Editorial December 2023
I spent the fall of 2023 studying “Karma, Rebirth, and Liberation” – a wonderful class, taught by a great Professor, about concepts of life and death in South Asian religions. I remember, when I was younger, being encouraged by my mother to learn more about our faith and about our Hindu traditions. As a child I wasn’t interested so much in the philosophy of Hinduism as I was in the stories of our powerful gods and goddesses. Krishna, Rama, Durga and others saved villages and fought demons; their remarkable adventures gave me a sense of pride and security in my culture.
Studying religion in class made it crystal-clear how much there still is to learn. The Mahabharata, in fact, covers just about every topic: faith, doubt, peace, violence, greed, selflessness, sickness, good health. I’ve written about religion’s changing role in society, but what I found in college is that there is a great deal of value in understanding what makes people believe. And, I think, understanding religion 
better will make me a better person and a better doctor someday far down the line. Yet another year has gone by! Nothing is permanent- so, as the river of life goes winding onward, we can only continue to think, dream, and question.
Love,
Editor Jaanu
