back from India

[Guest guest]

Jai Achintya:

 

> I found Amritapuri to be very difficult, for the most

> part, but well worth it. I grew a lot as a person and

> a spiritual being. But it was very overwhelming and

> intimidating for me at first, with all the adjustments of being

> there and my own emotional issues coming up. It

> seems to bring everything up to be dealt with.

>

 

Welcome home coming back to yourself.

 

It is overwhelming, isn't it? My first trip to India in 1990 was for seven

months and it took me a good 3 or 4 months to recover. So, be patient with

yourself.

 

I had one warning before I left. The culture shock is greater coming home. It

turned out to be the case for me.

 

I found that most Indian people are shorter than I. Never really paid any

attention to it. At my six foot height, I must have appeared enormous to

them.

 

Coming home, I found people to be BIG (and FAT)!

 

I loved playing with the children I met. Language was not necessary.

Communicating with jestures was a ball. They have one spare outfit and

sandels, if they are lucky. No designer clothes, no TV, no movies, no sex

issues, no cars, no cell phones, no real peer pressure to speak of, no

boozing, no boom boxes, no drugs and no bad language. Yet they play together

without regard to slight age differences.

 

Yet there was a look of sheer delight in their eyes. Their eyes glistened

with laughter and beauty.

 

Next day after returning, I went to the post office to pickup a hord of

mail. A woman with her five year child was in front of me. I made eye contact

with this child and proceeded to have the fun I had cherished in India. The

mother became very agitated, then angry and threatened to call the police

because she feared I was about to molest her daughter.

 

And I look into the eyes of our children where ever I went. I saw strain,

pressure and dullness. No sparkling laughter in their eyes. No light either.

 

And I cried,

 

and I cried.

 

And I still do.

 

Peter (Kandar) White

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

>

> I had one warning before I left. The culture shock

> is greater coming home. It

> turned out to be the case for me.

 

Me too. Reverse culture shock.

>

> I found that most Indian people are shorter than I.

> Never really paid any

> attention to it. At my six foot height, I must have

> appeared enormous to

> them.

 

I noticed that too, and I'm only 5'7"

 

>

> Coming home, I found people to be BIG (and FAT)!

>

> I loved playing with the children I met. Language

> was not necessary.

> Communicating with jestures was a ball.

 

One of my fondest memories was seeing Indian kids

playing cricket in the streets, much like Canadian

kids playing road hockey. I'm sure those kids were

imagining themselves to be Sachin Tendulkar or Sourav

Ganguly. Brought back memories of playing road hockey

as a kid, pretending to be Dave Keon or Tim Horton

(Toronto Maple Leafs of yore!)

 

>

> Next day after returning, I went to the post office

> to pickup a hord of

> mail. A woman with her five year child was in front

> of me. I made eye contact

> with this child and proceeded to have the fun I had

> cherished in India. The

> mother became very agitated, then angry and

> threatened to call the police

> because she feared I was about to molest her

> daughter.

 

Warning to all men: DON'T EVER TRY TO MAKE EYE CONTACT

OR CHAT UP YOUNG CHILDREN! A woman can do it, but a

man will be accused to being a child molester. Even

if the child's parents aren't around, the kid will

likely have been trained to run to mom or dad, who

will promptly call the cops.

 

Keval

 

 

 

 

Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more

http://taxes./

[Guest guest]

Sharrdha:

 

Such beautiful feelings you have! Thanks for sharing your heart.

 

>

> First I think it is sad that a man in this country cannot smile or talk

> to a child when the parent of that child is right there.

 

Fear. We teach our children fear.

 

How often have we taught them "Don't speak to strangers"?

 

First, we teach them that other people are strangers. Therefore, they are

bad.

 

Second, we teach them separation. There are "us" and everybody else is a

"stranger".

 

Third, we teach then not to communicate.

 

Fourth, we teach them "Don't".

 

We do not teach them what a stranger is except it is everyone else. It we

shouldn't talk to them, they must be bad. Us vs Them.

 

Do we have a problem with alienination from people here?

 

Do we have a problem communicating together? Getting along with others?

 

With our society the way it is, we must do something to protect them, right?

We sure don't want them hurt from a child molester, right?

 

What about the real hurt that comes from fear, separation and lack of

communication we were taught?

 

Child molesting is a real danager. I was molested once when I was around 6.

Still remember it with all the feelings I had them. My oldest son was

molested once. The washing repair man molested my daughter once. All mild

case but it happened.

 

But, looking at all the people I had contact with in those days, there was

only one that treated me like that.

 

The danager is there, but risk is very low.

 

With all the hurt I experienced from the fear and separation I was taught, I

would trade it in a heartbeat for being molested for a couple of minutes.

 

Why don't we teach our children discretion?

 

Teach them to use their own natural ability to sense when something is OK and

when it is not. Teach them to make good decisions.

 

Why don't we? Guess we can only teach them what we know ourselves.

 

Peter (Kandar)

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

First I think it is sad that a man in this country cannot smile or talk

to a child when the parent of that child is right there. We personally

don't practice this in our home but then we are rather odd. We

homeschool so I never know if an adult we might run into will have

something of an educational nugget for my children. And as long as I am

standing there I see no problem. On the flip side my children know not

to talk to people if I am not there because they know the reality of the

world and that not everyone is safe to speak with. As sad as that is.

 

Peter I am sorry a mother gave you such a horrible look for making eye

contact with her child. It is sad the world has come to this and it

breaks my heart.

 

I agree with the fact that children in other countries do seem happier

even though they appear to have less. I am not so sure though the

children who have less really do have less. If that makes sense. *L* I

know children who have lots of clothes and food and all the toys and

material things they want but look like little empty shells. They don't

interact with other people except in schools which only allow them to

interact with people their own age cutting down on their experiances

with the world. Most parents are forced to work two job and are not

there emotionally for thier children and to make up for it buy their

kids off. And the most horrible thing I see is ...and send hate mail

directly to me on this one....is mom's who go back to work 6 weeks after

giving birth and that child grows up in the "system" of caregivers who

might not always give love that they should be getting from thier

parents. To me that is just gross and makes them look like a baby

factory. AGain my view so send hate mail to me and don't clutter up the

list.

 

How can a child who has no connection with people trust them and grow

and shine? Isn't it an african saying "It takes a village to raise a

child". In India it appears they do have a village even if they have

one pair of clothing or no shoes they have people to make contact with.

People are in the streets and out in the world. I am not sure about your

neighborhoods but mine has over 200 kids in it but looks like a ghost

town even on a Saturday because people don't interact with others.

Those of you much older than I am think back to days that seemed

simpler because they were. There was not all this media (computer, video

games, tv and cable) to keep people inside. They were out and about. You

knew who your neighbors were and you reached out to help them. I have

had that once in my life and felt so blessed in this day and age to have

neighbors who knew us and cared were part of our lives. My children

learned so much from helping them and them helping us.

 

While I have never been to India and I hope strongly to go one day it

does seem that while they may not have all that kids have in the US they

are happier in thier soul and healthier in it as well. I agree with the

thought that the children here seem empty, angry and sad.

 

I also think that more parents should get thier kids involved in helping

their community or in world issues. To help foster compassion and love

for others. I am sure in the small villages in India the children there

witness adults helping each other. Possibly women working together and

men as well doing chores and bringing in food. How often do children

here get to view this?

 

I wont stay up here on my soapbox. Sorry about this but I know right now

I personally am having a hard time with how society is. These silly

reality tv shows that are teaching children and many adults the wrong

way to meet people and showing love as superfical and full of lies. I

am not even crazy about the sitcoms currently on.

 

I often wonder when Amma comes to this country how she stands it. The

energy that is. I know she is divine and loves us but I know my heart

hurts for society. I also know I am extreamly sensitive to energies and

lately the world is one big confussing place for me. I am greatful I

know people who are loving and kind and I think of them when I get

really sad about things and wonder what the world will be like for my

children and it makes me feel not so alone and I know there are other

people out there hoping to spread love among us all.

 

Om Shanti,

Sharrdha

Pround mommy to 5 great kids

CT