We are constantly given advice. Billboards. Grafitti. Influencers. Friends. Professors. The advice may be catchy; the advice may be dated. I ask a number of individuals in India their advice. Since I will be organizing a "Year of India” upon my return to the States, I decide to ask all sorts of folks what they …
Author: sabbatical2017blog
854. Dava’s Walking Tour of Mumbai’s Dharavi Slums
I want to see Mumbai’s Dharavi slum. Reportedly the largest in Asia. Knowing that I’m not going to walk through Dharavi alone, I joined Dava’s walking tour. My last Indian walking tour. Early that morning, five of us meet Dava. As he introduces himself, we all realize that this will be an interesting guide. Dava …
Continue reading 854. Dava’s Walking Tour of Mumbai’s Dharavi Slums
853. Moving Around and About: Modes of Journey in India
Moving around and about India isn't for the faint of heart. I walk, ride a rickshaw, hire a taxi, make arrangements for a private vehicle and driver, jump on a bus, navigate a subway system, reserve seats on trains, and fly on AirIndia. I have my limitations though. I'm not carried by porters on a …
Continue reading 853. Moving Around and About: Modes of Journey in India
852. Hindu Pilgrims and Pilgrimages
I see pilgrims from Haridwar in the north, to Rameswaram in the south, from Kolkata in the east to Mumbai in the west. I ask myself: What to make of all these Hindu pilgrims and pilgrimages? There is the classic question: “What is more valuable, the journey or the destination?” In classic Hindu fashion, I’ll …
851. Bede Griffiths and Saccidananda Ashram
One of my goals is to extend the range of my understanding India's religious diversity, both within major religious communities as well as between religious communities. Becoming familiar with Bede Griffiths and his Christian ashram accomplishes one of these goals. Spending a full day and night at the Saccidananda Ashram allowed me to talk with …
Continue reading 851. Bede Griffiths and Saccidananda Ashram
850. Evidence of Christian Communities in South India
If a person has no familiarity with India, then that person might be surprised at the range of Christian communities in south India. One morning, Annamalai drives me to St. Thomas Christian sites. Here is a quiz: How many, and where, do some Christians believe the Apostles' relics exist? The answer is three. The sites …
Continue reading 850. Evidence of Christian Communities in South India
849. Pilgrims Everywhere: More Hindu Temples
To repeat myself from the previous blog. What does one do in Tamil Nadu? One visits temples! Not just me. I see young individuals, middle age individuals, and elderly individuals. I see single people, family groups, and large pilgrim groups. I see them early in the morning, midday, and late afternoon. I'm also sure that …
Continue reading 849. Pilgrims Everywhere: More Hindu Temples
848. Everywhere! So Many Hindu Temples
During our 1990 seminar’s three-week stay in Tamil Nadu, I am eager to return. So much to see! With the help of Annamalai, my driver, I want to view some historic temples in particular. Driver Tamil Nadu Annamalai A few observations first from a non-Hindu. What are temples? Why do I see thousands converge on …
847. British Kolkata
Queen Victoria Memorial Like Delhi and Madras, Kolkata shows its colonial past. Whether walking or using a taxi, any person will see the buildings of the British “Capital of the Raj.” From 1772 until 1911, the city served as the administrative, commercial, and cultural center of the colonial India. Some even referred to it as …
846. Mother Teresa and Kolkata
Mother House Doorway A question: who is Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu? Here is another clue: she is born on August 26, 1910. If you guess Mother Teresa, then you are correct. Although I have visited Mother Teresa's Mother House, and talked with her briefly, I want to return to the "Mother House." A few brief notes …
Journeys: Explorations in Body, Mind, and Spirit 