Struggle of balancing faith and studies
Story and photos by Barbra Garcia
The choice of which temple to pick from used to be the struggle before arriving to Central Michigan University. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion with over 1 billion followers. Practicing Hindus pray a minimum of two times a day usually sunrise and sunset.
“In Mount Pleasant, there is none,” graduate student Anusha Hemanth Kumar said. “Zero. You don’t have any temples.”
The decision for Anusha to come to CMU was based on the assumption there were temples since there was a tribe in town. In order to pray in a temple, she travels to Detroit or Chicago with a group of friends that carpool.
The time change from India to Michigan was a shift for Anusha’s prayer times. She strives to start her day with a prayer to her picture of god she has created a space for in her apartment.
“I wake up looking at him praying I’m happy for the day. Everything will be good...I do pray for a while,” said Anusha.
The Bhagavad Gita contains Hindu religious text, which speaks on living according to one's’ duty or dharma.
“I read a little two or three stanzas every day or when it’s possible for me," said Anusha.
The term dharma refers to one's true purpose and calling to why they are here. She prays as much as she can, but it becomes difficult with being a student with two on campus jobs.
Since the majority of her time is spent on campus, she is unable to find a place to pray. Anusha had the idea of wanting a room dedicated for anybody to pray in, “It doesn’t matter if it's Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim or Christian. Just having a good aura in a room.”
There are many students who practice Hinduism and other religions on CMU's campus who can benefit from a prayer room. Anusha and her friends will continue to pray in their homes and make those long trips to other cities and states in order to practice Hinduism in temples.
“What is praying to God? It’s just like talking to God, asking for something and praying for others. That’s what it is for me,” Anusha said. “So, do it in a good place and if that can be provided, that can be the best thing for every student.”
Comentários