"The Pilgrimage"
10/10/2008
The following passage, which a friend shared with me, struck a chord as I prepare for my trip to Vietnam and China. I love the idea of seeing things through new eyes, of gaining a different perspective, of appreciating the small things. The challenge will be to cultivate that habit and make it a part of my life even after I return to the routine of grading papers, attending committee meetings, mowing lawn, emptying the kitty litter, grocery shopping, etc., etc. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity to step away, outside my comfort zone, to a place where I can view the world through a new (or renewed) lens.
" When you travel, you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don't even understand the language the people speak. So you are like a child just out of the womb. You begin to attach much importance to the things around you because your survival depends on them. You begin to be more accessible to others because they may be able to help you in difficult situations. And you accept any small favor from the gods with great delight, as if it were an episode you would remember for the rest of your life.
At the same time, since all things are new, you see only the beauty in them, and you feel happy to be alive. That's why a religious pilgrimage has always been one of the most objective ways of achieving insight. The word peccadillo, which means "a small sin", comes from pecus, which means "defective foot," a foot that is incapable of walking a road. The way to correct the peccadillo is always to walk forward, adapting oneself to new situations and receiving in turn all of the thousands of blessing that life generously offers to those who seek them."
