Comments on: Gender Quake http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/ Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:43:19 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: kamla http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/comment-page-1/#comment-6528 kamla Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:37:31 +0000 http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/#comment-6528 Mike, you are absolutely right about the function of saints in our lives. There is a wonderful story in my Rumi book about this called HOP UP ON MY HUMP. it will be my next post. just a few more ramblings in response to yours -- I think rambling is the best way to think, by the way! --. The Sikh gurus tell us that the only way to cross the tumultuous ocean of life is to hang on to the coat tails of the saints. You get across this way. As for the whole gender thing: I have had an illumination. English, that is crippled without the use of pronouns, is to blame! English sets up the male female dichotomy more than any other language I know (and i don't know many!). I was reading the English translations of Gurbani (the Sikh sacred texts) instead of the originals! In just one of the translations (from the same hymn from which comes the metaphor of swimming across on the coat tails of saints), is this line: Saajan bandh sumatar so har naam hirday dayay. it has been translated as He (God) is a companion, a relative, and a good friend of mine, who implants the lord's name within my heart. In truth, there are no pronouns in this line: no He or mine or my or who: translated directly it goes something like this, Beloved, Friend, relative giving Name to heart. Our gurus have always called God mother father God. Since this insight about how a language can corrupt communication I have had no conflict about God's gender. Mike, you are absolutely right about the function of saints in our lives. There is a wonderful story in my Rumi book about this called HOP UP ON MY HUMP. it will be my next post. just a few more ramblings in response to yours — I think rambling is the best way to think, by the way! –. The Sikh gurus tell us that the only way to cross the tumultuous ocean of life is to hang on to the coat tails of the saints. You get across this way.

As for the whole gender thing: I have had an illumination. English, that is crippled without the use of pronouns, is to blame! English sets up the male female dichotomy more than any other language I know (and i don’t know many!). I was reading the English translations of Gurbani (the Sikh sacred texts) instead of the originals! In just one of the translations (from the same hymn from which comes the metaphor of swimming across on the coat tails of saints), is this line: Saajan bandh sumatar so har naam hirday dayay. it has been translated as He (God) is a companion, a relative, and a good friend of mine, who implants the lord’s name within my heart. In truth, there are no pronouns in this line: no He or mine or my or who: translated directly it goes something like this, Beloved, Friend, relative giving Name to heart.
Our gurus have always called God mother father God.
Since this insight about how a language can corrupt communication I have had no conflict about God’s gender.

]]> By: Mike Parish http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/comment-page-1/#comment-6445 Mike Parish Wed, 23 Feb 2011 01:15:32 +0000 http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/#comment-6445 Dear Kamla, I feel something like a small child pointing out an obvious answer to an adult who most likely will smile and inwardly, laugh at the obsurd simplicity of the child's observation, but here goes. From your writings I see that you understand, perhaps in a slightly different way from my Catholic understanding, the concept of Saints. Saints are humans who lived exemplary lives and who we are certain are beloved of God and are now with Him in Paradise. It is not always easy to feel connected to The Almighty, All Knowing, Omnipotent (male) God when one is a sinner struggling in the muck an mier of this moral life. But one can always find a Saint who, in their journy through this world, suffered the same or worse struggles than you. Many of us feel very strongly connected to Mary, the Imaculate Tabernacle which bore the Incarnate God, come to save the world. Mary was, first and formost, woman. Faithful and couragious she responded to her God with a world changing YES and she became a Mother. She knew all the sorrows and joys of this life, including the death of her beloved Son. So just as I might come to you, or my wife, or my pastor to share life's struggles and questions, the Saint's are available to us. No longer encombered by this world's struggles, they see more clearly, pray to God more devoutly, understand us more wisely. So, to finally arrive at some kind of a point to my ramblings... the next time you feel the need to connect with femine, look to the Saints. They are waiting to pray for you and help you find your path to join them in Paradise. Hope this helps... God bless, Mike PS: Dude, it's the 21st century, can't we get a spell check on this blog?!?!? Dear Kamla,
I feel something like a small child pointing out an obvious answer to an adult who most likely will smile and inwardly, laugh at the obsurd simplicity of the child’s observation, but here goes.
From your writings I see that you understand, perhaps in a slightly different way from my Catholic understanding, the concept of Saints.
Saints are humans who lived exemplary lives and who we are certain are beloved of God and are now with Him in Paradise. It is not always easy to feel connected to The Almighty, All Knowing, Omnipotent (male) God when one is a sinner struggling in the muck an mier of this moral life. But one can always find a Saint who, in their journy through this world, suffered the same or worse struggles than you. Many of us feel very strongly connected to Mary, the Imaculate Tabernacle which bore the Incarnate God, come to save the world. Mary was, first and formost, woman. Faithful and couragious she responded to her God with a world changing YES and she became a Mother. She knew all the sorrows and joys of this life, including the death of her beloved Son.
So just as I might come to you, or my wife, or my pastor to share life’s struggles and questions, the Saint’s are available to us. No longer encombered by this world’s struggles, they see more clearly, pray to God more devoutly, understand us more wisely.
So, to finally arrive at some kind of a point to my ramblings… the next time you feel the need to connect with femine, look to the Saints. They are waiting to pray for you and help you find your path to join them in Paradise.

Hope this helps… God bless,
Mike

PS: Dude, it’s the 21st century, can’t we get a spell check on this blog?!?!?

]]> By: kamla http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/comment-page-1/#comment-3281 kamla Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:12:12 +0000 http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/#comment-3281 Hi Chelsea, thanks for your kind concern. I'm going through a molting and transformation (i Hope!) and have been silent here for many months. One needs a lot of energy for inner processes, and of course, trust. I'm giving myself as much time as it takes to sort things out. the gender issue has resolved itself intuitively and is no longer a major concern. the intellect is taking a back seat and something else i cannot name -- God, perhaps, Godina -- is taking precedence over all else. I am still quite inarticulate about the process, but wanted to thank you for your comment. the best, Kamla Hi Chelsea,

thanks for your kind concern. I’m going through a molting and transformation (i Hope!) and have been silent here for many months. One needs a lot of energy for inner processes, and of course, trust. I’m giving myself as much time as it takes to sort things out. the gender issue has resolved itself intuitively and is no longer a major concern. the intellect is taking a back seat and something else i cannot name — God, perhaps, Godina — is taking precedence over all else. I am still quite inarticulate about the process, but wanted to thank you for your comment.

the best,

Kamla

]]> By: Chelsea http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/comment-page-1/#comment-2995 Chelsea Mon, 03 May 2010 06:02:38 +0000 http://www.kamlakkapur.com/blog/2010/03/12/gender-quake/#comment-2995 Dear Kamla, I hope you feel better soon, you will be in my thoughts as I read Rumi's Tales. You are a wonderfully talented author and Ganesha Goes to Lunch has been a source of inspiration for my spiritual growth! I blog about gender studies, I'd like to look into the gender roles in religions. Best wishes, Chelsea Dear Kamla,
I hope you feel better soon, you will be in my thoughts as I read Rumi’s Tales.

You are a wonderfully talented author and Ganesha Goes to Lunch has been a source of inspiration for my spiritual growth!

I blog about gender studies, I’d like to look into the gender roles in religions.

Best wishes,
Chelsea

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