Unlocking Spiritual Confusion

A recent comment from one of my blog readers raised questions about the sincerity of my declared search for “religious” enlightenment” during our recent vacation to India. They suspected I was altering my religious stance perhaps because of the deadly presence of the Corona crisis. In the following story, I attempt to answer this critic with a revealing account about one young adult who might have similarly dealt with such a period of spiritual confusion.

Sam would often wonder how his life stood when it came to the subject of religion. Growing up as an only child, he deeply regretted that he never had a brother or sister to share with them his spiritual void. Knowing however, that his grandparents had immigrated to the United States from Germany in the early 1940s aroused his suspicion that his family connection to the oppressed Jewish faith there at the time seemed likely from a historical perspective. Yet throughout the course of his childhood and adult life, the subject of Judaism had never been discussed in his immediate family. Such secrets unshared in the face of this seemingly marathon period of religious confusion only intensified his curious demands to know more about his family’s religious past.

So it happened then on a lazy Sunday afternoon when Sam was busily putting up wallpaper in his mother’s living room, that she suddenly revealed to him a religious “bomb” that he was in fact a blood disciple of Jewish teachings. It shocked Sam further to see for the first time in his mother’s newspaper clippings notebook, some graphic images of German Jews living in tattered clothes with a prominent yellow badge labeled “Jude” pinned to their chests. One particular image that moved his emotions contained a struggling peddler carrying around a dusty bag in a war torn ghetto, obviously impacted by a viciously “Anti Semitic”island of Jewish shame. He then pondered how his grandfather most likely endured a similarly inferior fate as a Jew by the Nazi regime yet persevered to provide a worthy life for himself and his family.

So what conclusion might be drawn from Sam’s awareness of his grandfather’s crisis as a Jew and overseas escape from German persecution? One must realize the danger of allowing others to exploit the power of organized religion to define who we are as a person. So now my religious critic should know that my recent travels to India inspired new spiritual understandings on my “own terms” (not theirs) of life and death matters.

Have you ever experienced a similar time when your religious views were called into question? Could travel have helped you ultimately handle this situation? Why or why not?

August 16, 2020 10

Living History: A Path Forward

“That’s the thing about time travel. You’re always moving forward, even when you go back.” (James A. Owen)

I’ve always embraced a lifelong passion to read about history which has often revealed to me a meaningful cause/effect connection between the past and the present. So as I closely examine my book cabinets at home today, the historical impact of three writers I have extensively read in my life immediately come to mind. I should first single out James Michener for his informal story telling abilities infused with unique, local settings which inspired my lifelong interest in studying community relics/cultural behaviors. I will also grant special praise to Doris Kearns Goodwin, whose intimate portrayals of the public/private lives of U.S. Presidents have provided me with so many sound ideas for fulfilling my role obligations as a U.S. voter and informed American citizen. A final “shout out” must be given as well to a lesser known writer of historic fiction: Harry Turtledove. For his alternative plot versions of famous events in U.S./ World History stimulated me to think more open-mindedly about controversially politicized issues in contemporary times.

Along with such “bookworm” passions for biography and other past event based readings, I have often traveled with a historic mindset to help me deal with life’s current moment to moment challenges. You might further have noticed that my travel blogs often flashback in time to find relevant human insights from unexpected historic places encountered at unexpected times. You might say then that my writing style sometimes seems reminiscent of “time travel” in the movie “Back To The Future” as if I were Marty McFly imagining myself adapting to what it would really be like if I lived in randomly chosen years before. So step inside my time machine and travel back into the past as I present ten “then vs. now” examples evidenced in the following historic photographs from our world travels.

Walking along the main road of the ancient ruins of Ostia along the coast of Italy west of Rome, I positioned myself behind this casually posing, masculine sculpture. Placing my head on his body facing the vast expanse of marble baths, enormous temples, and multistory apartment remnants, I felt an odd sensation of wealthiness and power amidst this important center of trade in the Roman Empire.

Soccer unquestionably reigns throughout the United Kingdom as a popular favorite in the athletic realm. At the History Museum in Southampton, England, I proudly took my place posing with this trophy replica and absorbed the winning spirit among the giants of soccer stardom.

The opportunity to hold an authentic Revolutionary War musket at the Powder Magazine in Charleston , South Carolina, I obsessed on the the stressful act of colonial times weaponry as demonstrated by the slow loading and firing of this ponderously heavy weapon used then in the heat of battle.

The lighthearted presence of Charlie Chaplin along the lakeshore in Montreux Switzerland invited me to join in with his comical antics to politely tip my hat and dance merrily as he often did during his silent movie career.

I shared matching Hawaiian shirts and the mellow spectator vibe pervading the stands during an Oakland A’s baseball game in posing with this fun loving mascot sculpture during a visit to Jack London Square In Oakland, California.

Before boarding a mid 19th century passenger car to experience a scenic ride on the “Heber Creeper”, a steam driven railway In Heber City Utah, we ducked behind these costumed figure mannequins at the depot to recreate the elegant formality feel of an affluent family traveling 1st class during these Victorian times. Along this slow train ride through the spectacular Wabash mountains, we also sang along merrily with authentically dressed volunteers to favorite tunes of the Old West.

My bumpy journey steeply uphill on the back of a sad looking elephant along the walls of the Amber Fort in Jaipur, India alerted my senses that I would have been physically unsuited for this slow and ponderously dangerous ride during this fort’s “heyday times. Moving forward to the complex’s present, I also felt distinct distaste for such physical abuse of these giant mammals for the sake of capitalistic tourist profit.

The Royal Guard ceremonially protects the queen and her family entourage at Buckingham Palace in London all year around. In posing stoically behind this Guard replica, I realized that I had joined into the patriotic public spirit that the “Changing of the Guard” ritual meant for the continuance of the British imperial crown.

Cellphones seemed no match for a traditional British phone booth for calling home during a Canadian cruise visit to Market Square in Saint John, New Brunswick. For who wants to talk on the cellphone in public view when you can enjoy the traditional British custom of embracing privacy by isolating yourself inside this time tested red box?

As a serious trombone player in the past, I felt a strong urge to join into a cool jazz session in Bourbon Street style as I posed with my wife amidst three music greats performing together in this statue in downtown New Orleans.

Note: In the current era of social distancing demands, I discovered that many of these sites described above are closed or severely restricted in attendance. How then can history help us to adapt to these current touristic challenges in the future?

April 30, 2020 12

Breathing Soul Into My World

“Your soul is your ultimate guidance system. You can think of your soul as the compass, map, and destination all in one.” (Aletheia Luna)

As I glanced at the latest “Gate One Travel” brochure advertising a tour called “Spiritual Southern India”, it immediately seemed obvious that a second visit to India seemed very compelling. Understand that Ruth and I had enjoyed a fast paced tour of Northern India a few years ago. Yet we both felt a strong need to obtain a greater connection to this country’s spiritual aura that existed seemingly everywhere on this prior visit. Although we knew very little about the southern part of India, the prospect of booking a small group, “Gate One” Company tour at a reasonable price (including airfare) attracted our India revisit interest as well. With our established yoga practice in full gear now, how exciting it would be to also experience for ourselves, the soulfully uplifting practice of yogic maneuvers, South Indian style.

So what exactly have I been doing to prepare for the unknown travel challenges of South India? Given my love of reading, our latest vacation certainly provides me with an ideal opportunity for “brushing up on my India knowledge through a variety of reading materials. For research reference, I am thus consulting the “Lonely Planet” Guide of South India to obtain a strictly factual perspective of this region. For firsthand opinion observations from actual South India travelers, I have turned to Sheldon Smith’s “ A River Of Life: Travels Through Modern India”and Murzban F. Schroff’s “Breathless in Bombay.” Anticipating sporadic Internet availability for the bulk of our trip, I’ve also downloaded the offline version of Southern India’s maps/tourist information on my I phone travel apps “Triposo” and “Maps.me.” The following map might provide my readers with a suitable overview of the cities/towns in the South India region.

The matter of maintaining physical wellness in South India has also preoccupied my attention during the months preceding our upcoming trip. By “upping” my yin-yoga practice to 4-5 days per week , I now feel primed for a more energizing meditative revival there. Adding probiotics to my daily vitamin regimen in the past month for stomach precautions has in addition better prepared me for the spicy Indian cuisine that I will likely encounter. Carrying a load of energy bars as well will come in handy on those rare dining occasions of extreme food intolerance. Desiring to sample a pre-taste of Indian foods prior to our departure, I have also indulged on a few occasions at Indian lunch buffets nearest my South Florida home in the last few weeks. To avoid any exposure to the feared Corona Virus and other respiratory spread ailments, I’ve resolved to pack a face mask and carry an ample supply of hand sanitizers as well.

With our suitcases/knapsacks compactly packed, our tourist visas in order, and our ground transportation to/from the airport successfully arranged, we are now ready to embark on our sixteen day tour of South India. Along the way, we look forward to experiencing authentic cultural encounters and sacred Hindu ways at stunning historic temples. We also look forward to meditating in the spirit of global unity and soul- filled “Shiva” with a living Indian yogi as well. Furthermore, how exciting it might be to slow down our busy minds as we float along tranquil rivers/ lagoons by houseboat or hike in protected wildlife sanctuaries in search of rare birdlife/animal species. The remarkable life of Mahatma Gandhi should also come vividly alive for us as we search for deeper meanings in the prevailing “caste system” that pervades the everyday life of this region’s bustling cities. In spite of our challenging daytime schedule, at night, we might even find time to nourish ourselves in a soothing massage or a refreshing swim at our accommodating hotels as needed.

So perhaps I can whet your spiritual interest in our latest adventure. What “inner” thoughts do you thus feel from each of the twelve photographs below taken during our previous tour of India in the spring of 2017? Namaste.

Additional References:

https://breathedreamgo.com – “ Thirty Reasons To Love Indian Travel