Key Elements

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? You could do both. I agree with you that specialization is important. But, you could start exploring your niche now. It will help in the specialization.

There is a guy I know. He's Telugu. His father, being the only breadwinner passed away when he was 18, and mom a homemaker. He has a bro and sis younger than him at the time. With no income, he started becoming a graphic artist to support his family. His friends helped him. You are fortunate enough to have a family supporting you. I agree that education / specialization is important, but there are opportunities in India, lots of it. You could explore your niche now. If you love teaching, become a tutor. Learn and teach someone on the subject you love to make extra bucks. Medical transcription part time, work at home on internet. Only takes 5000 rs / month for rent for decent apartment. You don't even have to work full time there for that. Just have to research. Or, maybe a decent boy's hostel.

Hmm..very good point. If they're fanatic, and even if you are the "same" religion, they will respond with something like, "your beliefs are immature." Even if you say, "Yes, I believe in God," they would want to dig even further. Maybe Leo is right saying, "I am God." But then, watch them try to spread some funny rumor. Then, you'll have to say, "Thou shall not gossip (judge) thy neighbour is the first commandment of the bible."

@Sunchild What I do is, go to YT, click the share button, come here, press the screen with my finger, a paste button will appear, click that, embedded, done.

Just don't get addicted.

Oops! Now that I read what I wrote, it sounds off. Yeah, they are called "strict vegetarians." It's another term I heard.

If they're Jain, they don't eat anything grown from the ground, so no onions.

God is everything and touches everything.

@Dodo

Yes, and just keep going. Keep trying. Once in a while, stop to smell the roses.

When you mentioned the God of all creations, this reminds me of the Brahma Kamal Flower. What an insightful flower for deep ah-ha moments. Don't forget that the maya counts as non-duality because duality also is part of non-duality. Life is a school. It gives us indications that catches our attention. It may not make any sense now, but may later. Just try your best.

I think there are a few things that have not been explained too deeply -- karma, life is a school, and everything is interconnected in this maya. All these things do relate to seeking enlightenment. Meditation is not the center stage. Psychedelics is only "meditation on steroids." Will get you there faster, and perhaps not. I believe Leo said this. However, it gets even more confusing once you try to explain it.

@Saumaya You know, another very challenging thing is with small children. You want them to be in good health too even when they're young. We all know that too much sugar isn't good for them, but when the ice cream man comes outside with his cart and yells, "kwality wall's!" all the nearby neighbourhood children including the children in our homes go to him almost everyday, at least getting a 10 rs orange sticks. Also, the bigger children sneaks out of the homes to those small shops outside to buy 10 attached chip packets, only 5 rs each, 5 rs chota cokes, you know, all the unhealthy stuff. Good way for ice cream man and shops to make extra bucks. I hope you don't have this issue with your younger siblings and/or cousin sisters or brothers.

I cook, or my hubby cooks. But, in the US, everything is so much more expensive. You already know that. That's why no one has cooks or maids. I have heard of NRIs taking their maids along for help. Life purpose is the way to go. It will solve so many things, including our food issues.

So which ice cream do you like? Pista kulfi? Bricks? What flavors? Do you live near an icecream shop or does an icecream man come to your home with his cart? Btw...who does the cooking????? That you are lucky enough to eat thali everyday?

But... What about when it comes to the holidays, like Diwali, and you're offered laddus and you're a guest at someone's house? Are you still going to say no?

Yes. So, now, in your thali, do you skip sweets like gulab jamun?

You are very lucky you get to eat that. There is not a single thing lacking in that. Those thali packed up in the tiffin boxes are great for going to work, but fresh cooked thali are best.

Do you eat thali everyday?

1) This is a good question. I thought that buckwheat is better than regular wheat, and also matta rice is better than just wheat and also buckwheat. 2) I don't mind eating daal every other day. I know it gets boring. Don't you just stir fry the spanich with garlic or have it with paneer? Smoothies everyday for breakfast is not filling.

1) I have heard that ragi (buckwheat) is just as good and less expensive. I have yet to make this recipe: Because sambar & idli are my favourite. 2) I always have a pressure cooker around to cook daal. Many types of veggies could go in it, including spinach, which contains calcium. I still drink milk in my chai, just half cup of milk to make it -- no sugar added. Eat a variety because you still need a variation of foods to stay healthy. Sometimes I would go take a blood test to see if all my nutrition are in balance.

@George Fil A voice is just a voice, but life itself is a school. You know, what does help is to identify an "actualized" person in society, a role model, and see how he/she behaves throughout the day. What happens on a daily basis counts. The very tricky part is to identify this type of person and learn from him/her. You may observe other ppl who you run into and ask yourself, "What are the strengths and weaknesses of this person?" A person learns a lot if he learns how to do this.

I agree on this a lot.