| For those who are unfamiliar with the Hindu gods, | | | | But in all seriousness I haven't converted to Hinduism. |
| Ganesha is the elephant-headed god of overcoming | | | | I don't see the need. In fact, I refuse to belong to |
| obstacles. He also happens to be the patron god of | | | | any one religion because after a while, the ones that |
| writers. Apparently writer's block has been around for | | | | want you to "convert" start asking you to give up all |
| quite some time. | | | | the others. I'm not giving up Ganesha. But I'm not |
| I realize that a belief in multiple "gods" is considered | | | | giving up Jesus either. Or Mary or Archangel Michael |
| sacrilegious by some. Both Christians and Muslims, for | | | | or the Buddha or Kwan Yin for that matter. |
| example, are quite strict about their belief in the One | | | | I believe in the One True God, and I believe in all His |
| True God. But these arguments have arisen more | | | | vast and beautiful religions. I guess that makes me a |
| from semantics than from any underlying philosophical | | | | pan-religious monotheist. |
| divide. Even if there is only One God, still there are | | | | If that sounds like a mouthful, you could call me a |
| many aspects of God--truth, justice, honor, integrity, | | | | Christian Buddhist Hindu Gaian follower of the Tao. |
| trust, faith, joy, peace... Using the word "god" to | | | | I don't mention Judaism or Islam because I haven't |
| depict the Hindu representations of the divine is really | | | | yet felt called to study much about them, but I do |
| a misrepresentation of Hindu beliefs. | | | | believe in Moses and Abraham and I do believe that |
| Hindus believe that all reality is One. There is only One | | | | Muhammad was a True Prophet. I just don't see |
| God because there is only One Everything. So I'm | | | | what all the fuss is about in refusing to "take sides." |
| perfectly happy to call Ganesha the divine aspect of | | | | Somehow I can't see the Great Masters of Earth all |
| Mighty Faith--just one of many aspects of the One | | | | standing around in heaven arguing with each other. |
| True God--if that will keep us all on the same page. | | | | As far as I'm concerned, they're standing around |
| Here's a little prayer I wrote myself that I like to | | | | together and shaking their heads in perplexity. |
| offer up to Ganesha whenever I'm stuck on a writing | | | | "They just aren't getting it," they're saying to each |
| project: "Beloved and Mighty Ganesha... I'm stuck... | | | | other. "What are we going to do about all this |
| Please help me... Amen." | | | | arguing? That's not what we were trying to do at all!" |
| Hey, if anyone in the Heavens is going to accept a | | | | The real problem is this underlying attitude we hold to |
| minimalist prayer, it's Ganesha. Writer's bock is His | | | | so tightly--this belief that one thing always has to be |
| Thing. I'm sure he understands. | | | | better than another. Why can't we accept the fact |
| If you happen to know that I was born in New | | | | that everything has its place? "For everything there is |
| Jersey to Caucasian parents and that I am currently | | | | a season, and a time for every matter under |
| writing this blog from the heart of the Bible Belt, you | | | | heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Well there's a purpose for |
| might wonder what I'm doing praying to an | | | | every matter under heaven too. And it's time we |
| elephant-headed Hindu god-slash-divine-aspect in the | | | | made a little room in our minds--and in our hearts--for |
| first place. | | | | that idea. |
| Well, I read a lot. Hinduism is the world's third largest | | | | So here's a prayer for the world tonight, another |
| religion, after Christianity and Islam, with over | | | | prayer I wrote myself, and I offer it up to the |
| 800,000,000 followers. The Vedas, The Ramayana, | | | | Heavens in all earnestness: |
| and The Mahabharata--including The Bhagavad | | | | "Beloved One True God,in all Your myriad Divine |
| Gita--are all available on Read enough about Hinduism | | | | Aspects,please help us all who walk the Earthto learn |
| and eventually you'll run across Ganesha, also known | | | | to Love, Honor, and Cherish one anotherwithout any |
| as Ganesh or Ganapati. | | | | barriers of fearand without any errors of |
| If you're a writer, and you discover a god for | | | | exception,as You have in Your Infinite Wisdomsent |
| overcoming writer's block, you file that information | | | | so many of Your childrento teach us to do in Your |
| away, just in case. If you pray to that god and you | | | | name." |
| start writing again, that's what's known as conversion. | | | | Amen. |