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!! ** Autobiography of a Yogi ** !!
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MellonCollie
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
175
Posted : Mar 8, 2006 15:19
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Are we embarassed? I don't want to put forward a blanket answer for us all...BUT I don't think so. Firstly, because i'm INDIAN and how can you ever disregard your roots? and secondly because, India is the most pimp place to be EVER.
What may be embarassing is a behaviour of a person or group of peoples that are taken to represent true Indian mentality. Aren't we all ambassadors? I can laugh at common Indian fallacies, make fun of my own accent - but this kind of humour and mocking is only possible when you are really comfortable with who you are.
and thanks Karma. I would not put forward unsubstantiated opinions or views that would seem so harsh unless I had good reason to do so. And I should educate these guys? What the fuck , what for ? If ''un-westernized'' peeps back home can behave with decorum and sanity, whats wrong with behaving this way here!
I dont think the debate should revolve around ideas of westernization of the east. Isn't that reverse colonialism? Im just playing - i dont actually think so, but countries are growing to develop and provide for their citizen and not so that they will fit in with the rest of Developed world. Certain far more appealing 'western' concepts are liberal concepts, and adopting them can be likened to adopting a liberal approach to governance and politics and econimic growth.
And I dont think being more western is a sign of sucessful upbringing. I think good education, good values, respect, these are the signs of a sucessful upbringing, and these are values inherent to any culture or community - not the west or the east only.
  Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Darkness, it lies waiting. Dormant but ever ready...to envelope us all. Embrace it or denounce it, one must pick a path. |
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Bloodclot
Bloodclot
Started Topics :
93
Posts :
2190
Posted : Mar 8, 2006 16:47
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On 2006-03-04 22:04, *Karma Cola* wrote:
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On 2006-03-04 09:59, h2so4 wrote:
@karma: I didnt understand what you asked to @sorceress. You mean Indians in US are becoming more westernised or vice versa? Care to elaborate so that I could put my thoughts on the subject....
@karma: Nah...i didnt hear about the news. Do you havea link for the same? I am more of a Slashdot.com kind of news reader 
OMFG......I just realised that I have crossed 500 posts in less than a year.
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Shabash biddu.. Shabash!!! 
Ok, so wat i meant by my question was that, do we as a generation seek to refute our heritage? Are we embarassed by our culture in some ways (not all the time) and do we not seek to westernize ourselves even more in the world. In fact, the more westernized you are, is that a mark of success and proper upbringin?
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I will agree that Indians living in the US are embarassed by their on culture. What do you expect from Westerners who have no roots at all? They are completely oblivious to the world around them, so what more can they do but make sure a person who's culturaly rich feel stupid about themselves? Inheriting a Western Culture isnt the answer - Its all about education. The only good thing about America is that it has a good education system. It knows how to teach its students with a combination of work and play, one of the main things lacking in India.
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sorceress
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
833
Posted : Mar 8, 2006 20:25
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Quote:
| I will agree that Indians living in the US are embarassed by their on culture. What do you expect from Westerners who have no roots at all? They are completely oblivious to the world around them, so what more can they do but make sure a person who's culturaly rich feel stupid about themselves? Inheriting a Western Culture isnt the answer - Its all about education. The only good thing about America is that it has a good education system. It knows how to teach its students with a combination of work and play, one of the main things lacking in India.
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i like your take on things... very thought provoking
@Mellon Collie - yes we are all ambassadors and so if there are some crude ones there are some polished ones too just like u
the term westernisation is not to become chirstians or party late till nite or even to forget yo0ur own cultural roots the term westernised would be to be educated even if not education to have an individuality and to stick by it.
Iron Hand in Silk Gloves theory.
"liberal" is a good word and that should be it.
but am sure by now we know for sure that we all love our culture and India and respect the fact that we are true representatives of our country which is colourful, peaceful, diverse, welcoming and developing.
just when we think some species are close to extinction some one comes forward to take care of it and hence we too shoulder this responsibility every day.
the question is - should i hold back from adapting to some thing that i feel would do better for me and my family in future. answer would be simple - no
so why is it that we are so protective and indifferent to change some times... in the context of becoming an amrican in amrica just like in Rome do as romans do ---
am brown and no matter how much fair and lovely i use am still gonna be dark and no matter how much sun tanning americans do they would be white but we live close by, eat similar food, drink same water, go to same school, talk in similar language, work together and all other jazz so how come we can't be more accomodative towards each other.
i dont wanna sound mad after writing all the above but when my husband and me were looking for a house we were to buy we saw the area the locality and checked the ratio of african amricans to Caucasians who lived next to us in the society even checked the schools data on the same... the funny part of all is that we both knew(not discussed just understood) that no matter how much we like the house if the ration is higher on the african americans front we not taking the house... why ????
just coz its safer to have a white neigthbour who will not talk to u to a roudy black. funny but its true
its a vicious cycle they say because they are of limited means they are less educated and because they are less educated they are off lesser means and people of lesser means are less cultured and more prone to violence and crime.
somethings to think about
Dont thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously use your intelligence
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boomshanthi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
34
Posts :
510
Posted : Mar 8, 2006 20:31
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@Cola
Are we subconciously embarassed by our culture in foreign lands? Sadly, the answer yes.. If you have lived atleast for a few months in America or any other western country, you will know what i am talking about. You try to do things that the americans do so you wont be embarassed.
I have a personal experience to quote here. 3 days after i first came to the US, it was the day of Onam, a traditional malayalee festival and there was a malayalee samajam here in philadelphia who organised a nice get together. With help from my parents back in india i found someone who can take me there and arranged to get a ride from near my apt. As it was a traditional festival i decided to wear traditional attire. Kerala's traditional wear is a cotton dhoti and shirt(It is not worn like in north india, but more like a wrap around, and yes it was summer when i came). My ride was to pick me up from in front of a Wnedy's nearby. So my friends here came to know about this and after two years they still make fun of me with this. You can call it the ignorance of a fresh desi that made me wear dhoti and wait in fron of wendy's for 15 minutes. And i am sure i would have my ride pick me up from home if i have to do that again. So the point is, though we respect our culture, when we are in a foreign land we are embarassed by the same rich culture we talk about to our american friends.
But this can all be justified by saying that you have to be a Roman in Rome.
But is that really what it is? Arent we actually embarassed by our culture? Will a north indian wear traditional dhothi or a ghagra choli and walk an american street? i guess not...
We meditate upon the Spiritual Effulgence of That Adorable Supreme Divine Reality, the Source of the Physical, the Astral, and the Heavenly Spheres of Existence. May That Supreme Divine Being enlighten our Intellect So we may realise the Supreme Truth. |
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sorceress
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
833
Posted : Mar 8, 2006 20:42
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@ Boomshanti - i know what u talking about... if am not mistaken u call it Mundd right .. they look so cool and are so comfy
here again my lord(an in from an advocate to the judge) it was not white or black who made fun of him just more desi's...
WTF
i mean will u laugh when u see a japanese in there traditional clothes ... no u would be in awe... just the way my white and black friends are usually in awe when they see me sometimes in a nine yard peice of cloth that i wrap aro0und my self pretty well.
it is just the desi's making fun of more desis' actually not that too its just your friends making fun of u... if not this they would find some thing else but we do pull each othere legs that happens in all cultures
My desi friends make fun of me when they see the wedding videos but all my firangi frens love it.
all my cousins from India were hiding when the wedding video was being shot but it was my cousins from Sweden and england who are half brown half white who danced so much and were so mesmerised to see all that we do at the wedding here in India.
are we making fun of each other when we suppose to stick together is my next question.
united me stand devided we fall. 
and i wont walk on the streets or even at walmart in a saree or suit coz i wanna blend in not coz am embaressed of my culture.
hell no
Dont thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously use your intelligence
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Gopendragon
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
55
Posts :
2394
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 07:34
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sorry for my my out of order quest about Shiva at the 55th page....
hmmm I could say that although here in my country much people "exploiting" the indian culture,by selling statues of Buddha or Shiva and other gods from indian pantheon because they are "cool" and helps for the good feng shui as they say,or even open schools of yoga with the symbol of OHM just to attract people and promote the indian philisohpy to get money and sell indian suvenirs...most of them they dont even care about Buddha or indian tradition,only about money...
others come with an indian name to promote yogic technics and learn indian mystical knowledge and traditional dance and music...
How I see those things ?
As a non indian person I see that you have to be proud for the fact we learn from your culture and ancient spiritual philishophy,or even because we have a big buddhist statue on our homes for a good feng shui and cool decoration,maybe we loose the deeper meaning of those cosmic principles they represent and some get rich from that,but you have to keep the head up and fell really proud of that when you see us taking things from your culture,tradition,religion, and use it as a briliant jewel in our life...
~~~~~~~namaskar~~~~~~~~~
After the End,a new Begining startS.. |
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jabba
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
662
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 08:02
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embarrassed of your own culture ????? something must be wrong with your ownself (general statement for those who are ) 
i guess the culture itself is embarrased by people who are embarrased by their own culture 
have love in your eyes and you see no culture but only .................people beautiful people
but i liked this gossip good to read
To focus sometimes you need to spin hard on your soul's axis..... just don't ask how and what it means ;) |
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Dogon
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
50
Posts :
8779
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 13:39
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On 2006-03-09 08:02, jabba wrote:
have love in your eyes and you see no culture but only .................people beautiful people
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Right there what's actually is required!!!
@ *Karma Cola*: U said this categorization is inevitable. I agree to it 100% because of the fact that i understand that even the westeners, goray, black, brown, american, british etc etc are just the same soul and Soul/Sole purpose is to Venture so even the same questions & queries must be in their minds also, hence making this inevitable BUT there are CHOICES & the categorization is just not the choice. And as the soul is supreme & godly, so it can never ever deny any choice that the mind makes. So it's your free will to choose whatever.
My point is why to choose this categorization n all since you all know that this thing wont take you anywhere, so instead of thinking about the differences in the cultures, people, attitudes n all other categories, just think about how can it be easier to help every being to find the right way. You must be know that Thought is the first step of creation, so if you think about this, you will talk about this n so you are doing so & this is the 2nd step of creation, so you have created the life surrounding these categories.
COLLECTIVE CONSIOUNESS is real & true. Just as the world is trapped in the categories & most of humans are creating their lives thinking, speaking & acting towards categorizations, this is COLLECTIVE CONSIOUNESS as well, just that the path is not appropriate but i would still say it's just the matter of your choice.
OMG m i a messenger of god or a prophet or GOD. Yea infact everyone is. How different we are from Jesus of Nazareth, how lesser we are from Nanak, Buddha, Mahavir & so on......... just the faith!!!!
Respect
We were born naked & grow up to become wicked. |
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*Karma Cola*
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
113
Posts :
2314
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 19:26
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Well put dogon, giving us the idea that although categorization may be necessary its not mandatory.
@jabba
My question was more like a "what do u think about this" type. I have been living abroad for awhile and even back home, it was considered 'ghati' to be too aggressively indian. (am not sure how else to put it?)
I never thought in this manner, infact am fluent in Marathi and can make a mean Kheema as well, but this is the reaction of a few.
@Gopendra
People exploitin cultures is not a new thing. Even japanese culture has been hit, with the fake kimonos and the sushi joints poppin up everywhere. But pretty much as u said. Keep ur head up and be proud to be who u are and where u come from. Just dont constantly let everybody know who u are and where u come from
@Sorceress
Friggin hell!! At my sisters weddin, the Gora's were takin pictures of the food  they insisted on wearin turbans and goin the full monty. They even joined me and my younger cuz's in that annoying traditionl "if ur a cuz u must dance or face the wrath of the entire family" episode. Kajra re kajra re..
p.s my finnish girlfriend loves the sari. I had to get them and pashmina shawls for her.
~*** You can tell By the way i use my walk, Im a woman's man, No time to Talk***~ |
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sorceress
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
833
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 21:49
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On 2006-03-09 19:26, *Karma Cola* wrote:
@Sorceress
Friggin hell!! At my sisters weddin, the Gora's were takin pictures of the food they insisted on wearin turbans and goin the full monty. They even joined me and my younger cuz's in that annoying traditionl "if ur a cuz u must dance or face the wrath of the entire family" episode. Kajra re kajra re..
p.s my finnish girlfriend loves the sari. I had to get them and pashmina shawls for her.
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on Kajra re Kajra re...
i cant help but keep imagining u doing the pelvic movements
so u got your girl friend a saree huh... who taught her how to wear it... am sure she looks beautiful in it when ever she puts it on 
Pashmina too is very elegently warm actually awefully warm to be sooo light good choice 
Turbans are an imidiate hit and so are all the bhangra numbers and not to miss Old monk rules
@ Gopendra - i was looking forward to reading your views about it and yes u are right that a whole lot of people are making a whole lot of money selling India or Japan. but one way or the other everyone contributes to India becoming a more known country.
Dont thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously use your intelligence
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MellonCollie
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
175
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 21:50
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Ha ha ha! On the subject of long order lists from India - my friends want shit from Nagchampa - Yeh the mega huge boxes, to shawls, to stickers, to good old charas That one they love the mostest. The greek kid down the hall owns a chu now too - harrowed and harrowed me till I got him one.
HAHAHA comment on the saree bit: for the costume party we went to - famous people - I dressed up my russian ex in a saree- 9 yards is not enough to cover a rugby player size dude. It did looook hysterical tho - hijra style! He was supposed to be Aishwarya Rai since the whole world seems to recognise her -and also it's amazing how much people want to know about India and learn more all the time.
For sure , people stereotype - the cows, the elephants but even then its all rather humourous because everyone knows theres a HELL of a lot more to mera bharat mahan then the cows
I've taught the customary theek hai, acha hai to the swear words that EVERYONE already knew - from my Arab friends to the Norwegians - indian swear words are completely a universal principle.
Word of advice - don't call anybody a chutia - atleast here where Indianess is such an inherent part of the culture - its pretty much part of the English dictionary. Pretty amazing huh? How's that for cultural appropriation? We want our curry back too!!
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Darkness, it lies waiting. Dormant but ever ready...to envelope us all. Embrace it or denounce it, one must pick a path. |
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sorceress
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
833
Posted : Mar 9, 2006 23:21
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@ Mellon Collie - was it a costume party or Halloween that u took your bf to in a saree. the onw thing that i do not miss about India are the Eunuchs... they harassed me for money so many times on most of all the delhi sognal points...  so that is not a good memory
Dont thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously use your intelligence
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*Karma Cola*
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
113
Posts :
2314
Posted : Mar 10, 2006 04:01
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On the comment on hijra's, i remember once when i was almost 14 or 15 i got into an argument with one of them. The hijra had asked me for 10 bucks and i only had 20's, so i gave the hijra a 20 instead. Crap!!, the hijra threw such a fit it was scary, "i asked u for 10.. who the hell are u to give me 20. Im not askin u for charity, its a gift.." So eventually i dunno how, i ended slappin the hijra on the mouth  . Next thing i know the Hijra starts screamin bloody murder and the rest of his brethen start running towards us. FAARKK!! i didnt know whether to laugh ( a bunch of dudes running towards u, holdin up their saree's and pallu's. ) or whether to run, (coz they looked like that marathi actor from that movie).
Anyhoo, im on this bike with my friend so he justs rips it and we take off. I told this to my mum and she was quite upset about what i did, and told me the whole hijra story etc.. how they are all alone and ostracized from society blah blah. Well, i guess she made a point coz i went back and apologized the day after, albeit with like 10 dudes in the car. Hey, i was remorseful not stupid.
..but anyways, i just finished my last midterm and im off to get drunk, stoned and thoroughly wasted on somethin or the other. Wish me luck!!!
P.s.. i have a funny story about Indian swear words and gora's!
~*** You can tell By the way i use my walk, Im a woman's man, No time to Talk***~ |
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acidity
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
1491
Posted : Mar 10, 2006 05:31
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@Karmacola: OMFG. You actually had such incident with hijra. Maybe call me naive and without PLUR, I kinda always feel awkward whenever they are around. Maybe thats what it embibed in my mind and culture. Maybe I need to have a good experience with them.
Yeah, I would definitely like to hear about the story with swear words and goras. Knwoing abuses to different languages and countries is kind of hobby for me
Discover.Vote.Share() - http://www.beamto.us |
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jabba
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
662
Posted : Mar 10, 2006 08:44
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On 2006-03-09 19:26, *Karma Cola* wrote:
Well put dogon, giving us the idea that although categorization may be necessary its not mandatory.
@jabba
My question was more like a "what do u think about this" type. I have been living abroad for awhile and even back home, it was considered 'ghati' to be too aggressively indian. (am not sure how else to put it?)
I never thought in this manner, infact am fluent in Marathi and can make a mean Kheema as well, but this is the reaction of a few.
@Gopendra
People exploitin cultures is not a new thing. Even japanese culture has been hit, with the fake kimonos and the sushi joints poppin up everywhere. But pretty much as u said. Keep ur head up and be proud to be who u are and where u come from. Just dont constantly let everybody know who u are and where u come from
@Sorceress
Friggin hell!! At my sisters weddin, the Gora's were takin pictures of the food they insisted on wearin turbans and goin the full monty. They even joined me and my younger cuz's in that annoying traditionl "if ur a cuz u must dance or face the wrath of the entire family" episode. Kajra re kajra re..
p.s my finnish girlfriend loves the sari. I had to get them and pashmina shawls for her.
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@KC i completely got your gesture of " what do you think types" so was just my general take on it understood your point the first time i read it ,and which manner u talkin abt bro the statement i gave was for those who are embarrased ............ was just with the flow ............. i agree completely that being aggressive of who you are and where you come from shall not help in anyway to connect with people from different nationality and background rather being content with the fact of who you are is quiet a respectable way to blend in
and you dancing on Kajrare keep up the good work hahahahahahahaha
Hijras can be very scary and can be very polite ................ i had a funny funny incident ............. 16 years i was and went to see my maternal granparents and my uncle there was blessed with a child .....so as the tradition for eunuchs is to come and bless the new born and take whatever clothes and money offered ...........
Now i am sitting in the verranda and this lady shows up well now i could see she is "she-he" and started asking for whateva and people delivered her/him the goods and she-he blessed the child and went off singing praises for the lord and cool ............
Then came a gang of these who i learnt later were not supposed to be there since areas are divided and my grandpa got a bit angry on one of them and shooed them since they were trying to create a rukkus AND MAN this ladyman held her-his sari from the bottom and strated doing her own version of salsa and break dance mix  and as the tempo grew and we did not pay them the sari kept on rising and they started making funny orgasmic noises
so then my granpa took some money and asked them buggers to take a chill but man i tell you the nightmares of the whole scene of 5 of these god's gifted personalities haunted me for days and days
but see the difference in two of the same species one was all mellow and the other group blackmailed us to pay or else the sari would go off
peace n light
To focus sometimes you need to spin hard on your soul's axis..... just don't ask how and what it means ;) |
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