Seeking A Temple...No Luck...Any Advice?

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

 

As everyone knows, when it comes to the Indian culture appreciation knowledge,

my knowledge is -very- novice!

 

I recently found out that the closest temple to here - well, the only temple I

know of in this state - is more or less under construction and may possibly not

take any appointments for a while. I want to find some sort of Sanatana Dharma

community, in hopes to develop some deeper cultural knowledge. I will admit

that sometimes, even though I have read through Linda Johnsen's Complete Idiot's

Guide to Hinduism twice, I am at lost and nervousness when I approach a South

Asian from India, for I worry about sounding ignorant or pronouncing wrong. It

also feels weird to ask about their religion, since I am aware some South Asians

are Christian or Muslim, or Buddhist or Jain.

 

In a way, it is also another language. While I may understand (at least, I

think I do) the spirit of Shaktism and Hinduism, the Sanskrit terminology does

not stick as well as normal for me since I cannot be regularly exposed to the

culture. I even have to be informed via googling holidays, or look at the

groups messages, to be informed of certain holidays and traditions associated

with it. I know that culture is not the 'biggest' thing of religions, but it

does help me feel like I am being guided in a sense in regards to the Material

World.

 

Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to address my concerns? This group

has been a great help so far on any questions I had, but I also want to see what

other resources are available for me to consider, preferably free or low-cost

(my college funds are getting slurped by a vacuum as we speak :-( ), monetary

wise.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

 

Jai Ma!

 

Sincerely,

Christina H.

[Guest guest]

Well, how about some rather prosaic advice?

 

Since there isn't a temple in your area (there

isn't one in my city either), perhaps you could

investigate what *is* available.

 

Take a look at the bulletin boards in Indian markets,

herb stores that sell ayurvedic remedies, and yoga

studios -- perhaps you will locate a study group, a

meditation group, a kirtan group, a group devoted to

a particular teacher (e.g. Ammachi) or even a group that

meets to do pujas. Or maybe you'll find out about

an interesting lecture or event you could attend.

 

Some of these groups may have mostly NRI members -

others may not (particularly those advertised

at yoga studios.) But who knows; you may find

something that works for you.

 

, <IlluminatedCelestial

wrote:

>

> I recently found out that the closest temple to here - well, the

only temple I know of in this state - is more or less under

construction and may possibly not take any appointments for a while.

I want to find some sort of Sanatana Dharma community, in hopes to

develop some deeper cultural knowledge. [....]