Upon receiving notice of my acceptance in the Fulbright seminar, I know that I want to meet Emory's Professor Thomas Thangaraj. Although my doctoral degree is from Emory, I had not met him during my years of course work. Graciously meeting me, he invites me to visit him in his hometown of Madurai since he'll …
Continue reading 816. Visiting Professor Thomas Thangaraj: Tamil Nadu Christians
Like all religious systems, Hinduism tries to make sense of what harms a person and how a person can harm others. Like other religions, Hinduism can focus upon intentions. The Bhagavad-Gita describes the intentions which are recommended. Classical texts such as the Law Code of Manu list the behaviors which should be adopted. Some behaviors …
Before the formal Fulbright seminar begins in Madras (Chennai), we learn about rural India. In our particular seminar “The Geography and Culture of India”, one of the major goals is to familiarize its participants with the people and the land of the host country. While we all have stereotypes of Indian cities and slums, approximately …
Garbage Beneath Build A Healthier India What does one do at 5AM? I know that it will be hot as the day goes along; I know that the group schedule will leave little free time. I go for my walks. In Delhi, the morning after our arrival, I leave our hotel around 7 or 8 …
I hoped to learn about Hinduism. Being an academic, I thoroughly enjoy the earlier lecture about classic textual Hinduism as expressed in the Bhagavad-Gita and the Ramayana. Because Sunithi, one of our seminar organizers wants us to learn about "lived" Hinduism, she leads several of us to Mylapore’s Shaivite “Peacock Temple” as well as the …
Continue reading 810. Bhakti, Religious Festivals, and Devotion
Not only the seminar's women, but also the men, want to understand women’s roles and status. While we all realize that there is a complexity to this set of issues, we also could not forget ancient texts, older practices, and current exploitation. At its extreme, classical and parts of contemporary India encouraged women’s inequality, subservience, …
Massive suffering brings responses. Since women’s roles and status are often dismal, there are organizations which seek to rectify the situation as best as it can. One such organization is the working Women’s Forum. Because of a 1978 flood in Madras (Chennai), Ms. Jaya Arunchalam formed an organization to help women of the slums. The …
There are many terms for the traditional Hindu social stratification, varna, jati, and caste. My own seminar goal is to familiarize myself with Hinduism and some of the basic features of religious life in India. Remember: I’m new to studying Hinduism. Obviously, one of the features to understand is the historically influential varna, jati, or …
Continue reading 807. Trying to Understand Varna, Jati, and Caste
Everybody in the world knows Gandhi. While our seminar organizers provide a wonderful selection of speakers, one of our most appreciated speakers is Professor K. Swaminathan, the 94-year-old editor of the Collected Works of Gandhi. Upon receiving a master’s degree from Oxford and becoming a professor at Presidency College in Madras (Chennai), he became the …
Departures and Arrivals. Every trip has these components. It doesn't matter whether I'm going to the grocery store, driving to Stone Mountain to climb the mountain, or flying to India. Departures and arrivals are part of the journey. Our departure from Atlanta to New York is not smooth. Because of stormy weather, we miss our …
Journeys: Explorations in Body, Mind, and Spirit 