You know, I've read a lot of people saying they've actually had experiences of the devas even when they didn't totally believe in them. I've also actually experienced them, but not quite to the degree you have mentioned. Shiva has called me for a long time. There's definitely something special about the devas, whatever they are exactly.
Truuuuuuue dat :clap
I think those kind of experiences are great, because they are personal. The fact that they are personal really make them deep and meaningful to you, and you have the choice to ignore it or answer it. There is nothing to "prove" to anybody or to really "believe". Your own experience of things is the real journey, in the end.
And the bolded, you're naughty!
Hard to imagine maybe, but yeah, guilty mdam !
Hmm a question, have you travelled much? Which are your favourite places in the world (can be a country or just something simple, like cocooned up in blankets)?
I've been to many places around the world, but at the same time not enough. Spain, Egypt, Croatia, India, USA, Canada etc... But I want to travel MOAR because I love learning and meeting new people, and I am lucky to be able to adapt very fast and well to a foreign culture. I would not describe myself as "french" but more of a earth inhabitant.
* do you participate on any other Hindu or religious forums?
Used to, not anymore. Good ones are hard to find, and RF is my one and true love
* you mentioned community, what does that mean? A temple?
Not necessarily a temple, because here there are a few. I think 3 or 4 in the whole country. Maybe a little more, hidden away to the public. But where there are Hindus, there are Hinduism, even without a temple. Often for big festivals or occasions celebrations are made in someone's place. It's more like a gathering of Hindu people where I can go, worship, and get along with like minded people. I feel really lonely since my return from India... There I had my local little street mandir, and all the friends ...
* have you ever tried playing caroms at a club or street, or play chess on the street at one of those public places with others?
No, but that's seems funny :0
I mean uh... I don't know how to play chess
* do you get woken up very early in the morning with the Muslim call to prayer like I do when I am in Chowringhee (Kolkata)?
You mean, when I was in Mumbai ? Surprisingly nope ! I was living just a street away from a mosque, but I never heard the call to prayer early in the morning. When I was coming back from work in the evening, I used to sit at the window and have some tea with parle-g while listening to the prayer call. I find it melodious, but that depends on which one is singing it I guess xD
No call for prayer in france. I don't think it's even legal...
* do you chew pan masala?
I tried one.
One
* do you know who Vittahla - Vithoba is? ... and have you met His devotees in Mumbai?
Ah yes ! Many devotees of Vittala come to the Ganesha mandirs there. He is even mentionned in SiddhiVinayak Aarti ! Jaya dev, jaya dev, jaya Paaaduraaanga...
I haven't got the occasion to visit Her, but when I come back to Mumbai I'll certainly meet Her !
* do you often have poor asking for alms, food or rupees?
Yes, especially in the morning, when you take rickshaw to go to work. Where I lived, there was a whole community of poors living on the sideway, but seeing all the bottles of alcohol they were littering around, I quickly understood that giving them money won't help them at all, especially the childrens. So, I always carried food and stocked prasad for whenever a children, mother or Hijra were to come ask. The hijras living nearby were especially very nice when they realized we were not afraid of them like every indian there was xDD ahah
* do you wear tilak or vibhuti on your forehead? Or bindi?
Used to in India... Not in France.
* what is the best sweet in Mumbai?
SiddhiVinayak ladoo prasad :drool:
* do you ever get milk to drink?
ALWAYS
In france, or in the us, or in India, I'm addicted to milk. I love milk. Cow milk mainly, but I certainly enjoy Goat milk also *yum*
* if you get sick, do you have a doctor or clinic you go to?
In france ? yeah you call a doctor and get an appintement xD
In India I only went to the doctor once. I asked a friend where I could go, and turned on he just had got an appointement for a medical check up before going to Kadarnath, so he told me to go with him. That's how I got a doctor there
* are there Russian men following you?
*turn left*
*turn right*
.....
.......
I dunno, maybe they're invisible... Can you see them ... ?
(on a more serious note, I've seen Russian womens following Egyptian mens, it was so damn funny to watch ahah xD)