flowerseverywhere
1-5-15, 11:20am
I am an atheist. It has been a long journey to get to where I am. I have peace, contentment and have experienced great joy in giving to others.
I recently spent pent a month traveling around Thailand. This is a very poor third world country with a mainly Buddist population. All around me I saw happy grateful people. In the morning, a village knows when the monks will be passing through and they line up on the side of the road to share what they have. They come out of their shacks and give rice, cooked dishes, desserts, water, money and all kinds of food as an offering. The monks then pray and chant. In the temples people took off their shoes and kneeled before statues of the Buddah and gave offerings. On New Years day people gave the monks new robes. I was in a city and the Monks had to literally use shopping carts to haul the donations away. They also had elaborate arrangements made of marigolds, lotus flowers and banana leaves that they left. Other people tucked money into the offerings. The monks, who wear simple garments and have no possessions distribute this to the poor.
Through the the country I saw only one beggar. He was in a city and had been disfigured by fire. As we passed through the countryside we saw people selling fruit and crafts. People raised chickens, grew food, and lived the ultimate simple life. I loved seeing kids kicking a ball, swimming in the river, and generally being happy. I have heard the same thing about Cambodia. We spent some time with a couple who had just travelled there and were amazed at the spirit and joy fullness there.
my moment came one morning when I walked at sunrise up a hill to a temple and made an offering. I gathered what traditionally is given and offered it to the young monk, he stopped and recited a long chanting prayer. It gave me chills to see such gratitude and thanks.
Later, I had a chance to speak with a monk about the faith and the life of the monk. I think all religions basically say the same things. Don't do bad stuff, and do good stuff. But what struck me was the tolerance and generosity that was shown. Truly walking the walk.
In in a world that throughout time has had people use organized religion to twist things to evoke hate, fear and violence, it was truly a spiritual experience to me so see so much selflessness, tolerance and love for fellow man. I hope I can keep this feeling in my heart and soul.
I recently spent pent a month traveling around Thailand. This is a very poor third world country with a mainly Buddist population. All around me I saw happy grateful people. In the morning, a village knows when the monks will be passing through and they line up on the side of the road to share what they have. They come out of their shacks and give rice, cooked dishes, desserts, water, money and all kinds of food as an offering. The monks then pray and chant. In the temples people took off their shoes and kneeled before statues of the Buddah and gave offerings. On New Years day people gave the monks new robes. I was in a city and the Monks had to literally use shopping carts to haul the donations away. They also had elaborate arrangements made of marigolds, lotus flowers and banana leaves that they left. Other people tucked money into the offerings. The monks, who wear simple garments and have no possessions distribute this to the poor.
Through the the country I saw only one beggar. He was in a city and had been disfigured by fire. As we passed through the countryside we saw people selling fruit and crafts. People raised chickens, grew food, and lived the ultimate simple life. I loved seeing kids kicking a ball, swimming in the river, and generally being happy. I have heard the same thing about Cambodia. We spent some time with a couple who had just travelled there and were amazed at the spirit and joy fullness there.
my moment came one morning when I walked at sunrise up a hill to a temple and made an offering. I gathered what traditionally is given and offered it to the young monk, he stopped and recited a long chanting prayer. It gave me chills to see such gratitude and thanks.
Later, I had a chance to speak with a monk about the faith and the life of the monk. I think all religions basically say the same things. Don't do bad stuff, and do good stuff. But what struck me was the tolerance and generosity that was shown. Truly walking the walk.
In in a world that throughout time has had people use organized religion to twist things to evoke hate, fear and violence, it was truly a spiritual experience to me so see so much selflessness, tolerance and love for fellow man. I hope I can keep this feeling in my heart and soul.