tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39602934045767490342024-03-13T00:54:19.670-04:00The White HinduA life of cultural identity confusionAmbaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-78585501297407457612012-12-27T10:07:00.002-05:002012-12-27T10:07:18.805-05:00The White Hindu Has Moved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm now blogging over at...<br />
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<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/whitehindu/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/whitehindu/</a><br />
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Come on over and say hello!<br />
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Starting January 2013, there will be posts every week day at the new location with these general themes...<br />
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Monday: How Will I Be a Hindu This Week?<br />
Tuesday: Meet a God or Meet a Guru<br />
Wednesday: About Me<br />
Thursday: Philosophy Corner<br />
Friday: Wild Card (videos, news, fun stuff)</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-578991447388807862012-12-11T09:38:00.000-05:002012-12-11T09:38:35.778-05:00Sometimes It Takes Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've had been having strange dreams, but they've mostly stopped since my boyfriend hung up a dream catcher over my bed. I don't know if it's the dream catcher itself or the intention we put into easing my dreams. But whatever it is, it's been working.<br />
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Last night I had a very interesting experience with a dream.<br />
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Some background:<br />
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Four years ago I started dating the friend of a friend. We didn't last long. Just a couple weeks. But we were not able to communicate through the end. The breakup hurt and disappointed me a lot and I was so upset that I just couldn't talk or look at him after it.<br />
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For years.<br />
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There are some things that people have said to me I just need to get over. And this is one of them. Why was it so hard to let go of? I don't know.<br />
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The few times I'd see him, I felt really awkward. I couldn't stop feeling upset and angry even though I knew it wasn't his fault.<br />
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This went on for four years.<br />
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That's right. Four years. And then last night I dreamed that I spoke to him. We talked about how things ended and I woke up feeling completely at peace.<br />
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For the first time the pain of that situation four years ago was gone.<br />
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<b>So the point is, healing from something takes the time that it takes. </b><br />
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You don't just snap out of it. You don't reason your way out of if. Your psyche lets go of it when it's ready. And I'm glad I was finally ready.<br />
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In other news, the new space for my blog is set up and ready. I'm going to be posting an intro post there today and then the first real posting will begin January 3rd.<br />
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<b>I have planned out posts for every week day of the next three months!</b> Some of them are revisiting issues that have come up here and others are not. I have a lot of big plans for the white Hindu.<br />
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I'll post a link soon!</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-52807450909213297642012-11-27T15:57:00.002-05:002012-11-27T15:57:43.690-05:00Future ChangesI have some exciting news!<br />
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I didn't want to say anything this morning, but now the paperwork is passed in and I think it is safe to say that my blog is going to be moving. Thanks to Niki at <a href="http://myownashram.com/" target="_blank">My Own Ashram</a>, I was offered a great opportunity to be part of an interfaith website.<br />
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It has sections for a variety of religions and each section has bloggers and columnists. I have been asked to join the Hindu bloggers there. I'm thrilled by the opportunity to expand readership and widen the discussion!<br />
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This is going to take effect in the new year, so watch for a post in January 2013 showing you where I've moved to.<br />
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One of the great things about this is that it will mean I have to post more! I'll be obligated to keep the blog up and I think that will be a really good thing for all of us. <b>I'm brainstorming ideas now for different types of posts. I'm thinking of doing some weekly and monthly themes and balancing my philosophical musing with posts about celebrating holidays and day to day life as a Hindu.</b><br />
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So where am I going?<br />
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To <a href="http://www.patheos.com/" target="_blank">Patheos.com</a>! Their tagline is: Hosting the Conversation on Faith. I love that.<br />
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Doing a happy dance right now!Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-76134293498297699662012-11-26T08:33:00.004-05:002012-11-26T08:33:47.165-05:00Ads Disabled on the Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To take an admin moment, you may have noticed that the few scattered ads are gone.<br />
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I was trying out the Google adwords program to see if I could bring in a little revenue from the discussions here. I was making around 30 cents a month or so! Probably not even worth having.<br />
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So I suppose that it's just as well that Google suspended my account and accused me of fraud.<br />
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I really dislike these websites that go the guilty-until-proven-innocent route. It's very hurtful. The other really annoying thing is that they refuse to tell you what you've done wrong. They accuse you of being a criminal and then say they are unable to say why they are making that accusation.<br />
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I appealed and said I had no idea what they thought I did wrong, but I'm just a simple hobby blogger and it's not like I'm raking in millions here.<br />
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They denied my appeal.<br />
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The only thing I can think is that I must have accidentally clicked on one of the ads once when I was trying to get the page to load (my work computer is very slow, and I get frustrated trying to force it to scroll on a page when it's taken two minutes to try to load it!) Of course clicking on your own ads is fraud and I would never do that intentionally. They will not confirm if this is what happened or not. I'm in the dark as far as what made them suspend my account.<br />
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So no more ads.<br />
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It seemed like a nice way to get something back from the time and energy that I devote here particularly since I'm struggling financially. But it's not like it was doing much good anyway. What I really get from this blog is the interesting discussion and perspectives that you all bring to these issues. It's great to sort through these things with friends instead of alone!</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-30272611852305725602012-11-16T07:11:00.001-05:002012-11-16T07:11:43.513-05:00We Can Be Better Than That<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In response to the article I posted about yesterday, one of my friends on facebook said...<br />
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<span id=".reactRoot[395].[1][2][1]{comment468626466523258_4854200}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][1]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"> </span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[395].[1][2][1]{comment468626466523258_4854200}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[395].[1][2][1]{comment468626466523258_4854200}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[395].[1][2][1]{comment468626466523258_4854200}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]">Do u remember I said abt Dr. Swamy, well he is a hindu nationalist & I agree wid him. Coz if such nations won't become secular then we Hindus must change our policies & it is a hindu who has to suffer alot wether he may b in a gulf country or in any other country.What do u think?</span></span></span><br />
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What I said there is that I think two wrongs don't make a right. We don't want to become like the others who hurt us, we want to be better than them.<br />
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But my response goes deeper than that. I think at the root of this reaction is a very powerful fear.<br />
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We fear that Hinduism will be destroyed by the more aggressive religions. And I can understand why we have that fear when we do still see forced conversions and people being conned into believing in another religion.<br />
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Still, the fear is not necessary and it holds us back from our full potential. Fear is an emotion that shrinks us, not one that grows us. As my father says, one should never do or not do something because of fear.<br />
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<b>Hinduism is strong</b>. It has survived for thousands of years and is one of the oldest (if not possibly the very oldest) religions in the world. It is woven into the core of what it is to be human. Like Krishna, there has never been a time that it has not existed. It is not going anywhere.<br />
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No matter what other people might try to do, no matter how individuals experience it, Hinduism cannot be destroyed.<br />
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You know what a forced conversion can never do? It can never change your heart. Hinduism will always live in your heart.<b> No one can take that from you</b>.<br />
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Hinduism does have its faults. Not at its core. At its core it is perfect (as we are too). But society and culture over time has corrupted parts of it and we need to always be careful to remember that Hinduism is about love. It is not about discrimination or being hurtful to another human being. When those things happen, then some people think that's what Hinduism is. We can be the example to show that that is not true.<br />
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When we feel hurt by the policies and religions of others, the first instinct is to lash back and do the same thing back to them. I think we can be better than that and show the world that a Hindu does not hurt others.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-47397887048756906192012-11-15T12:46:00.000-05:002012-11-15T12:46:32.182-05:00A Disturbing Story in the News<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Facebook today I discovered a post about this young Hindu woman who died in Ireland because the Catholic hospitals would not perform an abortion.<br />
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It certainly hits close to home for me as she was only 31, just about the same age as me.<br />
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The person who shared the article expresses the belief that the people involved should be punished for murder and that it was inappropriate that a Hindu woman be forced to accept rules based on Catholicism. However, it is a Catholic country (that part of it, anyway). <b>To me this really showcases the need to keep religion separate from government.</b><br />
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She should have had the choice to go to a hospital that was not affiliated with Catholicism.<br />
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Being a religious minority is a terrifying thing. You cannot trust that your beliefs will be honored when they come into conflict with the majority.<br />
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Even for those who are opposed to abortion, it is difficult to see how you could make the choice to kill both the mother and the four month old fetus instead of saving the mother.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/11/hindu-woman-denied-abortion-in-catholic.html">http://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/11/hindu-woman-denied-abortion-in-catholic.html</a><br />
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Be sure that where ever you live, you know what the laws about this sort of thing are. You cannot trust that your own religious convictions will be honored when they conflict with the religious convictions of the majority population where you live.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-79386230846897779992012-11-14T11:53:00.002-05:002012-11-14T11:53:31.986-05:00My Diwali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We had a great time last night at the ISKON temple. It's about a forty minute drive away, so I don't go very often, but their events are always a great experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfj8k5Ea25D7SIeKC1TKDAGfdniXqkm2SXPmClKPZM28ynzIplx1QJyy_I7UI3U1ImI8Nteztavnc8vmSNOz4W9sxSMJ-AhEm3_jE1R3DLmhFuHw9Rt1KghATsCCw36pVAl8DLQhI8SV_w/s1600/pictures+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfj8k5Ea25D7SIeKC1TKDAGfdniXqkm2SXPmClKPZM28ynzIplx1QJyy_I7UI3U1ImI8Nteztavnc8vmSNOz4W9sxSMJ-AhEm3_jE1R3DLmhFuHw9Rt1KghATsCCw36pVAl8DLQhI8SV_w/s320/pictures+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On our way out the door (+ I need a better camera!)</div>
<br />Though my practices are not terribly devotional, it is nice to do some devotional activity now and then. It's so much fun to get caught up in the energy: jumping, clapping, and shouting to the gods.<br />
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I tried to take a picture of the idols, but there was so much light that my camera couldn't deal with it!<br />
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Back home...</div>
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This is my fanciest sari, the same one I wore to the temple dedication in Sringeri </div>
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Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-66101402710877340492012-11-12T11:54:00.001-05:002012-11-12T12:08:58.977-05:00Shubh Dipavali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy Diwali, everyone! Hope this week will be special for you and that you'll start fresh, challenging yourself to a great new year.<br />
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Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-12275200116086012382012-11-06T08:13:00.000-05:002012-11-13T08:31:42.210-05:00Review: The Destiny of Shaitan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007M2IBH8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007M2IBH8&linkCode=as2&tag=ruthmadi-20"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007M2IBH8&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ruthmadi-20" width="133" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=ruthmadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007M2IBH8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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This is a book I've been waiting for.<br />
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Oh, I didn't know this author or that she was creating this book, but I have <b>been wanting a fantasy novel set in an Indian-based world for years!</b> I even tried to write one once, but I have no skill in the fantasy genre. I'm so glad that this book was created.<br />
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Now, unfortunately, the point of view is one of my least favorite possible. First person and present tense. Present tense is very difficult to do well and it feels much more contrived than the recent past that we're so used to reading in novels. (It's, in fact, easy to not realize one is reading past tense because it feels so natural, but if you pick up a book and look at the verb to be it will almost always be "was" rather than "is.") For me this makes it very difficult to get immersed in the story. I struggled with that a lot, however that is probably just a personal quirk!<br />
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I'm always impressed with the imagination it takes to make whole worlds and galaxies come to life. I have to congratulate the author on her creativity! The blend of ancient and future was very cool. I look forward to more books that bring Indian mythology and aesthetic into fantasy settings.<br />
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With this book, your enjoyment will depend a lot on taste, so I would suggest checking out the sample to see what you think. Also, as I am an official stop on the author's blog tour, I am participating in a giveaway!<br />
It is tour wide and ends Nov. 25th. Click the link to enter...
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/873c06227/" id="rc-873c06227" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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Here is the description from the author:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Background: The Destiny of Shaitan</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">, the first novel in <i>The Chronicle of The Three</i> series is a coming of age story, about a girl who falls in love only to realise that to be truly happy, she has to first find herself. Set in 3000 AD, when the galaxy is populated by humans as well as a half human, half alien race called half lives, this novel, tracks the protagonists from five to seventeen years old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Synopsis: When Tiina accompanies her ex-boyfriend Yudi on a mission to save the universe from the ruthless Shaitan, she seeks more than the end of the tyrant; she seeks herself. Driven by greed and fear for his own survival, Shaitan bulldozes his way through the galaxy, destroying everything in his path. Tiina wants Yudi to eliminate Shaitan, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the powerful autocrat being killed by his son, but she finds that Yudi is hesitant to do so. The final showdown between Yudi and Shaitan has unexpected consequences, for Shaitan will do anything in his power to win the fight—including getting rid of Tiina. The stakes are high and the combatants determined. Will Shaitan's ultimate destiny be fulfilled?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Return to 7 </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Islands</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, (Chronicle of The Three, #2): <i>The Destiny of Shaitan,</i> ends with Tiina, leaving everything she knows—including Yudi and the world she helped save from Shaitan—in search of herself. The second novel in the series, titled <i>Return to 7 Islands</i>, follows Tiina as she lands in a futuristic Bombay—now reduced by a tsunami to its original seven islands—and helps Rai, in defending his childhood orphanage from the clutches of Sharmila, Shaitan's daughter. As she struggles to come to terms with her origins in an attempt to understand herself better, she discovers a surprise about her past. </span></div>
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Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-39115901512546764112012-10-31T14:31:00.000-04:002012-10-31T14:31:17.455-04:00A Hindu in U.S. Congress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Andrea M. shared with me an interview with the woman who is likely to become the first Hindu American in Congress. How exciting is that? <br />
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Here is a particularly interesting part of the interview...<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Your dad is Catholic. Your mom, I believe, is Hindu. So does your Hinduism flow from your mom? How deep is it?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">I grew up in a multicultural, multi-religious household. My father is of Samoan/Caucasian heritage and he is a deacon in the Catholic church. However, he also likes to practice mantra meditation, including <i>kirtan</i>. My mother is Caucasian and a practicing Hindu.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Are you a practicing Hindu?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Yes, I am a practicing Hindu. Some people are Hindus because they were born into a Hindu family, but may not have seriously studied or applied the Vedic teachings and practices. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">In that sense it's very much like many people in America who consider themselves Christians because they were born into a Christian family. But that's not my situation.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">I fully embraced Sanatan Dharma after serious deliberation and contemplation in my later teens -- it's not because my mother was a Hindu.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: justify;">...</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Read more: </span><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/report/concerns-of-hindus-are-near-to-my-heart-tulsi-gabbard/20121031.htm" style="text-align: left;">http://www.rediff.com/news/report/concerns-of-hindus-are-near-to-my-heart-tulsi-gabbard/20121031.htm</a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.4em;">It's always interesting for me to find out about other Caucasians who grew up with Hinduism!</span></div>
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{Of course, one should avoid reading the comments. There is someone going nuts in the comments. It kind of illustrates the polarity of white Hinduism. Many embrace it and some become rage-fully angry over it.}</div>
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Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-25445650539183524802012-10-22T12:38:00.000-04:002012-10-22T12:38:32.954-04:00Back from Garba<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had an awesome weekend celebrating Navratri.<br />
<br />
A friend invited me to a garba event that her family puts on every year. We came early to help set up and work on food, etc. It allowed me to eat great home made food all weekend long!<br />
<br />
My one lengha is not very garba appropriate. I need one with more mirror-work and folk art style. I was also worried about mine being too long, but I managed to dance in it.<br />
<br />
I love to dance, so I had a blast. Though I am quite out of shape and had to stop frequently, red-faced and puffing! There was also a beautiful puja and some yummy prasad.<br />
<br />
Here are a few pictures...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kBYIxFl3xNCn5OCUKwxBgvIAu_haRpT2T1zLObRJkD3bLl4ZMqTy-yrgeyPy-O4KNoJlWqqX7qemNb-4AAwFftiHNGGzFLgW9QBHn18NVr50jHqjza8XTNeXOZ69tWk7qtFxOMK9059c/s1600/Garba1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kBYIxFl3xNCn5OCUKwxBgvIAu_haRpT2T1zLObRJkD3bLl4ZMqTy-yrgeyPy-O4KNoJlWqqX7qemNb-4AAwFftiHNGGzFLgW9QBHn18NVr50jHqjza8XTNeXOZ69tWk7qtFxOMK9059c/s320/Garba1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczQ2MpUbB2wZLswj529b0XBjhoNqq8VCNmEdNORnNnG5RiBasAk0Pkf8Rcpn1IH1P451bOAgQsj8zIM1R4o6NIpEWiYZda6-5dcim2Jc1xVm8XB5iSXJQaY50qK_KgJgF_MXwSNZ9bXpK/s1600/garba2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczQ2MpUbB2wZLswj529b0XBjhoNqq8VCNmEdNORnNnG5RiBasAk0Pkf8Rcpn1IH1P451bOAgQsj8zIM1R4o6NIpEWiYZda6-5dcim2Jc1xVm8XB5iSXJQaY50qK_KgJgF_MXwSNZ9bXpK/s320/garba2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWet0nxfc1O2RL3KoKhiJkqWFrjaz_02zZ6wDNbOv8wzKYa0cV0C9L370ZQBgpFbe9kLPjSH6aLQaoabXQSX-K-5nUkdxNRv2RceOPFKj_20MLyci7sx861PeirJSQ6APpuI90FogMaJoC/s1600/garba3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWet0nxfc1O2RL3KoKhiJkqWFrjaz_02zZ6wDNbOv8wzKYa0cV0C9L370ZQBgpFbe9kLPjSH6aLQaoabXQSX-K-5nUkdxNRv2RceOPFKj_20MLyci7sx861PeirJSQ6APpuI90FogMaJoC/s320/garba3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sorry they are so blurry! Taken with my iPod instead of my digital camera, which is out of batteries.</div>
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My friend got to experience a bit of my frustration. All night people kept saying things like, "Oh, I see they've dressed you up!" with big grins. My friend would say, "No, it's her own outfit" and, of course, no one listened! </div>
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That sort of thing sometimes makes me feel defensive, but these days I more often just shrug and go with it. They don't need to know that I'm no stranger to Indian culture, food, dress, or customs. A lot of people are delighted to see me, excited to welcome me, and explain all the things that I already know. But it makes them happy, so I don't usually fight it anymore.</div>
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Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-7509693916789268862012-10-14T08:43:00.000-04:002012-10-14T20:57:00.948-04:00Working on a New Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
New reader, Suzanne, had a wonderful suggestion in one of the comments. She is new to Hinduism and feeling a little overwhelmed about where to begin this journey. She said she'd like to see some classes for converts. What a brilliant thought!<br />
<br />
My mind has been churning on that and I've come up with the idea that I will write a book called A Class for Converts: Beginning Your Journey in Hinduism.<br />
<br />
It will, of course, talk about how "convert" is not necessarily the right term for someone becoming a Hindu and how Hinduism is more a way of life and less a religion and about how there is no central authority. But it will also give information about different branches and organizations and options.<br />
<br />
Here's the outline that I'm thinking of so far...<br />
<br />
Part One<br />
The real basics--principles and ideas<br />
The variety of Hindu beliefs and practices<br />
The three paths and some questions to help you figure out which you are<br />
A good first step depending on the path<br />
How to find a worship community<br />
How to visit a temple for the first time<br />
Setting up a sacred space at home<br />
Do you need to undergo a ritual to be a Hindu?<br />
How to learn more<br />
<br />
Part Two<br />
Essays on issues that might be unique to "converts":<br />
-Family issues (talking to your parents or your spouse about this)<br />
-Do I need a caste?<br />
-Some of Hinduism's negative history (I think it's important for people to understand that no religion is perfect and there are people who have behaved badly no matter what religion they claim to follow. Converts should not come to Hinduism because it's "all about love and peace, man. It's not consumerist like the west." People need to see the positive and the negative and make an informed decision).<br />
-What makes Buddhism and Hinduism different?<br />
<b>ETA</b>: -Being a Hindu in the workplace and other social situations (still pondering this one)<br />
<br />
Part Three<br />
Debates. I will take sticky issues that I've wrestled with here and provide both sides, an essay for both the yes side and the no side.<br />
-Should you take Indian culture along with an Indian religion?<br />
-Do you need to be a vegetarian to be a Hindu?<br />
-Was Gandhi the perfect man or did he hurt India's future?<br />
-Can you wear Indian clothes?<br />
<b>ETA</b>: -How should I deal with Christmas or other holidays of my native religion?<br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
(Definitely the books from Himalayan Academy)<br />
<br />
<b>What other issues would you like to see addressed?</b> (Some of these are extremely emotional issues, so please try not to argue in the comments about them. As I said, I will present both sides. In the end, it's very important for us all to remember that our experience is our own experience and none of us can speak for how every Hindu feels about something).</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-86059423728208838812012-10-11T10:49:00.000-04:002012-10-11T10:49:20.128-04:00Excited for Garba!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm going to a garba for Navratri this month! So excited.<br />
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I'm afraid my only lengha is awfully long on me and it might not be good for dancing. I guess I just <i>have </i>to go shopping, eh?<br />
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I'll try to get some pictures to share with you!</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-89455216183000808002012-10-10T10:04:00.000-04:002012-10-10T10:04:13.312-04:00Vedic Prayers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the Facebook page, Bhismah Arya posted an article about the Gayatri mantra. It reminded me that chanting of the Vedic prayers is a great way to calm the inner turmoil that has been stirred up by the arguing I've been doing lately with the "soulman" commenter.<br />
<br />
He can believe if he wants to that I will never be accepted by the Indian community, but that has not been my experience. He can believe that people are just being polite and secretly thinking I'm just playing with my faith. Most of the people at my temple have expressed amazement and joy that I understand Hinduism on the level that I do (more so than most Indians, they often tell me!) But people can go ahead and think that I'm just playing around with this faith if they want. People can think whatever it is they are going to think. I can't control that.<br />
<br />
Apparently to be taken seriously he believes I must marry someone random that I don't even like (but I've tried that! I got rejected for marriage by someone in my community as well as by a Hindu Advaita man). So he will continue to believe that my refusal to marry someone only for the sake of being taken seriously in my religion is an inappropriate choice. It's good to know that some people will always think that and I cannot be responsible for anyone's beliefs but my own.<br />
<br />
At the same time, only I am responsible for my feelings and my behaviors. So if I'm wrong, then I take the consequences of being wrong. No need to anyone else to get worked up about my spiritual progress.<br />
<br />
The fact is, this commenter is making accusations about my character that I don't have to listen to. His comments will no longer be published.<br />
<br />
Now, let us all enjoy the beautiful hymns that I grew up listening to. My mother used to sing these to me as lullabies. :)<br />
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I also found this girl who appears to be a white convert to Hinduism singing bhajans. She's got a beautiful voice!<br />
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This reminds me that all I need to do is commune with the divine and enjoy my unique relationship with the universe. </div>
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Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-25945512444650217922012-10-08T13:57:00.004-04:002012-10-08T13:57:53.545-04:00Life Lessons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I took a break! And I feel much better.<br />
<br />
These things clearly do still affect me. I keep thinking that I'm getting to a point where I don't care what others say, but then something will hit me really hard.<br />
<br />
The lesson here is that I am learning some of the sanskara that I am in this life to work through.<br />
<br />
Clearly not taking the things that other people say so personally is a life lesson that I need to work on!<br />
<br />
(And no, for those who keep commenting on this, marrying an Indian is not the solution to my problem. Please see all blogs written by white wives of Indian men. They still have issues like this to deal with. Also, I am in this life to improve ME. Who I am and my progress on my soul is not a job for a husband.)</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-13867900545119468192012-09-28T20:23:00.001-04:002012-09-28T20:23:36.781-04:00Maybe I Need to Step Away from the Internet!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I take everything I see on the Internet way too personally.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how to stop doing that!<br />
<br />
It would probably be good for me to step away again for a while and recharge myself.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Duty Calls" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png" /><br />
<a href="http://xkcd.com/386/">http://xkcd.com/386/</a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-38412514296225411072012-09-28T18:50:00.005-04:002012-09-28T18:50:53.447-04:00...And the Other Side<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's a good thing I don't really rely on other people for my self-esteem anymore.<br />
<br />
No sooner do I see the blog post that I gave you earlier today than I have one from the opposite perspective:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biculturalmom.com/2012/09/27/white-privilege-links-resources-reblogged-from-i-drink-white-tears">http://www.biculturalmom.com/2012/09/27/white-privilege-links-resources-reblogged-from-i-drink-white-tears</a><br />
<br />
Lots of links to articles about white privileged and cultural appropriation. There's at least four on why you shouldn't wear a bindi.<br />
<br />
Here's why white people can't be Hindu: <a href="http://sitaronse.tumblr.com/post/31223924664">http://sitaronse.tumblr.com/post/31223924664</a> I still don't really understand why I'm supposed to be responsible for the behavior of other white people. Because some white people oppressed your people, it's my responsibility? I know that sounds callused, but I didn't oppress anyone. My family, so far as I know, didn't oppress anyone. All white people didn't do that to you. But I guess I'm not really allowed to say that.<br />
<br />
Apparenty, according to this person, a white person cannot have a respectful relationship with Hinduism. She can only treat it like a toy and enjoy its "otherness" and act like she's making it better. I do not come to Hinduism lightly and I think my regular readers know that! I know it intimately and <b>it is not a game to me</b>.<br />
<br />
I am privileged. I feel guilty that I have that privilege. But I'm just not going to accept that I shouldn't follow my heart and do what feels right because I might offend or upset someone else. I don't purposefully go out to offend, of course, but I'm not sure who these people want me to be. The stereotype of a white person, I suppose. They probably have an idea in their minds of what a white person's domain is and exactly what it looks like.<br />
<br />
I do not.<br />
<br />
I have only what feels right to me and I'm finished with asking for anyone's permission to do it.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-74542972627424659172012-09-28T07:37:00.000-04:002012-09-28T07:37:47.082-04:00Heck yes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I feel energized and delighted from reading this post that Andrea M. pointed out to me. I think he makes some really excellent points. I pretty much wanted to say "Yes, exactly" to every single sentence, so you absolutely have to go over and read it.<br />
<br />
It's about cultural appropriation and how Indian culture is 1) extremely varied, 2) is strong enough to survive people dabbling in it, and 3) allowing others to learn and experience one's culture enriches and strengthens it, helping to fight against racism by destroying ignorance.<br />
<br />
Here are just a few of the wonderful lines...<br />
<br />
"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">There is nothing wrong with taking the best ideas of a group of people and using them to improve your own. It doesn't destroy your culture, it makes it BETTER"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">"...</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">the people complaining have forgotten one thing. That culture changes. Indian culture of 100 years ago is not the same as today."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Yes there are a lot of things that suck like 'Fair and Lovely' and the like about Indian culture but you know what? That has nothing to do with a bunch of white people putting indian things on their foreheads or carrying our bags or dancing in movies. That has to do with a society that doesn't realise that all skin colour is beautiful. It's due to western influences and the idealisation of beauty but you have to realise one important thing. White people are as exotic to Indians as Indians are to White People. You are just as fetishised as our women are to you.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> "</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
Go read it now! :) <a href="http://a-million-gods.blogspot.com/2012/09/baggy-silk-pants.html">http://a-million-gods.blogspot.com/2012/09/baggy-silk-pants.html</a></div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-9715152847768395812012-09-27T12:02:00.003-04:002012-09-27T12:02:51.367-04:00Readers, help me help this woman!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I got a message on Ravelry yesterday from a woman who loves to wear saris, but can't find a choli big enough to fit her.<br />
<br />
I am terrible at sewing and I got my cholis mostly online, but my bust is not quite as large as hers.<br />
<br />
What we need is this:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A resource where someone can buy (or have made from the fabric that sometimes comes with a sari) a blouse that is 48 inch bust and 40 inch underbust.</b><br />
<br />
Please let me know in the comments if you can think of anywhere I can direct this woman!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-27456343804818258302012-09-26T13:43:00.003-04:002012-09-26T13:43:55.819-04:00Huh?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There's a comment awaiting moderation on my Happy Ganesh Chaturthi post. It says "I'll pray for you."<br />
<br />
???<br />
<br />
I'm not sure what to make of that.<br />
<br />
It's something I've heard Christians say when they've decided that my religious Hindu life is leading me straight to hell.<br />
<br />
What do you guys think? Original commenter, would you like to provide clarification or context?<br />
<br />
Will stay unpublished until I know whether this is some Christian B.S.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-65637673716856968632012-09-24T07:50:00.003-04:002012-09-24T07:50:37.711-04:00Do we have a right to die?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Something has disturbed me recently. I found out that there is a bill on the ballet in Massachusetts to legalize physician-assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill.<br />
<br />
On the surface, such a law often sounds like a good idea. Supporters use words like "dignity" and talk about suffering. If someone knows he is going to die, why prolong the suffering?<br />
<br />
My beliefs suggest that there are some very important reasons why suicide is never an option.<br />
<br />
Not that we can ever do anything to set us back permanently. Suicide is not going to land us in hell for eternity. But leaving early does deprive us of the chance to work through the sanskara that we were put in this life to deal with. and the act of suicide is going to add some very serious sanskara to future lifetimes.<br />
<br />
It may sound cruel to say we have to stick it out no matter the circumstances. And I'm a very firm believer in the "separation of church and state," as they say here. I don't want to legislate my morality. I don't vote based on religious preferences alone (although my religion certainly informs everything in my life).<br />
<br />
Some of you may now that I'm connected to doing work in disability rights. Another thing that I have against a bill like this is the double standard. When a healthy and/or able-bodied person says they want to kill themselves, we rush to get them counseling, medication, and help. When someone with a severe disability or illness wants to kill themselves, we say "Yeah, that makes sense. Your life must be shit."<br />
<br />
<b>No one has the right to take his own life.</b><br />
<br />
And I think that's what's at the heart of this passionate debate back and forth over the right to die issue.<br />
<br />
We want to believe that we have some control over our life and our death. We like to tell ourselves that if things got too bad we could always kill ourselves, that at any time we could take control.<br />
<br />
<b>But we are not in control of death. </b><br />
<br />
The universe takes us when it is our time and we will never see that coming. Even those who are terminally ill cannot predict (or have doctors) predict the moment they will pass. Prognoses are educated estimates. We don't know when our time to go is.<br />
<br />
Proof of that, to me, is the seemingly random way that some people do insanely dangerous things and live while others die tucked away at home reading a book. People even frequently survive suicide attempts. When a doctor gives you poison, though, there's no turning back.<br />
<br />
This is not the same as a do-no-resuscitate request. This is an active killing of a human being.<b> And whether that life is your own or someone else's, it's still murder in my book</b>. Our lives are not given over to us to control. Not entirely.<br />
<br />
Now since I try not to force my moral and religious beliefs on others, I can almost come to this issue the way I do to abortion. I think it's wrong and I wouldn't do it, but I don't begrudge anyone else making the moral decision for herself. I don't judge those who do choose it and I don't prevent them from choosing it. I am not in their skin. I don't know what the situation looks like to them.<b> I am not terminally ill. I don't know what such people are facing</b>.<br />
<br />
This law gets more personal for me. It concerns me that, for example, the official witness who confirms that the person really does want to die can be the person who inherits from the death. It concerns me that we put doctors, whose oath is to life, in the position of purposefully killing (and what that might do to their sanskara!). And it concerns me that we value some life more than others.<br />
<br />
I no longer live in Massachusetts, so this is not something I will have to vote on as of yet. My friends tell me there are some states where such bills have passed and nothing terrible has come of it. I am not so sure. After all, we can't see sanskara.<br />
<br />
These are my thoughts at this moment. I'm uncertain how they may evolve. At this time, though, I am passionately opposed to legalizing suicide.<br />
<br />
{And for further reading, I would suggest the "life with dignity" people, <a href="http://www.notdeadyet.org/" target="_blank">Not Dead Yet</a>}<br />
<br /></div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-5115758430323609632012-09-19T09:15:00.000-04:002012-09-19T09:15:00.497-04:00Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't have any big plans this year. I did not attempt modak again or make a clay Ganesh.<br />
<br />
But I'm thinking about Ganesha and the joy and energy that he brings to the world.<br />
<br />
(I am wearing a sari, of course! Soft magenta with a border of black and gold).<br />
<br />
I think holidays will be more meaningful for me when I have children. I know I really look forward to making Ganesh statues with my children someday and sharing stories and lore with them.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-62501152977169536712012-09-17T17:50:00.000-04:002012-09-17T17:50:17.671-04:00Religion is Alive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This was on a friend's facebook wall the other day.<br />
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I love it.
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I think this quote makes a very excellent point. We should approach the world as a scientist does: modifying our understanding to conform with what the world shows us rather than (as too many religions do) try to hide and misrepresent what the world shows us in order to conform with our ideas.<br />
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<b>The Truth is the Truth and it is eternal and unchanging.</b><br />
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However, we do not yet fully understand it. When new information comes to light through science, it allows us to deepen our understanding of the universal Truth.<br />
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Religion exists to help us approach this Truth and it should always be a tool, not an end to itself. Religion should grow and be capable of adapting to new information. If it can't do that, it becomes stale and is eventually nothing but dogma with no meaning attached, used to beat people into submission.<br />
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My religion is alive. And it is always growing to encompass every new piece of understanding of our mystical universe.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-64693761992380310812012-09-14T09:31:00.000-04:002012-09-14T09:31:12.220-04:00Live Discussion of Conversion and Identity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday I received a message from someone at the Huffington Post on my Facebook page! I was quite thrilled, let me tell you. I really respect their webpage.<br />
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They are working on doing a<a href="http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/504f858d2b8c2a55360003fb" target="_blank"> live webcam chat</a> with converts whose lifestyles have changed dramatically because of their choice to convert.<br />
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And they asked me to participate.<br />
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Unfortunately, I had to tell them that my life hasn't changed that much!<br />
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I don't think that I'm quite what they're looking for, though I can speak about the experience of conversion. How we struggle to find a balance between our past and our present, how we start out tilting wildly into zealous passion, but usually even out eventually, how our stories never actually end, the journey continuing as long as we live.<br />
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However, my choice to become a Hindu was, for me, an awakening to something that I already was. The changes in my life were superficial. I celebrate different holidays. I sometimes wear different clothes. But for me there was no hijab to put on and there was no break with my family.<br />
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I wish I had thought to mention that they should approach <a href="http://www.alizahausman.net/" target="_blank">Aliza Hausman</a>, a Dominican woman who converted to orthodox Judaism.<br />
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They showed me an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/hispanic-islam-converts_n_1873493.html" target="_blank">article </a>they had done about Hispanic Americans converting to Islam. A very cool read/video!<br />
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Anyway, it got me thinking about the nature of changing your religion.<br />
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Sometimes it's a very dramatic shift, particularly if you go to the conservative ends of a religion and need to take on rules and dress codes. Sometimes it's just a quiet awakening and a slow blossoming into what you were always meant to be.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-64866033893949302222012-09-11T16:49:00.002-04:002012-09-11T16:49:28.093-04:00I Need Less and Less<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you've been with me a while you might know that I grew up in an organization that is at least a little bit cult-like. While I was growing up I heard a lot of rhetoric about not being materialistic, not being attached to <i>things,</i> etc.<br />
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I tried to live it. I tried to give up things because other people told me that things were not the way to happiness. It was a very deprivational /punishing thing. I loathed myself for having desires. Particularly for ever giving in to a desire.<br />
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I felt crippling guilt about owning anything, having anything, wanting anything.<br />
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When I became an adult, at some point I made the decision to follow my heart. To "follow my bliss" as Joseph Campbell says and always do what felt right. This may sound perfectly reasonable to you, but it can sound negative too. My elders might easily say, "You mean you want to be hedonistic. To follow pleasure and ignore honor and duty and right."<br />
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Words like "pleasure" and "hedonist" were pretty much the worst things you could say.<br />
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Life isn't about selfish pleasure, right? It's about dedication, duty, hard work.<br />
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For a little while I left that duty and dedication and deprivation and allowed myself to start feeling the pleasures and feeling the desires.<br />
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They might not lead to lasting happiness. But I had to find that out for myself. I had to go on the journey.<br />
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And that's the key, really.<br />
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Lots of well meaning adults tried to make me into a perfect person by teaching me all about the mistakes they felt they made, the regrets that they had. They had discovered that material possessions didn't make them happy. They wanted me to understand that. But I had no experience to draw on, could only believe what I was told.<br />
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During my twenties I found out that I couldn't be spared those mistakes (well, maybe some of them). I had to experience. I had to try and test and find out where happiness was and discover it in my own experience.<br />
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Now I find that I don't have much desire for material things. I have little clutter and less all the time. I don't feel very attached to <i>things</i>.<br />
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<b>The difference is, it isn't forced.</b><br />
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It's just the natural development of a life lived honestly and very close to the heart. If I feel desire, if I want something, I wouldn't deny getting it (currently I'm wanting a composter!). I would no longer become angry at myself for having a desire. I don't feel deprived because I just don't need very much and I find that I don't want very much .<br />
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But I could not have come to that conclusion, and been at peace with less stuff if I hadn't tried the stuff out.<br />
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Desire isn't wrong or evil. It's natural. And it can tell us a lot about ourselves and our needs. At some point one may find desire lessening, but I don't think we can skip ahead to that part of the journey. I think we have to arrive there naturally.</div>
Ambaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.com2