Hinduism, the oldest living religion, embodies diversity and eternal truths, fostering unwavering faith and unity amidst life's challenges. Life is characterized by its cycles of good and bad experiences. Donβt blame the Navagraha or 9 planets in Vedic Astrology, have strength, show compassion, live fearlessly!
Read MoreAncient Hindu society before the influences of western Faiths, Puritanism, and Colonizations was very free-thinking and progressive. The western world has managed to dumb down ancient texts such as the Kama Sutra to just a βsex position manualβ, brand Eastern religions/faiths as vulgar/obscene, and this needs to stop. I had the honor of presenting at the Museum of Sex in NYC about Hinduism, Love, and the Kama Sutra.
Read MoreIf Hinduism is such a DOPE OPENMINDED INCLUSIVE faithβ¦β¦thenβ¦
WHY DO SO MANY INDIAN AMERICANS GROW UP WITH SELF-HATRED, MAKING FUN OF HINDU RITUALS / PRACTICES, DEITIES, INDIAN ACCENTS, FOOD, DRESS ETC. & CONFUSE BEING βINDIANβ (WHICH IS A NATIONALITY/RACE) WITH BEING A HINDU (A FAITH THAT ANY PERSON OF ANY NATIONALITY/RACE CAN PRACTICE) ???
Read MoreI adore that Indian Classical Music is a form of worship, the interconnectedness between Hinduism and Islam, the beautiful melodies and various ragas, has to power to transform and unite, but most of all itβs the way to reach the divine, who is LOVE!
Read MoreA mantram can be repetitive (but doesnβt have to be) and is used for meditation, prayer, and maybe even to set your intentions/goals. For me, Alam Khanβs album Mantram is a true spiritual/religious experience. I LOVE every single track and I am in tears by the end of it, but happy tears because Iβve seen my beloved Lord. It reminds us that no matter how much crap and emotional turmoil weβve all gone through in life, HOPE & LOVE is what wins at the end.
Read MoreAs a lifelong practicing Hindu who adheres to the principle of Ahimsa, which means βnonviolenceβ meaning not to harm any living creature with your words, thoughts, or physically.
it boggles my mind that the 3 great Abrahamic faiths of the world Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in relative peace and unity, and gave the world beautiful art, architecture, and an interconnected culture before someone drank CUCKOO juice, and decided to fill their minds/hearts/brains/souls with hatred and expelled Jews and Muslims, which led to the bloody Spanish inquisition of 1492!
These are my reflections of the interconnectedness, unity, inspiration, and beauty, I saw through religion, faith, culture, and art.
Read MoreThis is the same issue many children of immigrants face if they donβt have light skin, light eyes, and a βwhiteβ name. We always have to prove our βAmericanessβ or our βEthnic Identityβ over and over again and frankly, itβs just EXHAUSTING.
I HATE the word βETHNICβ which needs to be removed from the English language! Ethnic literally describes anyone who is not white! HOW RUDE!
I am sick/tired of folks confusing βIndian culture/communities/societyβ with the FAITH of Hinduism.
I always found solace, peace, and understanding in my faith in Hinduism though I grew up in a chaotic/mishmash often contradicting Indian/Hindu/American culture and society. For example, I never understood why βBrown/Indianβ American women were made to feel ashamed to date, go to school dances, date/marry folks of other races, wear tank tops, bikinis, etc.
SOCIETY & COMMUNITIES create stupid rules, divisions, racism, sexism, hate, patriarchy, and bigotry, not FAITH.
Read MoreβHindu Faithβ and βHindu Cultureβ are two very different things.
Nowhere in any Hindu religious scripture does it say to serve Palak Paneer, Samosa, or Dosa!
I wish the west would take the time to understand and appreciate the diversity of India and Indian Americans!
Since when did the word βRELIGIONβ or βRELIGIOUSβ start to freak people out? It boggles my mind.
If a Muslim says they are religious they are immediately branded as a βTerroristβ, If a Christian says they are religious they are immediately branded as a βBible-thumping, right-wing, Trump loverβ
If a Hindu says they are religious they are immediately branded as a βCow piss drinking, right-wing, Modi loverβ
Becoming Chaplain was the first time I ever spoke up about βBeing Hinduβ. It was never an identifying mark for me, not something I went around proclaiming, Iβve always lived my faith, I just WAS, Gym, Puja, Design, every single day!
Read MoreAs the Hindu Chaplain of NYU/Columbia Universities, I find myself explaining my faith in "Abrahamic terms"
Why so many Gods? What's with the half-naked priests? Why don't you have 1 book, the same ways of thinking or the same holidays?
I canβt dip you in water, smack you upside the head with a Veda or Gita and make you a Hindu! (and other thoughtsβ¦)
Itβs very hard to generalize/compartmentalize/define Hinduism because practices vary dramatically by culture, family, demographics, communities, practices, etc.
Itβs what Iβve always found fascinating and interesting about Hinduism, thereβs always something new and unique to discover.
Read MoreI've always admired how much effort, thinking, planning, it takes to dress a deity, it's almost like a runway production after every puja!
My heart would leap in joy every time the doors would open and I could see the deities!!
This naturally made me want to study fashion design and art in general!
But Alankaram isnβt a βsuperficialβ display of gorgeous garments, flowers, and jewelry. There is a deep spiritual meaning behind everything in Hinduism. South Asia and what is now called India was once an extremely wealthy and agriculturally rich landmass. Back in the day folks would express gratitude to the divine by offering flowers, gold, garments, food, etc.
Read MoreRead MoreI serve as the Hindu Chaplain/Spiritual Advisor of NYU and Columbia Universities. I often think to myself what kind of world are we leaving for the next generation?
I believe in being the change, building a world of inclusivity, peace, unity, love, and compassion. Show, share, include folks of all faiths/ backgrounds in your holidays, celebrate together (itβs not that difficult to be kind and compassionate).
Last year during Navarathri, a young Shia Muslim girl (student at NYU) wanted to learn about Hinduism and to visit a Hindu Temple (there are no Hindu Temples in Manhattan, had to rent a car (lysol it first drive to Queens, hello covid! ).
EVERYBODY LOVES GANESHA! I have many Muslim/non Hindu friends who love Ganesha. Musicians who travel with a small statue, Arabs girls who find him adorable, Yoga practitioners etc. His image is found across the world (Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, archeological evidence even shows ancient South America!) π
His image is on Indonesian currency (a predominately Muslim nation) βͺοΈ
Read MoreIslam and Hinduism teach the unity of God / service to mankind β a message both Prophet (PBUH) and Lord Krishna taught.
Read MoreAll FAITHS (symbols of every major faith). ONE WORLD. WE Together stand against racism!
Read MoreGod Sees all, even if you can't see him, he sees you!
Read MoreAll Indian Classical Music and Dance traditions are rooted in worship and are ways to connect to the divine. The father of Hindustani music was a Muslim, the 13th C Sufi poet/musician/scholar Amir Khusrow. The father of Carnatic music was a Hindu, the 16th C saint/poet Purandara Dasa.
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