posted June 19, 2009 11:47 AM         

It is a country that mystifies most people, strikes us all and leaves us wondering in so many ways.

posted June 19, 2009 12:22 PM         

look how the Dalits:meaning "oppressed" (aka Untouchables) are treated there.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0602_030602_untouchables.html
http://www.untouchables.org/home.htm

Here is stuff on Gandhi and Dalits
http://www.onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_603.shtml
http://www.trinicenter.com/WorldNews/ghandi5.htm

http://www.robertbohm.com/analysis/indian_spirituality_and_the_mythic_gandhi.html

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/082003/king_and_gandhi.htm

posted June 19, 2009 01:08 PM         

"Most people" in the world live in poverty, as do "most people" in India. My Indian friends in NY don't see India as having a special mystique--they were eager to flee it.

To me, Rajistani architecture, Western variations on Hindu meditation practices, Indian mythology, sari fabric, and the delicious spicy food all seem enticing as a tourist--but the social structure Indian society is even MORE sexist and classist than Western society.

posted June 19, 2009 01:17 PM         

it's the number 1 reason that I lost interest in Vedic Astrology! I was really seriously studying it for awhile....I was so interested in the predictive,karmic aspect of it.
it even factored into my brief vegetarianism.

When I read an article about untouchables/dalits, I was appalled. I was angered by the injustices there (My 11th house ruler Moon in Pisces conjuncts Mars in Aquarius), I felt that I couldn't practice a system that stems from a country that is so full of discrimination and human rights abuses.

posted June 19, 2009 01:34 PM         

people have misunderstood me.

posted June 19, 2009 02:38 PM         

Among the many people in this world, there are a wide variety of different opinions and perrspectives on India (or other country)--one person cannot accurately make a claim that the rest of us ALL see it a certain way or that it IS a certain way.

It's very frustrating to me when someone states an opinion (like that India is mysterious and intense and everyone thinks so) as if it's a universal fact, or suggests that "everyone" feels a certain way. It is a very, very diverse world with many opinions.

posted June 19, 2009 04:01 PM         

heck...my white mother even recently pointed out to me that Sacramento is a rather racist town, and I asked my shaman friend healer Steve who is Mexican of mostly native american descent. He even agreed.

I was afraid to mention about USA because I didn't want jwhop nor any other conservative jumping on my ass. He and others like bvanzy slammed me when I pointed out how racism is still a problem in USA.

Vedic Astrology and the Indian culture are strongly connected.....through the karmic concept...the caste system, and how they view people and treat people their based on karma

I didn't disqualify Vedic Astrology either.
I never invalidated it.

I pretty much said that I lost my interest in it. I didn't want to do it any more because it didn't feel right for me to practice when I don't believe in hinduism and the things connected to it. It's connected to very conservative society over there, and I believe that it gets glamorized by many westerners. I also feel the same about Mahondas Gandhi.

posted June 19, 2009 04:03 PM         

Historical and cultural roots that go back thousands of years, unique religious beliefs, amazing foods (licking my chops), kama sutra, The Vedas, The Dalits... I know I sound cliche, lol, but I find it to be a really amazing land.

posted June 19, 2009 11:16 PM         

quote:

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I think it's better to compare country charts to our own natals. Like India has never been that interesting to me, but since it is to you, you should see how it affects your chart.

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Yeah, I agree with this. I think that would work best, Carl. It would almost be like how we compare our natals to the places we live to see why we like or hate it..LOL.

posted June 20, 2009 01:45 AM         

When I was about 9 or 10 years old my mom used to receive catalogs that had statures and pictures of Hindu deities and I was immediately attracted even though I was completely unfamiliar with them. Then at age 11 I met a school friend who's family was from India (and she lived there in the summers) and I was fascinated with all of her stories, especially the Hindu myths. I lost touch with her after she moved away. Today I don't know if I'd call myself a Hindu, but my spiritual philosophy is Advaita Vedanta (which is obvious from my username), which originates from the Upanishads and I have much respect for many of the avatars and spiritual teachers from India.

I'm not just fascinated by the religion though, but also the food (my favorite!), the music, the clothing, the art, the Himalayan mountains, and the language. Maybe I had a past life or 2 there?

posted June 22, 2009 10:08 AM         

First, I said "most people". I know not all. I realize that. Come on.

You speak of Europeans and Americans in such a condescending tone. If they are "spiritual seekers", so what, why do you seem despising towards these spiritual seekers?

And thanks for, apparently, knowing my thought patterns more than I do. Interesting, how you do that..yah

China is also seen as mysterious by many, because it is. Because it was isolated for many years of its long history. India can be seen as the same. Weather people see it as mysterious or not, it is, because of the history, just like China. The more educated you are on both countries, the more you start to see how mysterious they are. Both are huge countries with rich culture. Did you know before Britain colonized India, it had 1000s of colonies? A bunch of mini states within the modern day boarders? All different. Pretty damn mysterious if you ask me. Both China and India are widely viewed as mysterious because of these long and sometimes isolated histories. Just common consensuses amongst the many folks I have come across, that is why I made the topic, okay. Because in my life, many people see it as mysterious land. Of course others, for whatever reason they may have, might not think this.

It is proper to use certain words for certain countries. Just like the US is a young country.

posted June 22, 2009 04:29 PM         

I certainly don't despise Europeans, American, or spiritual seekers--I AM European and American and love visiting mysterious, intense places.

Carl, your wording--"mystifies most people, strikes us all and leaves us wondering in so many ways."--and use of the term "us" makes it sound like to you, "people" equals European and American travellers. In actuality, the majority of the world's people are impoverished and probably not in a position to wonder at the exoticism of their home countries or other similarly impoverished counties. It rubs me the wrong way when people speak from a perspective that seems to *uncritically* universalize the experience of privileged travellers.

Also not a fan of talking about "America" without acknowledging the history of the cultural and physical genocide of Native Americans.

posted June 23, 2009 10:00 AM         

No one who can afford a decent life here itself wants to leave - not now that we are the second fastest growing economy in the world.

Glaucus

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I wouldn't want to live there

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And i wouldnt want to be a hard working American - paying taxes so lazybags who make wrong choices can cool their heels and collect welfare checks...for the hard work of wanting to do and be nothing...

Why, such unfairness of having my hard earned money go into sponsoring stupidity, lack of sense and irresponsibility on a mass as well as class scale would make ME feel like a DALIT.

Atleast Dalits here get EQUAL educational and employment opportunities as guaranteed by our constitution and USE them so now they have all the CHOICES to a better life that a BRAHMIN has.

If they bypass that choice how is it anyones else or let alone India's cross to bear ???

quote:

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Vedic Astrology and the Indian culture are strongly connected.....through the karmic concept...the caste system, and how they view people and treat people their based on karma

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And just how would someone who is yet to set foot in the Asian continent have any claim to such magnanimous wisdom save a Google PHD on a culture ???

Mind bogglingly delusional self aggrandizement .

Ridiculous to the point of making any explanantions of the topic that have relevance to reality seem a futile exercise.

But what the heck seeing as i am not the one starting the dumbfest i might as i well conclude it...

Nature , by itself,free from any individual or group influence , itself is free from Equality of Attributes or consequences to actions.

No two individuals have the same attributes which only follows their actions dont have the same consequences.

To divide work based on what an individual does best was enshrined in the Manusmrita and adopted by the vedic culture - division of labour to ensure that everyone does what he/she is best at and reaps the fair return.

That is not Karma - karma is to receive what you give.

The vedic astrology classifies individuals on the basis of the 3 gunas or qualities mental,material and spiritual - the attributes that make each of us unique.

Those who prefer manula pr physical labour and possess those skills are Shudras.

Those who are inclined to mentalist vocations were Vaishyas.

Those who were spiritually inclined were the brahminas

and those who were brave and served to protect all others were th Kshatriyas.

The class system was based originally on the CHOICE of occupation of an individual and there is proof of that.

In the last days of the 10 century that choice was taken away as a result of sociological factors that have less to with a culture as a whole and more with economics and human nature.

Lucia

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Indian society is even MORE sexist and classist than Western society.

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First its a matter of perception, i find American society waaaayyyy more sexist, but like i said that's my perception and reality is nothing but perceptions, isnt it.

As for the classist part, lets be honest, its naive to the point of masochism to suggest equality exists in nature in any sense.

Equality of opportunity is what makes a culture fair , like US or India - pursuing and claiming equality of attributes or actions is pure poo.