Advice

[Maya3]

StarryNightshade.

AHH!! Thank you!!

Originally Posted by Poeticus View Post
Him and Jai copied me, obviously. However, the only reason I had to change my name (I was मैत्रावरुणिः, remember?) was because I really wanted an avatar. And with a screen-name that was in a different alphabet/script, it wasn't possible for me to have an avatar of my choosing (it's a glitch on RF, or something). So, I really wanted an avatar. Therefore, I changed my name. And since I was changing my name, I was like: I better have a cool replacement for something as awesome as मैत्रावरुणिः. It's Poeticus, now. And it isn't going to change. Ever. And I want to tour Sweden one day.

Oh yes I remember, I never knew what to call you, I just had the image of the sanskrit in my head, which isn't a bad thing.

Please tour Sweden it's beautiful. May-through July is the best time to go.

Maya

 

[Maya3]

There are a ton within a couple of hours ... in DC, in New Joisey, in NYC, you're lucky. As far as 'finding a community' goes, that's harder. Many Hindu temples are totally non-congregational, and few people will talk to you at all, unless you volunteer for something, or are really outgoing. Hindus go to temples primarily to commune with God. The people are like grass on a lawn. Nice, but not the reason you go for a walk.

I've been going to a particular temple for 30 years, and I probably only know 10% of the people who go there. But Ganesha is always there.

Very true. I like that about temples, but it can seem lonely in the beginning.
If you want to find a community then I recommend going to an Ashram. I know one not too far from you Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

Very true. I like that about temples, but it can seem lonely in the beginning.
If you want to find a community then I recommend going to an Ashram. I know one not too far from you Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

Maya

This one, perchance? Arshavidya - Vedanta, Yoga, Astrology, Ayurveda & Vedic Heritage Classes

 

[Poeticus]

Yes, surprisingly

Hanuman has a special place in my heart because of that. At a young age I was really intrigued with the idea of a monkey god.

You have no idea how warm that makes me feel! All throughout high school I'd hear about "monkey-god" this "demon-monkey" that. Heck, even the Indian Christians I encountered weren't exempt from their rigorist condemnations---often gladly partaking in such derision. Therefore, when I hear stuff like this---your initial experiences with Hanuman being from your mother---it's so awesome! Especially the fact that your mom was raised as a Christian, but grew out it, and still didn't let the rigorism of the "false gods" concept weigh things down. You know what, James? You're good-to-go in my book, bro! Hanuman-dada ki jai (victorious be father Hanuman!); and as Hanuman would say, Jai Shri Ram! (victorious be Lord Rama!).

So did another person, but I don't know who. Just some guy who had 13 000 posts, and I'd never heard of him before, yet he posted yesterday.

It was Frankie, I think---yeah, Frankie. Formerly known as St. Frankenstein. Hope he's reading this, he's still Frankie to me. :flower: First, it was Sterling Archer that changed his name (now he's Sha'rullah---sp?; but he isn't active anymore, I believe). Then, me. And now these fellas, I tell ya!

Please tour Sweden it's beautiful. May-through July is the best time to go.

I want to tour Sweden, Norway, and Finland---only their northern areas. I'm not your average tourist, okay? I want to take darshan of the midnight-sun. Offer salutations to the local spirits that reside in those lands. Oh, and support their local breweries---obviously!

 

[Maya3]

This one, perchance? Arshavidya - Vedanta, Yoga, Astrology, Ayurveda & Vedic Heritage Classes

Wow, that looks beautiful! No it´s not that one. I´ll send you a message.
Sorry that I´m always so vague. I feel strongly about privacy on here. Not that people would figure out who I am among the thousands who go to my ashram or temple. Still, I´ve had some uncomfortable experiences. Nothing bad, but just so that I want to have my Maya Persona private.

Anyway

Maya

 

[Maya3]

I want to tour Sweden, Norway, and Finland---only their northern areas. I'm not your average tourist, okay? I want to take darshan of the midnight-sun. Offer salutations to the local spirits that reside in those lands. Oh, and support their local breweries---obviously!

I have never seen the midnight sun either, but it stays light real late in the whole country it´s great.

About the local breweries... I don´t know. I went to Tuborg in Denmark once. It smelled so bad that I have never been able to drink beer.
Though for those who like beer, it´s supposed to be good. But maybe get it at a local bar instead. If you go to Stockholm they have lots of basement restaurants and bars from as early as the 900´s (I think) that are really incredible.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

I want to take darshan of the midnight-sun.

Just come up here. Yellowknife is at 62 degrees. Stockholm is a mere 59.

 

[Aupmanyav]

They gave me a phone number to contact but I'm not quite sure what to say when/if I call let alone who I'll be talking to.

You can just mention that you want to visit the temple. Let us see what the person has to say. The best is just to land up there and stay around for some time getting the feel. (Why not very enthusiastic about the person on phone. Will he ask you for money to do the puja? It is an irritant in India.)

Well, like Buddha said, nothing is permanent. I just thought that it was time for a change in nomenclature.

Whatever makes you happy, Dark Night.

@ About Buddhism: Some Hindus consider it an integral part of Hinduism. Is Buddha not the ninth avatara of Lord Vishnu?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Hanuman has a special place in my heart because of that. At a young age I was really intrigued with the idea of a monkey god.

I am pretty sure that Hanuman and Jambavant were forest people who painted their faces in that way, and not monkeys and bears. They helped Lord Rama against Ravana. But then, we are talking of Gods. For my younger grandson, I have three Youtube links - Bala Hanuman (Childhood), Hanuman (Grown up) and Vriddha Hanuman (Old Age - remember the story where Bhim tried to move his tail in Dwapara Yuga and failed to move it. Hanuman was already 864,000 year old at that time - if you do not know the story, I would be happy to tell you that. Lord Rama did not take along Hanuman to heaven along with him but asked him to wait till Dwapara when he would come back as Krishna).

This one, perchance? Arshavidya - Vedanta, Yoga, Astrology, Ayurveda & Vedic Heritage Classes

That is an Arya Samaj Institution. I suggest this: http://www.arunachala.org/ashrama/ or http://www.sivanandayogaranch.org/.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Just come up here. Yellowknife is at 62 degrees. Stockholm is a mere 59.

You are lucky with all those million lakes. How large are the mosquitoes?

 

[Vinayaka]

You are lucky with all those million lakes. How large are the mosquitoes?

Massive ... and thick, they get counted by the cubic metre. When in India or Hawaii or Mauritius our friends would complain about the mosqitoes, and we just roll our eyes. "You ain't seen nuthin!!!" Blackflies are even worse ... smaller, but thicker.

 

[Aupmanyav]

That is what I have heard about Tundra-like regions, though the photographs do not tell that.

 

[Vinayaka]

That is what I have heard about Tundra-like regions, though the photographs do not tell that.

We've totally derailed Jamesworth's thread so I'll stop after this post ... the good thing is none of these northern varieties carry any Malaria, Dengue Fever, etc.

 

[Aupmanyav]

He has not posted, perhaps he got his answer.

 

[Brinne]

We've totally derailed Jamesworth's thread so I'll stop after this post ... the good thing is none of these northern varieties carry any Malaria, Dengue Fever, etc.

Haha I don't mind; your conversation was interesting so it's all good

 

[Brinne]

Very good news!

So my mother and I just had a very deep conversation about Hinduism and her beliefs and I informed her about my interest to go to the local temple and she was really happy about it. She told me the stories about Hanuman again and how much she loves him. Funny enough, the local temple is dedicated to Hanuman.

So I will be going to temple for the first time this weekend. We also made a plan to go to India this summer on a pilgrimage of sorts. I'm excited to see what comes of this

 

[Chakra]

Wow, how exciting! Where do you plan to go?

 

[Brinne]

Wow, how exciting! Where do you plan to go?

Not quite sure yet, but we definitely want to visit areas along the Ganges river -- no doubt about that. Seeing Dwaraka would be really nice too. I'm sure we'll figure some kind of plan out.

 

[Vinayaka]

I would advice Indiamike, the travel site, for details and the help on mundane travel. Travelling in India is a different world than travelling anywhere else.

 

[Maya3]

That is excellent! Please tell us everything about your temple visit.
Don't forget that next week is Diwali so ask to see what your temple is going to do.

Maya