University of Virginia Library

Hinduism Replaces
Old Flower Power

By Chuck Woody
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

While flower power and hippies
are still in the spotlight of national
attention, a usurper of sorts is in
the back wings ready to take over
as the new pop movement:
Hinduism.

Hinduism is not new in the
United States, but its influence
has been small until recently. According
to The New York Times
there are more than 100 centers
in the country where Hindu services
are held. There are 10 in the New
York City area, and five of them
have been open from 10 to 73
years.

The movement has attracted
large numbers of students and professors
studying Indian affairs as
well as people interested in the
twangy sound of the sitar, an instrument
recently promoted by the
Beatles in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band" and Ravi
Shankar, a well known sitar player.

Hippies have borrowed from
Hinduism somewhat but not to a
great degree-at least, not the
thoughts and beliefs of the religion.
Hippies generally seem more
interested in Indian dress than
philosophy.

Hinduism attracts people intellectually,
although many believers
see it as a substitute for the
"truth" or "love" found in taking
drugs like LSD. The main drawing
point of the religion for Westerners
is the contention that man-entangled
in the material world and
blind to his inner, spiritual nature
—can overcome worldly obstructions
and thus discover his own
soul and obtain unity with God.

"Hinduism has many facets, including
ritual, creed, polytheism
and a rigid caste system," a New
York Times story said.

"Hindus believe that all religions
have equal validity. The Rig-Vedas,
one of their scriptures,
explains: 'Truth is one; sages call
it by various names.' They believe
that from time to time God reincarnates
himself in material form
on earth in response to human
need. Jesus Christ is considered
one of these reincarnations. Others
include Buddha and Mohammed.
The most recent is Ramakrishna
who died near Calcutta in 1886.

"The Hindu scriptures—the Bhagavad-Gita, the Upanishads
and the Rig-Vedas—recorded thousands
of years ago by unknown
authors—have as profound and far-reaching
philosophic content as
great western metaphysics scholars
agree.

Most swamis shy away from hippies
and former hippies, even
though some have converted. Hippies
have been described by Swami
Nikhilananda, a New York City
swami for the last 36 years, as
having no discipline. He labels
them along with the curiosity-
seeker as bored and seeking something
sensational. The swami
added that most converts are dissatisfied
with life and society and
are looking for a meaning beyond
themselves.

While hippies are still dominating
the scene, undoubtedly
Hinduism is the logical follow-up.
The movement will most likely
see a surge in two to three years