I really look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Bhagavad Gita as cast through your new and evolving viewpoint on things ;D If your intuition is leading you to do so, follow it. There's a message on the other side of doing so, I'm sure.
A Koan to consider: what if being a "bad Hindu" meant you became good at being Vinamrata? OR, what if becoming a "good Hindu" was the path to becoming Vinamrata?
Ahhh I love the Koan!! Such a great question. Thank you for the kind encouragement, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts once I read the Gita as well (currently I think I'm number 2 or 3 on the request list at the library!)
I was actually heartened by your open minded perspective. Thank you.
Hinduism doesn’t have those good or bad judgements. It gives you the freedom to be free and find your own path. Even if it happens to be Nastik Carvakas.
So many younger Hindus are ashamed of their own culture and religion because of the negative narratives by those who do not understand.
I found an overall perspective and understanding of Sanathan Dharma very well articulated in Rajiv Malhotra’s book Being Different.
Many Hindu Parents especially those from India assume their American Born kids will absorb values and understanding of Hinduism by Osmosis. In many cases its not true. As my grandad used to say… your generation will be lost and lose their identity amongst others. I hope more Young Hindus will have the courage to look beyond tropes.
thank you for this comment raj! i hadn't heard of these talks but i'll definitely check it out. i definitely that with a lot of religions there's a certain perception of how you're supposed to practice that inherently limits a lot of the freedom within the ideas, and it's good to remind ourselves that the practice can look different for people. so, thank you for reminding us!
I really resonate with this, especially the point about walking to school with your mom and feeling the stares of others. I’m also on a journey on fully integrating my “Iranianhood” into my sense of self and spiritual practices. thanks for writing and for the shoutout!
Jun 12, 2023·edited Jun 12, 2023Liked by Vinamrata Singal
Eknath Easwaran's "The end of Sorrow" is a great Bhagavad Gita interpretation. Everything you say resonates with my own struggle of being a "Bad Hindu" if such a concept weren't paradoxical. Thank you for sharing vulnerably. - Kusum
Such a lovely, brave and honest piece. Thank you for writing this! It's never easy to be so vulnerable on the internet. But I'm sure so many (including me) can relate to the themes in this essay!
Thank you for sharing this! Obviously very different to grow up as a Jew in America than as a Hindu, but I absolutely relate to the adult desire to better understand your religious heritage, if only through a secular lens. It's been empowering for me to build my own Jewish traditions as an adult (and also to write about them!) and I hope you get the same fulfillment from your journey.
thank you lewie!!! i'm really glad to hear that this question is top of mind for other people as well. excited to see how your relationship with judaism evolves!
Thank you for sharing! Love that you've been able to take the tradition of seder and make it something of your own- for storytelling and community. And also didn't know you were moving to Providence- congrats!!!! Such a pretty town.
Thank you for sharing this part of your identity and how your thinking has evolved around it!! The line about your mom's feature requests was great -- what an important stakeholder haha
"Brown Christmas" made me LOL
I really look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Bhagavad Gita as cast through your new and evolving viewpoint on things ;D If your intuition is leading you to do so, follow it. There's a message on the other side of doing so, I'm sure.
A Koan to consider: what if being a "bad Hindu" meant you became good at being Vinamrata? OR, what if becoming a "good Hindu" was the path to becoming Vinamrata?
Great writing. I loved the opening.
Ahhh I love the Koan!! Such a great question. Thank you for the kind encouragement, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts once I read the Gita as well (currently I think I'm number 2 or 3 on the request list at the library!)
I was actually heartened by your open minded perspective. Thank you.
Hinduism doesn’t have those good or bad judgements. It gives you the freedom to be free and find your own path. Even if it happens to be Nastik Carvakas.
So many younger Hindus are ashamed of their own culture and religion because of the negative narratives by those who do not understand.
I found an overall perspective and understanding of Sanathan Dharma very well articulated in Rajiv Malhotra’s book Being Different.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005UQ3YT8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1695275057&sr=8-1
Jay Lakhani who sadly passed away did a great series of You tube videos on Hinduism and also taught Hinduism at Eton College UK
https://youtu.be/kHPzHXMNAqs?si=Vs_Mz6-Ldz-26tZb
Many Hindu Parents especially those from India assume their American Born kids will absorb values and understanding of Hinduism by Osmosis. In many cases its not true. As my grandad used to say… your generation will be lost and lose their identity amongst others. I hope more Young Hindus will have the courage to look beyond tropes.
thank you for this comment raj! i hadn't heard of these talks but i'll definitely check it out. i definitely that with a lot of religions there's a certain perception of how you're supposed to practice that inherently limits a lot of the freedom within the ideas, and it's good to remind ourselves that the practice can look different for people. so, thank you for reminding us!
I really resonate with this, especially the point about walking to school with your mom and feeling the stares of others. I’m also on a journey on fully integrating my “Iranianhood” into my sense of self and spiritual practices. thanks for writing and for the shoutout!
of course!! always happy to support other writers. glad that part of the piece resonated, and excited to see more of your writing :)
A good human being is a good Hindu.
Eknath Easwaran's "The end of Sorrow" is a great Bhagavad Gita interpretation. Everything you say resonates with my own struggle of being a "Bad Hindu" if such a concept weren't paradoxical. Thank you for sharing vulnerably. - Kusum
ahhh thank you! i will definitely check that out. thank you kusum!!!
Such a lovely, brave and honest piece. Thank you for writing this! It's never easy to be so vulnerable on the internet. But I'm sure so many (including me) can relate to the themes in this essay!
Also I died at "feature requests". My mum always asks me to read the Bible, same thing
hahaha i'm glad you caught the feature requests line... my inner techie coming out ;)
thank you for the feedback! it was tough to write but the encouraging reception has helped.
Wonderful piece , so proud of you.
You are never too young or too old for trying to find your self
You are on right path
thanks mom!!! love you and appreciate your encouragement
Thank you for sharing this! Obviously very different to grow up as a Jew in America than as a Hindu, but I absolutely relate to the adult desire to better understand your religious heritage, if only through a secular lens. It's been empowering for me to build my own Jewish traditions as an adult (and also to write about them!) and I hope you get the same fulfillment from your journey.
thank you lewie!!! i'm really glad to hear that this question is top of mind for other people as well. excited to see how your relationship with judaism evolves!
Here's the most recent thing I've written about it if you're interested! https://thelewsletter.substack.com/p/divine-providence-rhode-island
Thank you for sharing! Love that you've been able to take the tradition of seder and make it something of your own- for storytelling and community. And also didn't know you were moving to Providence- congrats!!!! Such a pretty town.
Thank you for sharing this part of your identity and how your thinking has evolved around it!! The line about your mom's feature requests was great -- what an important stakeholder haha
Thank you Edwin!! Mom is stakeholder #1- gotta give the credit where it's due haha