Last week I went to the Hindu Center of Charlotte to meet a man named Mr. Topiwala, who agreed to meet with me for my religion class because I was interested in learning more about Hinduism. He was incredibly nice and encouraged me to take photos although I was still hesitant in a place of worship to completely let loose. At one point, in the middle of taking a photo, Mr. Topiwala pulled me toward him because his view would “make a better picture.”
Before entering the temple we sat and talked about the principles, scriptures, and the history of Hinduism. He gave me an enormous amount of literature: small books on yoga, vegetarianism, philosophy, Krishna, and a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. In the temple I met several of their priest, they did not speak English, but we did exchange “Namaste.” I also met their Yogi who posed several times for me. At noon a daily ritual called “Arti” took place in which one priest waved a plate of flames around the gods while the other priests sang and played music. Once the priest was done we received the blessing, or purification, by cupping our hands over the flame then placing them on our head and drinking the water spooned into our right hand. I’m not going to explain everything, it’s all very symbolic, from how the flame burns to why they circle around the gods. Before Mr. Topiwala led me around to explain a few scriptures on the walls, a priest gave us fruit and homemade treats, which were exotic but so delicious.
The whole time I tried to avoid letting Mr. Topiwala know that I practiced yoga. I felt like he would see it the way a parent watches a child play dress up in their clothes, its cute to see them try things on but they don’t fully understand what they’re doing. Sure enough he did eventually ask, and like I expected he assumed that I did it solely for physical wellness. I explained that at first it was for the physical but once I practiced under an instructor I quickly learned there was more to it, and that is why I keep going. He made it very obvious how concerned he was that my instructors learned from an Indian Yogi so that they could teach me all the spiritual importance of yoga. Eventually after all my head nodding and silence I think he remembered I was just there to learn and ended the topic with, “the importance is that you practice yoga for a deeper meaning, to bring you closer to truth”…and then he invited me back to eat and do yoga with them and gave me another book. It was apparent how much he loved his faith and enjoyed sharing it with an outsider.
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saraherizzle said:
This was beautiful to read. I hope you meet up with him again for yoga. I bet he would be a very great spiritual friend.
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