Print Friendlyby Tapati Kiss me once again Don’t you never, never, never say that we we’re through Cause I ain’t never, I ain’t never I ain’t never, no, no, loved a man The way that I, I love you –Ronnie Shannon (sung by Aretha Franklin) Sri Sri Rukmini-Dwarakadhish Once we arrived at my mom’s apartment, our relationship was on fast forward. We spent a few weeks together every waking moment, with my mom at work and the run of the place. We cooked together, with Mike teaching me a lot about Indian cooking. He’d been Full post …
NLQ Stories
No choices of my own
Print Friendlyby Erika My sister and I in the winter of 1991-1992, the year we started homeschooling It wasn’t long before my parents got really frustrated with the church in town and wanted something different. My father told the pastor that we would be going down to the church in Bellows Falls (run by John Thompson) but would still come to services here and there at the church in town. The pastor felt frustrated at the time, too, so he gave my parents his blessing to attend this other church. I remember when the people Full post …
Patriarchy Across Cultures: Magic Man
Print Friendlyby Tapati Chicago, Illinois Cold late night so long ago When I was not so strong you know A pretty man came to me Never seen eyes so blue I could not run away It seemed we’d seen each other in a dream It seemed like he knew me He looked right through me –Heart Previously I described how I left the Chicago Hare Krishna temple. I was headed for my friend Suprabha’s apartment. I had her phone number and address written down, and knew which El stop to look for. When I got Full post …
Patriarchy Across Cultures: Over The Rainbow
Print Friendlyby Tapati Srimati Kishori, a vision of Radharani, Krishna’s consort, during Her teen years, at the Chicago temple. Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true. Someday I’ll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far Behind me. –E.Y. Harburg, Wizard of Oz Once again I was on my way to St. Louis, grateful to be leaving my mother behind. I no longer considered whether or not I loved her; I just knew I had to get away. When Full post …
Patriarchy Across Cultures: All Things Must Pass
Print Friendlyby Tapati Keokuk is in the southeast corner of Iowa “All things must pass, none of life’s strings can last.” –George Harrison Previously I described how my mom and Aunt Gin came to take me back home to Keokuk, Iowa. I rode in the backseat, resigned, tearful, but filled with resentment. I had been assured by our temple president, Makanlal, that he would challenge my mother in court for custody. She didn’t know it yet but I hadn’t given up on going back to the temple for good. Back home I tried to pick Full post …
Something didn’t sit quite right with me …
Print Friendlyby Erika The morning that I left for my missions trip Boot Camp. I’m pictured with my pastor and his wife. A newspaper story that was done before I left for my missions trip. When I left for Africa in the summer of 1991, I was excited about my trip and the things that I would see but I was also disappointed to know that I would be coming home to my sophomore year as a homeschooler. I was crushed by my parents’ decision and begged them to let me stay in school. Full post …
Patriarchy Across Cultures: Summer of Transcendental Love
Print Friendlyby Tapati Japa or rosary beads made from the wood of the Tulasi plant, a sacred relative of basil. Devotees of Krishna chant the mahamantra on each of 108 beads, keeping track with the “Krsna” or 109th bead. Each day a devotee is required to chant 16 rounds on the japamala, an ancient form of meditation. I was so relieved to be on the bus, headed for St. Louis. We passed through Hannibal, home of Mark Twain. I barely noticed because my mind was filled with memories of my brief visit to the temple Full post …
It started with homeschooling
Print Friendlyby Erika My sister and I in a photo booth. I think we were 12 & 13. She’s older than I am. My childhood from the time I was born to the age of 14 was pretty much normal and mainstream. I grew up in a Christian home, going to church every Sunday, taking part in VBS in the summers, going to public school (though I went a few years to a Christian private school when I first started school), playing with the neighbor kids, watching cartoons in the morning….all the things that kids Full post …
Michelle says, Never enough babies!
