In Cochin I wrote about churches, temples and sightseeing and received a few comments telling me that people do appreciate the architecture of those temples, churches and other houses of God.
I actually fully agree with this idea, too. I myself have been to Paris and also saw Notre Dame there and I stood in front of it, admiring the many hands who built it and the mind of the architect who saw this all before in his imagination. I have been to the Kamasutra temples in Khajuraho, too, which were built with religious purpose, and I have been amazed by their architecture. Another great example of architecture that I admire is the Taj Mahal in Agra. Whenever there is any guest at the Ashram, we send them to see this wonderful monument of love which is only a one-day trip from Vrindavan.
Religious buildings have always been the places where architects showed their best work and I like to look at their work. However I don’t need a temple to worship and I don’t want to fill my holidays with only looking at those buildings, especially if they are not really masterpieces of art. Here in South India however this kind of religious tourism is very common, especially among Indian tourists.
Temples make a lot of money in this way. You pay entry fees to go into the temple but not only that! There are different categories and you can decide how close you want to get to the deity and the altar and how much you want to pay. You can pay only a little and practically stand at the door to have a look from far away or you can pay more and have a look from close-by. Your worship thus depends on how much money you have. To have a close look at God, you need a big pocket. I surely don’t want to support this kind of religious business and this is why I said, I believe religion belongs into museums.
I am also not a tourist who has a long list of all places in my hand that I want to see because my idea of a holiday is not visiting historical buildings and learning a lot. This can be a part of my holiday but not the main aim. On the other hand my main aim is also not shopping and eating. I eat in the same way that I eat at home, with my times and often even the same food. I don’t need many things, so I would not know what to buy either.
When I think I have a holiday, I want to relax. If I am at a nice place, I enjoy the atmosphere and maybe also look at a few buildings. I like to see what the differences are to the place that I normally live in and I like to see a nice sunrise or sunset. In this way it becomes a nice mixture of nature, culture, relaxation and sightseeing.
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कृपया ग्लानि न करें यदि किसी की कल्पना करके आपका खड़ा अथवा गीली हो जाए
Bitte haben Sie kein schlechtes Gewissen, wenn Sie eine Erektion bekommen oder nass werden, weil Sie sich jemanden vorstellen
Please don’t feel guilty if you get erection or wet by imagining someone
Meine Beziehung zu meinem Vater
My relationship with my father
पिता के साथ मेरा सम्बन्ध
Neues Kapitel im Leben, Herausforderungen und Lektionen
New chapter in life, challenges and lessons
Dear Swami and Ramona,It seems that your post above addresses some of my comments of two days ago. As a lover of great art and architecture, I just felt that I should present another viewpoint. But I know especially in view of what you say today that your reasons for not going to those places are very good. How awful to charge to get closer to icons and statues. I’m sure this must come with an implication that one is more blessed the closer one gets to the icons. In NYC, none of the churches do this, so I suppose things are a little better here in this way. I also just like to enjoy my time and not study when I go to see art and architecture. When I go to an art show, for example, I just enjoy the beauty, and if I want to read and study about it, I do that later when I get home. You and Ramona have a joie de vivre – joy of life – that I can only admire and aspire more to have, and I know you have great reasons for your choices. It has been such a pleasure to read about your excursion there, and also to learn more about religious tourism in India, and the problems with it. It really helps expand my knowledge of the culture there. Love to you, Deniz
Dear Deniz,I am always happy to read another point of view. Thank you always for your comments and for writing. It gives us and also our readers another point to think about.
Keep on writing, your viewpoint is always appreciated!
Much love!
It sounds like you have a very balanced holiday Swami Ji. A lot of people use vacation time as a time to allow themselves to be out of balance…to eat to much, drink to much, rest without excersise, become a tv zombie, etc. But this choice isn’t restful at all. It throughs you off and makes you confused and unhappy. I like your kind of vacation Swami Ji. I think it sets a good example.
If you want to pay to see a temple, more power to ya. You never know what that money is going for or why or if people are desperate for it. It is impossible to gage the ethical soundness of that action. It could be a great place to spend your dollar.
That is the perfect house-boat outfit.
I wonder why some people race from one historical site to another during their holiday and that is exactly what they are doing, learning. Is that considered to be healthy or the most valuable thing you could do with your time? Those holidays exhaust me.
I was called into a temple in India when I was a new arrival in the country. I didn’t know why I was being called in. A man showed me to an alter and I stood there for a minute and then started to leave. Then he started yelling and gesturing for me to put money into the bowl by the alter. I felt a lot of pressure to do this and realized the eager greed and objectivication of me that was exuding from this man that had hurried me into the temple. I left 2 rupees. The man got angry. That was my first and last experience with temples in India. I find this behavior to be really aweful and unneccisary everywhere. No one has to be tricky or greedy no matter how rich or poor.
It sounds like you are having a very fine vacation! I am sure you will continue to. I look forward to reading more.
A lot of people seem to be board if they are not learning or stimulating their intelect in some other fashion. I have certainly felt this before, at times when I struggle with presents.
Deniz,I read this blog quit often and so I see your posts on many pages. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy them. And I enjoy how you choose to adress things. I think it is clever and wise and also diverse in tone and topic. You understand what Swami Ji is saying and sometimes, when you see fit, you play “devil’s advocate” not to cause a rucus but the result simply pushes my mind in the right direction and I think you anticipate this. I look forward to reading more of your comments.
I have always wondered if the people that turn worship into a buisness truly believe in their “product,” and do they truly believe that they are close to god? I am so curious.
Religious institutions and their houses cost money. If a man comes to a temple without money it is natural to let him enter. If a man comes to a temple with money to spare and the temple needs money it is natural to have him pay. Money is not that big a deal. This is a comment to myself I suppose and what this entry made me think about.
I feel like when I go about my daily business, I experience learning and discovery. When I vacation that is the time to let my mind just go- look at the sunset- experience the silence.
“To have a close look at god you need a big pocket” has been a reoccuring theme in the world of religions from the “beggining”. The people furthurst from god are often the ones running religious institutions.
What does relaxation mean exactly? In your mind?
I totally understand, if you are traveling in your own country you might not be as interested.
I never knew why people were so interested in these things anyway.
I am with you on the architecture aspect– why just go and see a bunch of temples when they all look the same? I’d rather see something really special on my trip and admire it’s unique qualities. Then the rest of the time can be spent relaxing, exploring, or however I please. I saw the Taj Mahal while I was here and was completely amazed by it. The architecture, beauty, and story about the monument was so touching to me… I spent a long time just looking at it and didn’t want to leave.
I agree that vacations should be spent relaxing, not racing around trying to do things.
I agree, while when I’m traveling or on holiday whatever you want to call it, I love to see places, try new foods and such but for the most part I love to meet new people and get used to the surroundings, understand more of the culture and the country, the people who make it. No matter what happens its an experience, it’s a lesson and it’s worth the time and whatever it took to get there.