u/SmexxyTaco

Lifelong Hindu here. I have a question about energy. It's a very established understanding in science as well as Hinduism that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. And so, the cycle of rebirth continues until the soul is liberated. What exactly happens at liberation? How does this energy that cannot be destroyed, get assimilated into the universe/brahman? If the atoms of our soul get absorbed into the greater consciousness, aren't we still conscious, just a bigger/higher conscious singular living? A different vessel, just not a body? If souls, one by one start being liberated, aka energy just gone, how is there energy that is being used to souls to take birth?

Just something that came to me and thought it was interesting to ask.

Thank you.

I'll make this a short read. I have missed a space with NRI Indian women! I did not know this subreddit existed until I saw it recommended to someone on another, more diaspora, focused subreddit. I'm so glad to have found it. More often than not, reputation precedes us. Sometimes women from the mainland are also painted with the same brush as some men, or most likely a time capsuled older version of an NRI that may have caused kids in diaspora some unpleasant experiences. It always felt unfair and also felt like a lot of comments have had internalized racist undertones to it. As an Indian NRI woman, I have a different view on gatekeeping culture, a different experience growing up with people who look like me, a different accent and a different grooming and personal style. So I'm so glad I get to be a part of this group, where hopefully my experiences matter and are valid and worthy and not be excluded from spaces because I come from India!

Hi all. I (29F) live outside India, in the US. I have a younger brother (22M) back in India. He's going to visit me next month for a small vacation. We have a good relationship. Now, the thing is, as an older sibling, you kinda grow up never expecting your younger siblings to gift you anything. Nothing really. But ngl, I've had passing thoughts in the past year or two about how a little chocolate or so would also work if he said, "yeah, I got this for you". It's the thought that counts, right?

Anyway, I don't bring this up and everything is fine. This Valentines, I get a message from him, asking me to send a piece of cheesecake for his gf, who is a very recent addition (<6m) in his life and is also long distance aka she's here in the US ( my hunch is that he is so desperate to make this trip to see her in her academic break but he vehemently denies that *it's the only reason* ). So he says he's been saving his allowance for a month or so, so he could spend a little on his gf and that he'll deposit the money in my account. I don't say anything, do as I'm told and ask him to not bother sending me money cuz it's not a big deal. The cost wasn't a great deal to me but it would be to him in $.

So now that he's visiting me, I asked him what he's getting me. I said we're probably doing an early rakhi while you're here. So far, I've never received anything for rakhi, from him. It would always be my mum who would go out to get something for me and hand it over to my brother to hand it to me. Now, after asking him this, he goes onto say, how can I get anything? I'm broke. I say I remember you have some consideration about saving up for gifting elsewhere, but that same consideration disappears here?? Why the hypocrisy? He continues that he's the younger sibling to which I respond saying if you're big enough to have a girlfriend (who he thinks he's serious abt) and the ability to save up and gift her ( of which I haven't asked the money back for ), you're not that little anymore, are you?

It leaves him a little frustrated, but silent. He goes on to say he'll pay me back the gift for his gf w/ interest (since Feb lol) and he'll get me something. For what it's worth, I thought that paying me back with interest was an argument made in bad faith because why would I want that. But if he wants to drive the point home that he did in fact gift his girlfriend from his own money, I will accept the money because when he doesn't acknowledge my feelings, why do I feel the need to pay for his girlfriend? I don't. About him saying he'll get something for me, feels inauthentic to me. The thing loses its meaning because it's only happening because I said it. Now this fundamental in itself is controversial between my husband and I, a behavior improves only when it's addressed and then the improved behavior can't be called inauthentic in his opinion. I feel differently, because I feel like it's the thought that counts and a lot of the times good relationships work on intuitive consideration about others. Almost like I expect my brother to know that it isn't expected but it most certainly would make me feel good and appreciated.

My question to you girlies is that, is this giving jealousy?? Or is this disappointment? Does this incident warrant disappointment? I'm self-reflecting hard because I'm not the type to be jealous. I work on myself and my biases very consciously to be a girl's girl and would hate to give that energy. I'm also at the receiving end of a weird SIL that loves to interject herself with her relationship with my husband. He doesn't seem to appreciate it a lot and neither does the affection peddling feel very authentic to him when she behaves a certain way around me.