Why India?

It's a question I've gotten a lot, so I suppose it's worth examining as an introduction to, or a jumping off point for, this trip and this blog.

The easy, conversational answer is that one of the many amazing coincidences of Amberly's & my courtship was our common interest in India as our next major travel destination. It seemed like an appropriate delayed honeymoon and a last hurrah before "settling down," or whatever euphemism you want to use for "starting to have babies". That answer begs the question a bit, though, and isn't entirely satisfactory.

Like many things in my life, the idea came first while my reasons evolved some time later. As we've been getting ready (I'll spare you the mostly-boring details of that), I've been thinking about that question, and I think the subtitle to this blog cuts to the heart of it.

Byways
Most of all, it's about getting out and travelling independently. It clears my head, being out in the world, going down little side streets in foreign towns and getting on a bus with all my belongings on my back. Of course, you can do this lots of places. I suppose part of India's allure is the intensity of the experience: the crush of humanity and the assault on the senses.

A fellow traveller once said to me, "You don't change India, it changes you." Perhaps in a literal way this isn't true - I'm sure I'll find plenty of physical evidence of westernization in parts - but what I think she meant is to check your preconceptions (and your ego) at the airport gate and be open to what is all around you. Getting lost in a place means letting go of a bit of yourself - always a humbling experience and necessary.

Brahman
Some ask me if this is a spiritual journey. The answer is yes and no. There is no doubt that India is ground zero for spiritual questing. From the Buddha to the Beatles, people have wandered that land looking for meaning. It's inevitable that the part of me that shares the same questions and the same quest will be piqued. The more I explore spirituality, the more it becomes clear that all our paths point to the same few truths. To the extent that this seeking is heightened by something in India (it's in the water, DON'T DRINK THE WATER!), I want to tap into that during our journey.

At the same time, I am comfortable and happy with the Jewish trip I'm on. I don't need to find a swami and join an ashram to find enlightenment. That doesn't mean I won't consider a meditation course along the way, but I'm not looking to jump paths. My sense is that enlightenment comes from the depth of your path, not skimming from a bunch of different ones. Brahman, in my limited understanding of Hinduism, is considered at once to be the source of all and also within each individual being. If that's the word we're going to use while in India, so be it.

Myself
Ultimately, this is a trip about me. Taking an extended break from work and "the real world" recharges my batteries in a deep way that a two week vacation never can. The time to hold extended internal dialogues on long train rides while only really worrying about where to eat my next meal is nourishing to my soul. It is a time to tap into my creativity and check in with myself. I think this trip will also be a great venue for Amberly & I to unplug from the daily stresses and just be.

So that's that. I expect the entries here will roam between these three aspects, and hopefully not be as earnestly (and boringly) introspective as this one!