Safe and sensible in India

After reading some scary and tragic incidents involving women in India, I've been thinking about my own personal safety.  Violence to women happens everywhere, not just India. When I look back on my own life, I am grateful. I have always returned home safe and sound.

I've lived here in the Bronx New York for more than 20 years and I have a healthy sense of paranoia. Here are six safety tips I want to share, and not just for travel in India, but everywhere, including my own home town:

First is the Golden Rule: Be friendly but don't get friendly. What do I mean by this double-talk? I mean don't get familiar with anyone you don't know. 

Second, never accept unsolicited food or drink from anyone. I'll buy and open my own bottled water, thank you very much. 

Third, keep your passport and valuables stashed out of sight. In the past I've relied on waist packs and always felt safe. But now I'm thinking it screams MONEY to pickpockets. 

Fourth, keep a couple photocopies of your passport and driver's license. You might even keep a picture of your passport in your mobile phone. 

Fifth, what happens if you lose (gasp!) your mobile phone? How many of you have actually memorized important phone numbers? I cannot tell you my husband's cell nor my own mother's cell phone numbers. So it's a good idea to write important phone numbers on a piece of paper. I also store important phone numbers in my Google Drive as a virtual backup. 

Lastly, always lock your hotel room door. Keep the door-chain thingy on too; when someone knocks on your door, use caution and common sense before opening. 

Do I sound like a paranoid woman? I really don't care. I intend to have fun and return home safe and sound. What other safety tips do you have? Please share.

Namaste!
image source: Carey, Chris. luggage6.jpg. 10/31/1999. Pics4Learning. 23 Mar 2013

What? How many??!!

India has two million gods, 

and worships them all. 

In religion all other countries are paupers; 

India is the only millionaire. 

  

Mark Twain, 1895, Following the Equator 

Religious Plurality in India

image source: 

Stephanie. salaska2571.jpg. June 2011. Pics4Learning. 

19 Feb 2013 

In order to wrap my brain around the concept of religious plurality in India, I've been reading different books about religion. One of my favorites is Diana Eck's Encountering God. I mentioned this is an earlier post. 

I'm also reading Huston Smith's The World's Religions, Revised and Updated. Actually, I "read" this many years ago as an undergrad. I was way too young to really appreciate this book. 

I'm enjoying it now!

Smith discusses many aspects of many religions, including Hinduism.  He states that in Hinduism, there is not just one path to (multiple) God(s); it's acceptable to most Hindus that alternate religions offer alternate paths to God. He uses the phrase, "many paths to the same summit", which describes very nicely the concept of religious diversity, and hopefully, plurality . In his analogy, he compares the paths to God to mountain climbing. People will climb a mountain from many different sides; when you reach the summit, you notice that all trails, all paths, converge. In other words, we all pray to the same God. 

There's so much more to read in order to gain a better understanding of religious pluralism. And you know what? I'm happy to climb this mountain.

If you have any suggestions for other books, please let me know. I want to hear from you.