There and Back Again: India and Beyond

Photo by  Jared Erondu  on  Unsplash Often, we are tempted to think that surrender is a dirty word. No one wants to give up their rights, their freedom to choose, their opinions of what’s best for them. After all, for those of us in the Western world, our lives revolve around ourselves – we pride ourselves in our accomplishments, in having the freedom to live our lives in whatever way we choose. We revel in our autonomy, and we hate even the thought of surrendering any part of ourselves. This attitude permeates our entire culture and affects every aspect of our relationships. But what does it actually accomplish? Absolutely nothing. Instead of the American dream of a couple with 2.5 kids living in a house with a white picket fence, there is painful tragedy as marriages crumble and children are caught in the middle of the divorce proceedings as their autonomous parents attempt to divide up their assets. Instead of people having the opportunity climb up the econom...