
i have always loved the buddhas teachings, the mantras, the calmess, the reasoning of self and looking into one self for answers.
i began to read some books on buddhism and felt it was what i needed to embrace.

i have told my siblings that i have now 'begun my journey' on the road to buddhism, but have not told my parents at, as, it will sadden them. my folks are really passionate about hindusim, and , although i do respect it and appreciate the wonderful colours, customs and gods, it can be at time too much for me.

i feel, in my heart, that buddhism is the road i must set upon and stroll and learn on.

i wanted to know how i should tel them that i no longer am a 'hindu'.

it may sound silly as someone may say that i should tell them what i just wrote, and it is a option. i just would like some advice if possible.

thank you:)
r

Quiet_witness

Although I come from a completely different culture and heritage my parent's religion means alot to them and part of their beliefs places familial contiuance as a central theme, so I can relate to your dilemma.

When I told them my beliefs it was similar to what I hear a homosexual experiences when "coming out." My parents were very frustrated, felt I was disrespecting my heritage and ancestors, and ultimately disrespecting them. They sort of disowned me for a while (not officially) but I wasn't made very welcome around them. With time as they saw I wasn't devovling into a unethical immoral person they came to realize that my path is my own. They still don't agree with all I believe in and they still try and bring me back to the fold as they call it, but most things are back to normal 4 years later.

I would recommend that you know for sure what you want to do before you say anything, no reason to disturb untroubled water, but if you are most certain on your path, take them alone, one by one to talk to them as they will be most honest and compassionate with you on an individaul basis.

Valtiel

Do you need to tell them? You can just show them.

Quiet_witness

Mundus,

I can't answer for nirvana but for me I had to on several grounds. I had to be intellectually honest with them, there are practices in my parent's religion that require one to pass interviews with the priesthood and I didn't want to particpate in the interviews or the subsequent practices, and I feel they deserved to know.

But for some it can be a need to know basis.