I know. I cannot even remotely judge a whole nation, 1/5 of all people on earth – based on 2 weeks of experiences. But with amble salt, please let me share my insights.
India… An alledgely spiritual nation. I am sorry to say, but I found the vast majority very religous, but also extremely egoistic and material. Perhaps it is the poor mentality or the poor people, but it changed my view enormously…
In NONE of the alledged spiritual places found I anything remotely divine or spiritual – I found thousands of temples, where people would pray for this and that, and a better life, and so called holy men, who asked for tips after I took a picture of their tempel…
Maybee the spirituality just isnt in Varanasi or Pushkar (two of the most holy places)? Or maybee it is just because I dont understand their way…
However, At the garden behind the Taj, I found a Buddhist guru and a small crowd of disciples. They felt very genuine, and his peace was contageous…. I met them, because, oh forbid, I went to the Taj Mahal after sunset – and due to threaths from terrorists it is not allowed. So I found myself in the company of heaily armed soldiers, who firmly told be to fuck off… I tried to be charming, and say: Oh, I have travelled far, please let me have one photo.
And then… Guru appeared from his small ashram and spoke to the soldiers in Hindi. Suddently they helped me to find a great spot, and the right motive of the full moon and Taj Mahal. Afterwards I was invited for a satsang and chai with guru and the soldiers.
It turned out, that guru had told them, that I was a guest of his, and should be treated with respect. And that the commanding officer was a disciple… Nobody asked for money, tips or anything else. They just enjoyed my keep interest…
And because it was late, now around midnight, the soldiers chose for my security to escort me back to my waiting tuk-tuk, and also escorted the tuk-tuk until we again was ‘in the city’. Nothing expected. Real hospitality.
So, India do have holy men still.
