I want to understand 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 allow me to talk with Father George, with several monks, with other visitors. …
Continue reading 548. Bede Griffiths and Saccidananda Ashram
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 547. Evidence of Christian Communities in South India
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 546. Pilgrims Everywhere: More 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 of Hindus …
Queen Victoria Memorial Like Delhi and Madras (Chennai), 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 …
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 visited Mother Teresa's Mother House, and talked with her briefly in 1990, I want to return to the "Mother House." A few brief …
My 1990 visit to Kolkata occurs during a monsoon. Carl and I leave a bookstore. As we crossed a road, the water on the road went above our ankles. We felt like we had to swim to get across the road! Not a great time to get around! This visit, no monsoon! As I want …
Dusk at Bodh Gaya I'm in Bodh Gaya. I arise at 6AM. By 7AM, I and a large Japanese pilgrim group are through with breakfast. By 8AM, I enter the stupa grounds. Two immediate surprises. One surprise makes my initial more pleasant. Probably because of the early hour, there are not many hawkers selling merchandise. …
Continue reading 540. Bodh Gaya: The International Chanting Festival
So much to see and learn about Varanasi. Since Jai has guided me on one walking tour, he recommends that I should take his colleague Mayank's night walk. “He’ll show and tell you some unforgettable things about Varanasi.” He isn’t wrong. Jai describes Mayank as "our secret Sikh weapon!" When I meet Mayank, he tells …
Continue reading 539. Varanasi at Night: Mayank’s Walking Tour
Jai inspires me to see Varanasi beyond the ghats. Both with and without his presence, I visit sites off the usual visitors’ path. I hire a tuk-tuk driver to take me to the Ramnagar Fort. Built in 1750 by the ruler of the Varanasi region, fort is south of Varanasi and on the other side …
