A Buddhist walks the Camino

[jayree]

In the current issue of Northwest Dharma News there is a well written, thoughtful article by Tom Kaczmarski. He describes the CdS from a Buddhist perspective. For example, "I even became grateful for the pain in my feet, as it meant I was alive, human, and healthy enough to experience."

It concludes ...
"People talk of the Camino never ending; a walk you do for the rest of your life. We found, as we walked, that our needs became less, our gratitude greater, our acceptance deeper, and in this we found our humility. In this we found our commonality. It seemed to me that we had found the key to the ancient angels’ blessing at the birth of Christ, 'Peace on earth good will towards men.' "

http://northwestdharma.org/2014/12/...-walking-spains-camino-de-santiago/#post-6832

 

[donalomahony]

I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.

 

[dougfitz]

@jayree, thank you for sharing this article.

 

[Wildflower Woman]

Thank you for this wonderful share!

 

[IngridF]

In the current issue of Northwest Dharma News there is a well written, thoughtful article by Tom Kaczmarski. He describes the CdS from a Buddhist perspective. For example, "I even became grateful for the pain in my feet, as it meant I was alive, human, and healthy enough to experience."

It concludes ...
"People talk of the Camino never ending; a walk you do for the rest of your life. We found, as we walked, that our needs became less, our gratitude greater, our acceptance deeper, and in this we found our humility. In this we found our commonality. It seemed to me that we had found the key to the ancient angels’ blessing at the birth of Christ, 'Peace on earth good will towards men.' "

http://northwestdharma.org/2014/12/...-walking-spains-camino-de-santiago/#post-6832

Tom, I very much enjoyed this. So much I now relate to, as my walk to see and hear with an open heart and ask and accept the lessons taught. Namaste

 

[Julio Gone Camino]

Very interesting!

Many similarities in the experiences, yet seen from a different ideological and faith perspective. Obviously there is a value to be had for ANYONE on the Camino!

 

[David]

and if he finds the hotdog stand in Burgos he can say "make me One with everything"

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola Jayree - thanks for a great post. I am only surprised that more Buddhists are not walking the Camino and posting their experiences. Of course, just as Christianity has spread world-wide in 2000 years, Buddhism has also spread widely from its Indian routes. From my understanding a Buddhist walking the Camino "for spiritual reasons" would still qualify for a Compostela.
Also have comment on the great photos.

 

[David]

There were Buddhist missionaries in Alexandria, Greece, and various other eastern Mediterranean rim cultures from about 100 years before Jesus - I often wonder about his 'lost' years and where he was learning.

 

[Thornley]

Strangers on the Camino
A Father and Son and a Holy Trail
By;
Sanjiva Wijesinha
Family Physician , Ass. Professor @ Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and Buddhist.
His son , Shivantha is a lawyer , actor and musician living in NYC.
A loving relationship between father and son on a 800 km journey..which was very hard physically for the writer.

Great read and summed up beautifully by an ex Vice President of the International Court of Justice,

" Cabinned , cribbed and confined within the faith to which they were born , the majority of people across the world remain in total unawareness of the richness of other faiths.
This narrative is a valuable correctness to this trend"

 

[jeffnd]

and if he finds the hotdog stand in Burgos he can say "make me One with everything"

There's a hotdog stand in Burgos?! I had no idea! Someone inform Brierley so it's in the next edition of his guide!

 

[David]

I don't think there is really, just put it in to do the joke

 

[jayree]

Strangers on the Camino
A Father and Son and a Holy Trail by Sanjiva Wijesinha"

I read and enjoyed Wijesinha's book. He has many great insights and observations. For example, "Therea Burkhardt-Fuller puts it in very simple terms: 'Walking the Camino is like reading a good book. You cannot wait to reach the end and find out the ending - and then you are sorry that you have finished it!' "

A book that I enjoyed even more is "The Way Is a River of Stars: A Buddhist's Journey Through Northern Spain on the Camino Pilgrim Route" by Helen E. Burns, available only in a Kindle edition I think. One of her observations, "The pilgrimage is not only done on foot, it is principally done by your heart."

 

[Thornley]

I read and enjoyed Wijesinha's book. He has many great insights and observations. For example, "Therea Burkhardt-Fuller puts it in very simple terms: 'Walking the Camino is like reading a good book. You cannot wait to reach the end and find out the ending - and then you are sorry that you have finished it!' "

A book that I enjoyed even more is "The Way Is a River of Stars: A Buddhist's Journey Through Northern Spain on the Camino Pilgrim Route" by Helen E. Burns, available only in a Kindle edition I think. One of her observations, "The pilgrimage is not only done on foot, it is principally done by your heart."

We found on reaching Santiago the same feelings Jayree so we kept going the next day to Muxia.
On return a week later we had a wonderful stay of 5 days in Santiago , living in an area away from the crowds , embraced the city and its people , sat back and enjoyed what we had achieved.