This conversation was part of a task for parents to speak to their child as part of the Hindumitra open dialogue “ Preparing my kid to university life - Duties of Hindu parents”
Parent (P): Who is a Hindu?
Child (C): That is difficult to say.
P: Why is it difficult to say?
C: Yes. That’s because we have several different gods in Hinduism.
P: Is it a good thing or a bad thing to have so many gods?
C: Actually, it is only one Paramatma who reigns over the universe and there are several forms he takes.
P: What else do you know of Hinduism?
C: That all of us have Atma. Atma has a purpose in this life to do good things.
P: How did you have this birth if you are the Atma?
C: God has given this birth.
P: OK, but is there a mechanism or a system?
C: No answer
P: Is it the first time or the only time that Atma is born?
C: Well. Some choose to have rebirth while some don’t.
P: How does one choose not to have rebirth?
C: They attain Moksha and hence do not have rebirth.
P: Now would you be able to say who a Hindu is?
C: A person who believes that there is the atma and that it has purpose in this life to attain moksha or to make this a better place. Atma has a choice to have a rebirth or attain moksha. However, everyone wants moksha instead of taking rebirth. That is because at somepoint atma will get sick of these so many lives and wants moksha.
P: Where did you hear of these concepts?
C: Lots of stories do have reference to Atma. You have spoken about them on several occasions. I also learnt from the webinar I attended previously.
Please note: This child is now 15 years of age and she had attended a 10 days webinar on “Bring out the best in you - The Sanatana Dharma way” conducted for kids in 2021 through sohamvidya.in
www.sohamvidya.in
www.hindumitra.org