But do you have special moments of the day to connect with the divine?
Yes, I celebrate life in me and all around and then try to understand what is this life in me. If I breathe, who is breathing? Am I breathing or is breathing happening to me? It is never a conscious effort. So what is that force or power breathing for me, taking oxygen outside, cleaning it and feeding with it billions of cells? Realizing and reflecting on that compassion makes me feel there is something great. I don’t have to look for any miracle to have faith in that Creator. Every breath is enough.

How did you get to this understanding, coming originally from an orthodox Hindu family?
Yes, we are born in a certain religion, caste, race, nationality, gender etc. And those are the root cases of discrimination, injustice and violence all around. Those are like boxes.
I was born into a very high Brahmin caste in Andhra Pradesh. I lost my father at the age of four. My maternal grand-father, who was like the prime minister of a small princely state then took care of me. I grew up with him, worshipping gods and goddesses like in any orthodox Brahmin family, never allowed to ask questions, to doubt, or reason out. Dogma. I had simple questions in my mind --- how does this god with three heads sleep? Which mouth does he use for eating? I was always rebuked and told not to ask such questions.

... contd.