Last year I trekked into the Moroccan Sahara desert on a very trusty camel named Aszu. In the evening, my guide, Jusef, a sixth grade educated Berber nomad, surprisingly fluent in six languages, fixed me a tantalizing chicken tangine. All that it lacked was a glass of wine, unfortunately verboten for Muslims just days before Ramadan. At night we slept under the incredible desert night skies. Never before had I seen so many stars, stretching from one horizon to the other – the stars so bright and numerous, it was difficult to make out the constellations. That was Morocco, a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, smells, and experiences. From Morocco I traveled on through much of Europe, Russia, Mongolia, China, and finally concluding my trip in Japan. This year's trip will take me to Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Central Asia, India, Nepal, Southwest China, and Indochina. At times I hope to report back on my experiences and observations, perhaps posting a few pictures and videos that may be of interest. I've posted below a few pictures and videos from some past trips. For my blog on my travels through East Europe check out my blog at http://tallinntovarna.blogspot.com.

I’ve been asking myself lately, is there a theme to all this? Maybe not, but one thing I can say that piques my interest, is the dangerous nexus between religion and politics that engulfs the world today. In Morocco, where the King is both the head of Mosque and State, a Muslim, during Ramadan, can end up in jail for doing nothing more than drinking a glass of water under the scorching daytime heat – his crime, the thirsty Muslim broke the fast. Imams in Morocco claim that such an abhorrent act defies the teachings of God, infringes on the religious liberties of practicing Muslims, and is deserving of serious sanction. Of course, such a violation of an individual’s personal freedom could never happen in America. Or could it? As I write this, the U.S. Catholic Bishops are ferociously attacking President Obama’s Affordable Care Act for requiring institutions to provide birth control under their insurance policies. Like the Imams, the Bishops consider it not just an affront, but an existential threat, to their religious liberties. A poor woman, without the means to support a family, let alone a brutally raped woman, should not expect any sympathy from these Catholic institutions, as they, like their Muslim brothers, are scripturally bound to impose their beliefs on others. Does it matter that no one is telling Muslims that they cannot fast or Catholics that they cannot abstain from sex?

Now that I think of it, I’d like to dedicate this blog to Americans United, a terrific nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to preserving the principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom. Before I move on though, I’d like to share with you this political satire piece I wrote a few months ago when Senator Rick Santorum had a chance of being the Republican nominee. It pretty much sums up my take on what a large segment of the American population would like to see should their wildest dreams come true. Finally, I begin this blog with three postings from last year’s trip just to give you an idea of who I am and what you may or may not come to expect as I embark on this year's trip. If you have something nice to say, I'd love to hear from you.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Shangri La

Mr. Turtle
In Shangri La, Mr. turtle asked the grizzly old monk sitting lotus style under a banya tree, “What is the meaning of Shangri La?” "Wisdom and method in our heart,” the old monk replied. “For us it’s applying the method of His Holiness to the acquisition of wisdom.” “Might this apply to other religions as well?” Mr. turtle asked. “Yes, we believe that to be true: whether a Muslim fasting during Ramadan, a Hindu repeating the Ganesh Mantra, a Jewish family observing the Sabbath, or a Catholic nun reciting the rosary. They are all methods for acquiring wisdom. Except for Buddha, Jesus, Lord Krishna, or the Prophet Muhammad, we know the ultimate acquisition of wisdom is elusive because it involves the humanly impossible objective of eliminating evil in our lives. We must also acknowledge that those who are certain of the wisdom they have attained are most often the furthest from actually attaining that wisdom. If we’re honest, there is only the hope that our method will bring us a step closer to the wisdom we seek.” “Does the choice of method make a difference?” Mr. turtle asked. “For as I travel from place to place, I see no evidence that one method is better than another, as exemplified in the lives and practices of their followers." “You’re right in your observation, Mr. turtle. The method, you see, depends on the wisdom sought. The wisdom we seek is enlightenment, for others it may be paradise, and others to end the cycle of rebirth so the soul can rest in peace. Buddha, Jesus, and the Prophet Muhammad all traveled and observed the same as you. When they came back to their homes, they adopted what they had learned into a wisdom and method that would touch the hearts of their people.” “I’m still confused,” Mr. turtle interrupted, “I also see no difference from those who profess a method to those who profess none. There are one billion non-believers in China and they appear as moral as those who profess a method. What does Shangri La mean to the non-believer?” The old monk looked down at his outstretched hands, “You are asking me what is the wisdom non-believers seek and what is their method for attaining that wisdom. No one has asked me that question before, but as I ponder it, could it be, they seek to live in harmony with themselves and others? Could it be their method for gaining this wisdom is listening, observing, experiencing, and acting? Such a creed would have all the virtues and failings of the other creeds. Its virtue is to be continuously inspired and humbled by the quest to understand and to act according to that understanding as it evolves. It’s failing, as with other creeds, is to think one knows the wisdom of living in harmony with oneself and others and hence dispense with the method of listening, observing, experiencing, and acting afresh. The meaning of Shangri La, you see, applies to all.”
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