Re: Name change conflict
Namaste Divine Kala,
I am in agreement with the others on this. Why all the rush to change one's name? There is really no sense and no benefit in deciding to change your name legally unless you are certain beyond all doubt that it feels right. I have considered it once in the past early on in my sadhana, but I feel that my circumstances are such that I am still tied up here and that it would possibly be more of a hindrance than a step forward in my spiritual progress for the time being. I haven't ruled it out, and I'm not saying you should either - I'm just thinking I might leave the official name changing later on when I've "settled" down some more. Maybe you might consider the same? Otherwise, the respect you have for the name your mother chose for you at birth is something I would not challenge. I think that type of feeling is there for a reason, and in my personal opinion, it's best to leave that kind of thing alone out of reverence for one's parents. Unless you are planning to become a proper renunciate anytime in the near future, name change is not absoluately necessary!
Someone else has mentioned such a topic before. I can't quite remember who brought it up about half a year ago, but the poster asked something similar about changing his name legally to a Hindu one. He intimated that he was not quite happy with doing it officially just yet, but was it all right if he/she could adopt a name informally and come to be known by that in the spiritual community (either here on HDF or in the local temple, satsang, etc.). He chose one himself and presented it here to the forum and everyone gave their approval, so maybe you could do the same or something to that effect?
Om namah Shivaya
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye namah
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu
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