And something that really bothered her was the caste system and the social indifferences that it created. “One of my friends was from the lower caste and my family didn’t even allow her in our house,” she recalled in a soft tone. [break]
“But in Christianity, there are no differences and everyone is equal,” she promptly stated of her decision to accept the religion.
But Mira’s choice also revolves on her personal story. The Lamjung native claimed after she “found the meaning of God” and started practicing the religion, the ailing health of her children started improving. She picked up the Bible and read one of the verses in Nepali where it states that Jesus cures the sick.
It’s been almost 14 years since Gurung discovered her faith through a family friend and she said she is “satisfied and close to God.”
And people like Gurung who have sought other religions to find solace and find answers to their questions on spirituality are on the rise. The numbers in the national census by the Central Bureau of Statistics are apparent.
Since 1981, the population following other religions than Hinduism—Nepal’s largest religion— has increased. The Islam population has jumped from 2.66% in 1981 to 3.53% in 1991 and 4.20% in 2001. Accordingly, the Christian religious minority has also increased from 0.03 % in 1981 to 0.17% in 1991 and 0.45% in 2001.
Madan Kumar Rimal, associate professor at the Central Department of Culture in Tribhuvan University, said people are converting due to two reasons: “lack of education about their own religion, and/or some sort of material attainment.”
However, reasons might vary, Rimal adds. “Some people convert just to explore the philosophies, as a researcher, and for some they convert after marriage.”
And education is what is required for people to understand any religion and decide for themselves, Professor Rimal said. He stressed on implementing policies on the state level that would give students access to all religious philosophies so they know their path.
But for Abbas Chaudhary, it was his dissatisfaction from Hinduism’s philosophies that he chose Islam. The 22-year-old said Hindu philosophies and its contradictory ideologies confused him and he was “searching for the divine truth” when he found Islam.
Growing up in a conservative Hindu family, Chaudhary said he disliked Islam due to lack of awareness about the religion. He now has found what he has been searching: “the true meaning of God.”
It was through his father’s Muslim friend that he came to know more about the religion. And after coming to Kathmandu from Sunsari, reading books, especially the Qur’an and interacting with the Muslim community, Abbas, formerly known as Basu Dev, decided to follow Islam.
“I haven’t converted but reverted to Islam,” Chaudhary said, explaining that he realized he was always a Muslim after learning the religion’s philosophy three years ago.
He flawlessly recited a verse from the Qur’an and translated it: “God is one,” and added “I accepted this verse.”
Though Rupesh Joshi believes God is one and all religions lead to the same point, the 36-year-old said he found happiness after devoting himself to the Hare Krishna sect.
As a teenager, Joshi said he was confused with the religion he was following and even became an atheist at some point. But life changed when he met a Russian Hare Krishna devotee. Joshi said he read, discussed and argued the philosophies of this religion before devoting himself.
“I found absolute truth about God after reading some of the books,” he said, specifically referring to “Life Comes from Life” by Srila Prabhupada, the book that transformed his thoughts and perspective on life, religion and soul.
After extensively reading and then following the sect, Joshi said that he has “rediscovered life” and refrained from drugs and alcohol, which were a major part of his daily life.
“I can control myself, I can understand better,” Joshi said. “This is the byproduct and not the aim of the religion.”
While in a country like Nepal where Hinduism is a predominant religion, people are accepting other forms of faith while the West seems to have fallen in love with the Sanatan Dharma’s practices like yoga and Ayurveda and the philosophy of karma.
For Troy Granger, who is now Nityananda Chandra Das, he said Hinduism, the Hare Krishna sect, to be particular, gave a detailed perception about the self-soul, karma and reincarnation; and this became the sole rationale for his inclination to the religion.
“It gave me a higher taste of spirituality,” said Das, who joined the sect despite rejection from his father who was a Jehovah’s Witness.
And accepting a new ideology and following a new religion comes with its boundaries.
Chaudhary said that his family wasn’t happy. But he explained Islam’s views and said he respects his parents and ready to take a son’s responsibilities despite their opposition.
But for Gurung, it was a little harsh as she was cut off from her relatives and friends and people constantly asked her to revert to Hinduism.
“I was content, though,” she said, adding that being detached from her social circle gave her more time to learn about Christianity and “be close to God.”
And with devotion and dedication, and transformation of religious ideologies and values, there have been changes in their lifestyle too. And they agree that the changes have been positive.
Chaudhary prays five times a day, refrains from cigarette and alcohol, and said he can “make better decisions in life.”
Joshi said he has left behind anger and other negative forces in his life and started living a “simple life with high thinking.”
Das, banking on the same belief, said that his devotion to Hare Krishna has made him less materialistic and therefore less affected by lust, greed, envy, pride and anger.
“My [life’s] priority then was to advance materially,” Das said. “My priority now is to make advancement spiritually.”
And for Gurung, she said there are no more thoughts of envy or greed, and she has realized that making others happy is to please God. She also frequently travels to preach about her beliefs about Christianity.
“It’s been commanded to us by the Lord,” she said, citing from the Gospel According to St Matthew, verses 28:19-20, from the New Testament of the Holy Bible. “I want people to have the same positive changes in their lives as I’ve had.”
And positive change with satisfaction is what they have attained, agreed Chaudhary, Gurung and Joshi unanimously.
“I have only changed my thoughts and philosophies, and I’m on the right track,” Chaudhary said. Joshi said that there was no conversion and it’s only the understanding and perception of God that has differed.
And for Gurung, too, it’s the same kind of change. “I haven’t converted to a different religion. I have only found what my soul was searching for: the true meaning of spirituality.”
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