Well, .... do something.

[Vinayaka]

A couple of years back, a loud and clear message from Ganesha came through and it also reminded me of how my Gurudeva approached things. It's simple, yet not so obvious. I was lamenting about a situation, and feeling sort of helpless, but sort of praying to Ganesha about it. Then it hit me like a brick ... :Well ... do something."

I remember my Guru using the method to transform lives. For example, a person might be lamenting to him that they didn't live near a temple, and He's just turn and address that person, .... "Well ... move closer to one."

Lamenting? Reflect ... am I capable of changing this situation? If the answer is yes, then do something. Sometimes the answer to life's challenges are incredibly simple.

Sorry for the ramble.

 

[JustGeorge]

A couple of years back, a loud and clear message from Ganesha came through and it also reminded me of how my Gurudeva approached things. It's simple, yet not so obvious. I was lamenting about a situation, and feeling sort of helpless, but sort of praying to Ganesha about it. Then it hit me like a brick ... :Well ... do something."

I remember my Guru using the method to transform lives. For example, a person might be lamenting to him that they didn't live near a temple, and He's just turn and address that person, .... "Well ... move closer to one."

Lamenting? Reflect ... am I capable of changing this situation? If the answer is yes, then do something. Sometimes the answer to life's challenges are incredibly simple.

Sorry for the ramble.

Its true, there often is something one can do. Maybe not exactly what they want, but something.

In our case, it isn't financially possible to live close to a temple. So, we made our own home puja room. Having a place aside for spiritual practice has always been vital for us; so vital, that at our old house, we slept in the dining room and turned our bedroom into such an area. Very thankfully, we don't have to do that here.

As for times of celebration, rather than lamenting I have no Hindu friends nearby to share things with, I am learning to just share my holy days with the friends/family I already have. We had a real nice Rath Yatra parade right on our own street last summer, put together with a friend and my sister and her family(and a cat).

Often, its about taking stock of what we have, rather than what we haven't, and moving forward based on that.

 

[Vinayaka]

Its true, there often is something one can do. Maybe not exactly what they want, but something.

In our case, it isn't financially possible to live close to a temple. So, we made our own home puja room. Having a place aside for spiritual practice has always been vital for us; so vital, that at our old house, we slept in the dining room and turned our bedroom into such an area. Very thankfully, we don't have to do that here.

As for times of celebration, rather than lamenting I have no Hindu friends nearby to share things with, I am learning to just share my holy days with the friends/family I already have. We had a real nice Rath Yatra parade right on our own street last summer, put together with a friend and my sister and her family(and a cat).

Often, its about taking stock of what we have, rather than what we haven't, and moving forward based on that.

Sorry, the temple thing was just an example. The idea applies to all sorts of things in life, like cutting the grass. When your kid gets older, and capable of cutting the grass, if they can't already, and he says, 'Mom, the grass needs cutting." This is your response for him.

So too with 'I'm hungry." Mom can going to the fridge. I find there are quite a few people out there who want somebody else to do it for them. Another example is folks who whine about garbage in a parking lot.

 

[JustGeorge]

Sorry, the temple thing was just an example. The idea applies to all sorts of things in life, like cutting the grass. When your kid gets older, and capable of cutting the grass, if they can't already, and he says, 'Mom, the grass needs cutting." This is your response for him.

So too with 'I'm hungry." Mom can going to the fridge. I find there are quite a few people out there who want somebody else to do it for them. Another example is folks who whine about garbage in a parking lot.

My oldest son used to complain about us not having the internet(we didn't have it until Covid, and online schooling, began). I would always tell him he better get a job...

The garbage example reminds me of a time my husband and I were picking up trash in a neighborhood park. One of the kids playing ran up and watched us and said "I wish I could pay you for doing that". My husband told her there was no need to pay him, she could simply do the same the next time she came to play in the park. You could tell the idea had never occurred to her. I hope she did do that...

 

[mangalavara]

We had a real nice Rath Yatra parade right on our own street last summer, put together with a friend and my sister and her family(and a cat).

It seems to me that cats like religious festivities and rituals.

My husband told her there was no need to pay him, she could simply do the same the next time she came to play in the park. You could tell the idea had never occurred to her. I hope she did do that...

This reminds me that in my experience as a substitute teacher, children are more likely to clean up the room if they see me doing my part than if I merely tell them to clean up. If only they would be as quiet as me.

 

[Vinayaka]

It seems to me that cats like religious festivities and rituals.



This reminds me that in my experience as a substitute teacher, children are more likely to clean up the room if they see me doing my part than if I merely tell them to clean up. If only they would be as quiet as me.

I used to use 10 bits of floor garbage as the exit ticket. It worked.

 

[Jainarayan]

Lamenting? Reflect ... am I capable of changing this situation? If the answer is yes, then do something. Sometimes the answer to life's challenges are incredibly simple.

I think of it as "If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem" and "God helps those who help themselves".

 

[Vinayaka]

I think of it as "If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem" and "God helps those who help themselves".

I still find the 'Somebody should ...' observation astounding. Part of me wants to yell ' That somebody is YOU!" I think garbage on the temple lawn or parking lot is the most common one for me.

I understand why, but it still takes time to get use to it.

 

[JustGeorge]

I understand why,

Why?

 

[Jainarayan]

I still find the 'Somebody should ...' observation astounding. Part of me wants to yell ' That somebody is YOU!"

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. If you're going to complain about something or stand back and do that, freakin' do something. If you can't physically, try to get it done somehow. But yeah, just standing back going "tss tss tss, what a shame". And yeah, littering is like waving cape in front of a bull for me.

 

[Aupmanyav]

As for times of celebration, rather than lamenting I have no Hindu friends nearby to share things with, I am learning to just share my holy days with the friends/family I already have. We had a real nice Rath Yatra parade right on our own street last summer, put together with a friend and my sister and her family(and a cat).

Often, its about taking stock of what we have, rather than what we haven't, and moving forward based on that.

What you are doing is excellent. But perhaps you can mention it on media to know if any Hindu lived nearby. Perhaps you will meet a kindred soul. Do it.

 

[Vinayaka]

Why?

Certain segments of society have been conditioned to believe that it's not their job, so it's in their subconscious mind. Two examples that immediately come to mind are spoiled children, and anyone raised with servants, in a classed, or casted society. First they have to break through that mental conditioning.

 

[Aupmanyav]

It is quite prevalent here in India, Vinayaka; but then life teaches them.
My elder grandson will soon go through this when he joins college in Bhubaneshwar. Life is a hard task master.

 

[Vinayaka]

It is quite prevalent here in India, Vinayaka; but then life teaches them.
My elder grandson will soon go through this when he joins college in Bhubaneshwar. Life is a hard task master.

Indeed. At the temple I go to people have littered right in front of me, while I was picking litter. I'm a sudra.

 

[JustGeorge]

What you are doing is excellent. But perhaps you can mention it on media to know if any Hindu lived nearby. Perhaps you will meet a kindred soul. Do it.

This is actually my only media. I stepped away from all other platforms when my mental health suffered from the negativity years ago(close to a decade now, I think).

I used to joke if I wanted to talk to a Hindu, I would have to make a doctor's appointment. When I brought in the Ramayama to a appointment one day, we suddenly had a lot to talk about. I remember one appointment we sat there and talked so long they started shutting the lights off in the building! Sadly, though, she just retired. She did, however, share her phone number with me, and asked me to call towards the end of the year, when she will be back in the region. I am hoping we can remain friends... maybe now I won't have to get sick to see her?

 

[mangalavara]

Indeed. At the temple I go to people have littered right in front of me, while I was picking litter. I'm a sudra.

A non-Indian friend of mine told me lately that he had parked his car in a parking space at a supermarket, and one space away from him was an Indian woman who placed her empty shopping cart in the parking space next to his and went back to her car. My friend thought that was such a lousy thing to do, so, he got out of his car, took her empty cart, and put it away in the nearby place in the parking lot where considerate people leave their carts. As he was returning to his car, the woman waved at him and said, ‘Thank you.’ Then, she drove off. My friend asked me, ‘Why would she thank me for doing that after she had already put away her cart?’ If only she knew that my friend is a teacher, not a servant.

 

[JustGeorge]

A non-Indian friend of mine told me lately that he had parked his car in a parking space at a supermarket, and one space away from him was an Indian woman who placed her empty shopping cart in the parking space next to his and went back to her car. My friend thought that was such a lousy thing to do, so, he got out of his car, took her empty cart, and put it away in the nearby place in the parking lot where considerate people leave their carts. As he was returning to his car, the woman waved at him and said, ‘Thank you.’ Then, she drove off. My friend asked me, ‘Why would she thank me for doing that after she had already put away her cart?’ If only she knew that my friend is a teacher, not a servant.

There may have been a reason for leaving the cart; a sudden feeling of illness, an urgent call, running late. Sometimes its easier just to give a person the benefit of the doubt and help out without attachment to why you're needing to pitch in.

 

[mangalavara]

There may have been a reason for leaving the cart; a sudden feeling of illness, an urgent call, running late. Sometimes its easier just to give a person the benefit of the doubt and help out without attachment to why you're needing to pitch in.

I ought to try that more often.

 

[ameyAtmA]

There may have been a reason for leaving the cart; a sudden feeling of illness, an urgent call, running late. Sometimes its easier just to give a person the benefit of the doubt and help out without attachment to why you're needing to pitch in.

Or multiple very active kids in the car ready to open the door and dash out any moment....
but if any of these thoughtfully noted possibilities on your list are not the case, then that is indeed a horrible thing to do.

Indeed. At the temple I go to people have littered right in front of me, while I was picking litter. I'm a sudra.

It is appalling (unless they are very young kids - who can be taught not to - or things unknowingly falling from people's busy hands). I also find plastics and things strewn around in my immediate surroundings - and when possible use a plastic bag or glove to pick those things. Sometimes I have seen someone watch and smile so hopefully that sets an example. It got scary during the pandemic but the glove or plastic does the trick - do not touch.