Savoring Tradition

As individuals, we are constantly playing different roles in this world. Here is an Indian family in which each member lives bound by traditions inherited from the past that guide their present, and influence generations to come. Pride, dedication and authority – these words describe how relationships within this family are managed.
Amit Sharma, an Indian priest, along with his wife Chanda and their son Mukand arrived in Chantilly, Virginia in February 2005.

Amit Sharma was sent to serve the Hindu community in America, and represent the priesthood. Rajdhani Mandir (A Hindu Temple) is a short walking distance from Pundit (Indian Priest) Sharma’s house. He neither owns a car nor knows how to drive. Other than walking home for meals and sleep, the majority of Pundit Sharma’s day is spent in the Mandir. His wife Chanda-ji (“ji”, when added to a name, symbolizes a form of respect) does not speak or understand English and therefore cannot communicate with her neighbors. Since there is no public transportation nearby, Chanda-ji’s day begins and ends within the walls of her house. Mukand attends school where he studies and communicates in English. Even though he is only eight-years-old, he is more connected to American society than anyone in his family. But even this connection is restricted only to school hours. He returns from school to eat lunch at 4pm, sitting religiously in front of the television. Besides his parents, his only friends are cartoon characters. As a result of his new life in America, Mukand displays the behavior of an adult in the body of a child.

A connection between Stangers dancing Salsa

"Work like you don't need the money
Love like you've never been hurt
Dance like nobody's watching"
- Maribel Soto

The Secret

I ponder the thought of bringing life into something that is already dead. Is this merely a concept so unrealistic that it remains untouched? What if life is a quest for a secret that once revealed begins your second life within your former existence. In essence nothing changes on the surface however, on a fundamental level your rebirth establishes a profound understanding to seek the truth of life. Many believe there is one absolute truth. I believe that truth is a philosophy so flexible in it's definition that most people hold on to it as a means for comfort.

My confrontation with the secret brought me to an unknown territory which pulled me in faster than I had time to realize the depth of the circumstance. Knowing what very few can imagine is the beginning of a voyage where there is no retreating. It is beyond belief- close to the science of magic. An existence of such a world is incomprehensible if there is no faith. For a human to fathom the magnitude of this reality is unreal. It is a concept that the human brain is not trained to come to terms with in a smooth transition. I find that the toughest part of the secret is to live with the hope that it is not just a dream.