GPS For the Soul

March 29, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

I just found out about this app called GPS for the Soul. It’s quite an interesting concept! (And man, there really is an app for everything). Here’s a video about it: http://videos.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington-how-to-de-stress-with-the-gps-for-the-soul-app-517678510 Basically, it gauges your stress level by taking your heart rate and then has various de-stressing methods built in like calming pictures, quotes, meditations, etc. I was giggling at the video, but you know what? I might try it. Wouldn’t hurt to give it a chance and hey, reminders... Read more

Does a New Religion Mean a New Name?

March 28, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

It’s pretty common when someone converts to a religion to take a name that lines up with the new religion’s traditions. Even though Hinduism doesn’t always support the notion of “convert” you can still see a number of non-Indian Hindus who traded names from other traditions for Hindu names. Ram Dass, for example. You know me as Ambaa, but I am not called that in real life. I’ve said before that I don’t want to disrespect my parents by rejecting... Read more

Wedding Hair

March 27, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

Strangely enough, one of the biggest questions for me about my wedding is how I want to wear my hair. I love, love, love my hair in a way that freaks some people out. I am very careful with it and work hard at growing it long (how is that work? Oh, you have no idea the “lengths” I go to!) So this is a day when I really want to show off its length. This is the most recent... Read more

Meet a Goddess: Kali

March 26, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

Kali is a powerfully interesting goddess. She defies expectation and turns cultural expectations on their heads. A modern woman can really relate to her life outside of social norms. She is not beautiful by the standards of society. She is full of the kind of female power that terrifies most people. Kali is a goddess of death, of time, of change. She is often shown with blood dripping from her mouth and the severed heads of men decorating her neck.... Read more

Holi

March 25, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

Holi is an Indian holiday for spring and it is just about the most fun you could possibly have! This year it is March 27th and our local temple is doing its event Saturday March 30th. It usually lasts a couple of days and there is a bonfire on the last day. The main event during holi is the throwing of colors. In India, you could be pelted with powdered color on the streets or hit with a water gun... Read more

Spiritual Tips From an Unexpected Source

March 22, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

I just discovered that People magazine’s website has blogs from celebrity moms. I love celebrity gossip and babies, so I have been enjoying reading about the real life experiences of some girls that I’ve seen on TV. One of the blogs that I like a lot is written by the wife of James Van Der Beek. Yes, Dawson! Who knew? She has a similar mindset to me. She’s into natural/green living like me, for example. I discovered she has a... Read more

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

March 21, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

That question has haunted religious people for thousands of years. I remember reading Rabbi Kushner’s book When Bad Things Happen to Good People when I was in high school and I was disappointed by his conclusion. His answer to that question? Because God is limited. He’d like to help, but sometimes He can’t. Seriously? That’s not an answer I can accept. God does not have limits. There are many books on this subject, struggling to give an answer to this... Read more

Wedding: Budgeting

March 20, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

As previously stated, I’m pretty cheap. People being nice might call it frugal. I’m very careful with money, I guess because it represents safety and stability to me. So even though my parents are quite traditional and believe in a bride’s family paying for a wedding, I still have a lot of trouble parting with any money. That’s my dad’s retirement money! We have found a venue that is an all in one catering, decorating, organizing, etc. It is less... Read more

Meet a Guru: Bharati Tirtha

March 19, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

Sri Bharati Tirtha is my parents’ guru. He is a Shankaracharya, which means a teacher of the way of Shankara. There are four seats in India for Shankaracharyas, one for each cardinal direction. The seats are not always filled. Sri Bharati Tirtha currently holds the seat in the south of India. A couple of years ago my family and I went to India to visit his ashram in Sringeri. He is quite a young man for a guru, but has... Read more

Why I Am a Hindu

March 18, 2013 By Ambaa Choate

We’ve spoken before about what makes someone a Hindu. With Hinduism really being a name for a vast variety of practices and beliefs, it is almost defined by not being anything else! As many people will tell you, it is not so much a religion as a way of life. It is who you are, not just what you do. Patheos has challenged me with another question. Why am I a Hindu? It’s difficult to parse out the reasons behind... Read more