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.”