Visiting in MA

Brad and I have come to Massachusetts to celebrate my mom’s birthday. After a family brunch, we went out to a kirtan singing that my mom put together with her friend Lata (I’m pretty certain that if you’re Indian and you live in MA, you know Lata).

As we sat and sang, Lata’s gorgeous voice blending with her harmonium, it struck me how very lucky I am to have this family.

So many non-Indian new Hindus that I speak to are dealing with families who don’t know anything about Hinduism, who are sometimes nervous about it, who may think it will lead their children to hell. So many of their families are not supportive of the ritual prayers or vegetarianism or some other aspect of Hinduism.

For me, my family is a partner in this journey. They have not ben as deeply immersed in Indian culture as I have, but they are familiar with it. They understand me and what I am trying to do in my life. We can talk about God, eternity, and the purpose of life and understand one another.

At the family gathering earlier in the day I spend time with my Hindu cousin (she is married to an Indian man who introduced her to it). Her four year daughter sang Vedic prayers for us. Her little voice was perfect, each syllable divine. And I looked around at my mom and dad and husband and cousin and it warmed my heart to know that we all knew these prayers. We all had a strong connection to the invocations my little cousin was producing.

I am lucky indeed.