Though most people don’t appreciate the impact India has had on America, the tenets of Sanatana Dharma and Vedic teachings have radically changed the relation of Americans to the universe, healthcare, psychology and individuals in the USA, especially how people there understand religion and spiritual life.
American author and spiritual coach Philip Goldberg said this while speaking on the effect of Indian spirituality on western countries at a talk organised by the India Foundation on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering he said, “Sanatana Dharma changed my life about 45 years ago and has had a transformational effect on the US. Americans are being influenced by aspects of Vedantic philosophy and scriptures, at times without being aware of it- through professors, psychologists, doctors and others who are influenced by Sanatana Dharma and the Vedas.”
Citing a 2009 Newsweek article written by its religion editor, Goldberg said that it had stated that America was not a Christian nation as poll data show that conceptually, at least, Americans are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways they think about god, themselves, each other and eternity.
“Though the American history was influenced by the type of Christians who believe that their religion is the religion for all, the majority of Americans now don’t think so. Most of them now adhere to the view stated in the Rig Veda- Truth is One, but the sages speak of it by many names.
The teachings of Vedanta are filtering through to the American society. Those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious, called the ‘nones’ is the fastest growing category in America as the people there have shifted from belief-centric to experience-centric philosophy, from strictly dualistic understanding of the divine to that which understands that the transcendental is also in us.
Millions of Americans have been influenced by Swami Vivekanand, Paramhansa Yogananda and other seers who came to USA. Such teachers never asked Americans to convert to Hinduism but like good scientists, said that these practices can be tested and help one have a better life. However, the influence of Hindusim in America took roots about 100 years before Vivekananda and others came there when first decent translations of Vedanta writings and Geeta reached America from Europe.
Influential American writers and philosophers likeRalph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau who had a major influence on American thought, were themselves highly influenced by the Vedas and they themselves said so. like India learnt film making technology from the west and created Bollywood, the west too learns from India and makes its own adaptations.
I believe that this trend will continue in the future as the teachings are eternal and also because one does not go back to the old ways that don’t hold up,” said Goldberg. The talk was presided over by lt Gen (retd) OP Kaushik with retired IPS Ajay Kumar as the guest of honour. India Foundation, Uttarakhand convenor SK Dixit and DAV (PG) College principal Devendra Bhasin also expressed their views on the occasion.