It’s a Mistaken Idea That Hinduism Is Polytheistic

We should also see that the culture that developed here, which we now call... there was no, actually there was no religion called Hinduism to begin with. Is it just an amalgamation of cultures that developed in this part of the world? So, in the Vedas, there are things which scientists are still discovering. So, when such high insight and intelligence is there, then we must try and explore: why is it that they use so many different names for God, that they use so many different representations of God? Why do they say Ram, Krishna, Devi, Durga? Devi itself may have thousands, Vishnu himself may have thousands. You see?

So, a culture which is that intelligent, that scientists are still discovering some of those things, verifying some of those things which are written in the Vedas, then could we be that stupid that we are taking God to be like this, what we are accused of being: polytheistic or something like that? No, it's not. It is just human psychology that it is very difficult to relate with the formless one as a beloved, as your best friend. You see, and big credit to Rumi and people like that who were able to do that, but it is very difficult.

It's much easier for me to fall in love with Ram Ji than the formless one, because I can assign attributes to him, I can assign qualities, ways of... there's a lot to learn from his ways. So, I feel like there must be an appreciation from all sides towards each other. It's a mistaken idea that Hinduism is polytheistic. It is clear there is one God only. You see, all Hindus know this. Or let's say most; I don't know about all of them. Most Hindus know that there is one God, and yet we also know that one aspect of that one God appeals or touches our heart the most, and that is what we identify with. But all these rivers are going into the same ocean.

So, many times I've seen very highly accomplished teachers in, say, the orthodox religion, and all put down Hinduism because of this mistaken idea that this is just some stupid race who's not even realizing that God is one. You see, so it's...

In the Gita, yeah.