South Indians Perspectives on Disability

Lang, R. (2001, June). Understanding disability from a South Indian perspective. Paper presented at the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Disability Studies Association, Winnipeg, Canada. Retrieved from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lc-ccr/lccstaff/raymond-lang/understanding_disability_in_india.pdf

Perceptions of disabilities vary in India from regarding disability as a result of sin to viewing it as a blessing and a challenge meant to be overcome in this life to attain a greater state of being in the next.  In a study by Lang (2001), 70 people with disabilities in urban areas in India expressed positive attitudes about having disabilities.  Researchers also hypothesized that this could be a result of living in urban areas where eastern philosophies (karma) are not as commonly accepted as western philosophies regarding disabilities.  Also, urban areas have a higher likelihood of having received disability awareness trainings (Lang, p. 297).  However, in this same study, karma was still reported as a religious explanation for cause of disabilities, which again puts the blame on the person with the disability or their parents for having committed sin in a previous life.  Even though karma is commonly accepted as an explanation for disability, the understanding of karma can very greatly from one person to the next.   

Insights from a BYU Student in India

A woman spoke in my ward a few months ago who mentioned she has a son in India on a field study.  Her talk was rather brilliant, so at the end of the sacrament meeting I rushed up to front to thank her for her words.  We got on the topic of her son in India and she gave me his information.  The following are quotes (answers to my questions) from correspondences between her son and me over the past few weeks:


"Yes you can go running as much as you would like. I am a runner as well and I did go running, but it is getting really hot and I don't think it is healthy because your body heat gets way high from running and then there is no way to lower it back down so the whole day is miserable.  UP to you. My biggest advice is to just get out there and be adventurous. I know that sounds dumb, but if you just sit and sulk and don't really dig into the culture you will have a very surface experience. But if you just talk to random people and really try and "become indian" you will be richly rewarded. You have to go out of your comfort zone for sure. But it is worth it. Also don't try to reflect your ideas, opinions, or feelings on India. If you don't like something, just look past it and find the good. For example, many people are irritated by the way traffic works here, or the fact that people's personal space bubble is really small (you will find out on the bus how that is...) But I see it as amazing!!! I can walk out in the middle of traffic and walk across a crazy freeway in the middle of the day with thousands of cars around me and they all move out of my way (yes I do a little dodging) and I can get where I need to go with no problems. It would take forever in the states to get across some places trying to look for a cross walk etc but not here! Also with the personal space thing, I love getting to meet someone for the first time and talk for 5 minutes and at the end they give me a hug or something. Here is another example of not letting your past ideas get in the way. When I got here, I was freaked out alittle bit because men would start talking to me and would hold my hand when crossing the road or even just in normal walking or conversation. I thought this was a little weird coming from the US perspective, but as I just started to go with the flow, it became so natural and almost rewarding. You know who your friends are and they are always there to help you. Just let go of past reasoning and allow the Indian feel to come" (personal communication, March 27, 2012).

Here were my questions to him in one email on March 28, 2012:

1. How do I go about getting an internet stick?
2. Can I go running by myself, or do I have to have someone come with me?
3. Who do you live with? 
4. How are the mosquitos?  Do you wear repellent everyday?

He responded on March 29, 2012 with excellent answers:

1. When you get here just go find a "reliance store" which is like verizon or at&t and provides internet. You pay for the stick and then pay a monthly fee or a download fee. For example - you get 500 megabytes for 10 dollars or something. When you run out, you put more on. Depending on how much you want internet, it would get at least one gig or more if you are skyping often.
2. Up to you. I feel completely safe here, but I am also a boy. There is a girl here who goes out walking by herself all the time. I think you should be fine. Just stay in well lit areas and don't go too far. Just know where you are at all times. But seriously you will be safe. People will  say inappropriate things to you at times, but they never really "threaten you."
3. I live with some other american students with an indian family who cooks for us and stuff. I have a translator who is here and stuff. Indian hospitalitiy is AMAZING so I wouldn't worry about it. Just be willing ot learn their language and try and connect with the family. Buying small gifts when you travel or if you see something they might like, it is nice to give small gifts at times.
4. Mosquitos depend where you are. I just put some repellant on at night right before I go to bed because I don't like it when I sleep and wake up with tons of bites. But I don't get bit during the day. It is fine. It really isn't as bad as you think. People make India seem so dirty, hot, and horrible. It is actually beautiful and wonderful, once again you just have to look past the garbage and different standards of the people.

It was extremely comforting to hear from this young man and get a glimpse of my future.  We're hoping to meet up when he returns so he can further prepare me in person for what I'm about to experience.  Even though I felt a little embarrassed about asking for her son's email, and even more embarrassed about actually emailing this person I'd never met, it was definitely worth it.  It was comforting too to discover that this person I'd never met--this stranger--was so willing to indulge my questions in such a detailed way and in a timely manner.  Overall, it was a great experience.

Buddhism & Hinduism

So in class last week we discussed briefly the similarities and differences between Buddhism and Hinduism.  I actually left class more confused about the topic than when I entered.  Here are some brief key points I found while studying the similarities and differences.  My understanding has increased slightly, but still I feel pretty confused about the two religions.

Fun Facts I Didn't Know:

• People say Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, but Buddhists do not believe this.
• Hindus think Buddha is an incarnation of Vishnu.
• The founder of Buddhism was a Hindu.
• Hinduism is not a religion.  It is “a group of religious and sectarian movements that share some fundamental and in some respects identical beliefs, regional variations, history, tradition and practices peculiar to the land and the times in which they originated and evolved” (V, 2010, para. 6).

Similarities:

• Karma and reincarnation
• Compassion and nonviolience toward all living beings. 
• I still wonder…why do some eat animals, then?
• Several hells and heavens
• Gods and deities
• Meditation, certain states of mind
• Both have own versions of Tantra

Differences:

• Hinduism not founded by particular prophet—Buddhism founded by Buddha.
• Hinduism belives in Vedas—Buddhists don’t believe in Hindu scripture.
• Hindus believe in Atman (a Supreme Creator), while Buddhists don’t believe in a “God.”
• Hindus believe Buddha is an incarnation, Buddhists accept no Hindu gods as equivalent to Buddha.
• Hindus aren’t organized monastically like Buddhists with monks living in a group.

Questions that Remain:

• Does Buddhism have the blue gods?
• How are both religions organized?
• What are their churches/temples?
• What are their beliefs about marriage?
• Do they have something comparable to the 10 commandments?
• Are they vegetarians, or what?  And why or why not?
• Is there a Supreme Being or not?

V, J. (2010). Hinduism and Buddhism. Retrieved from http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_buddhism.asp

Religiousity & Autism

Ekas, N.V., Whitman, T.L., Shivers, C. Religiosity, spirituality, and socioemotional functioning in mothers of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 706-719. doi: 10.1007/s10803-008-0673-4

Again, it is important to consider the positive outcomes associated with the way people can better cope and find meaning when working with people with disabilities as a result of religion.  In a study of mothers of children with autism and spirituality and religiosity, mothers were found to have greater “life satisfaction, life enjoyment, positive affect, self-esteem, overall well-being, optimism and locus of control” (Ekas, Whitman, & Shivers, 2008. p. 7).  Religion positively affects parents of children with autism.  This is true of a study conducted in the United States, how is it at Karuna Home in India?