Spirituality drives the culture in India, despite the dichotomy of wealth, that breeds some materialism in those with money, to the stark and vast poverty and acceptance. Being back in America, I look around and we have our world fairly well organized, with nicely landscaped properties and cities that make sense, streets with lanes by which we abide. We in the western world have outer peace and organization, but I think we live with a lot of internal chaos, angst... stress, right? Meanwhile, I find that Indians live in an external environment that thrives on chaos, lack of organization, litter and utter mess, but they have much greater inner peace. A speaker along our journey told us that there is an openness to Indian society and an interest in listening and learning. We see this in powerful messages like, "I may not be right, but it doesn't mean that I am wrong." Certainly, learning should be a two-way street.
In reflecting on the trip, I had been told a bit of what to expect. I had heard that there was a lot of filth and pungent smells in the air. I had been told to expect poverty amidst opulence. I was warned about the water and what not to eat. Sure there are slums all over, debris, and litter. Sure there is a vast poor population and it is a chaotic place. However, I saw beautiful colors in nicely worn fabric. The people are put together, natural, and organically pretty. Most of the smells are spicy, musky, citrus-y, and cool (despite the oppressive heat). I felt safe and not once in danger. Mothers nurture and lovingly care for their children. Men and women are hard-working. Amidst the squalor, I saw a lot of splendor that comes in the form of peace and resolve. There are smiles in the eyes of the children. Richness in spirit and resolve is evident. We see acknowledgement. We have hope for education of the young generation. There is confidence and drive. Sometimes we see this drive manifest itself in ways that fit in with the norm of western culture, but more often it creates its own destiny in India. How it will be harnessed in a land of such a vast population is a story still to be told...
In reflecting on the trip, I had been told a bit of what to expect. I had heard that there was a lot of filth and pungent smells in the air. I had been told to expect poverty amidst opulence. I was warned about the water and what not to eat. Sure there are slums all over, debris, and litter. Sure there is a vast poor population and it is a chaotic place. However, I saw beautiful colors in nicely worn fabric. The people are put together, natural, and organically pretty. Most of the smells are spicy, musky, citrus-y, and cool (despite the oppressive heat). I felt safe and not once in danger. Mothers nurture and lovingly care for their children. Men and women are hard-working. Amidst the squalor, I saw a lot of splendor that comes in the form of peace and resolve. There are smiles in the eyes of the children. Richness in spirit and resolve is evident. We see acknowledgement. We have hope for education of the young generation. There is confidence and drive. Sometimes we see this drive manifest itself in ways that fit in with the norm of western culture, but more often it creates its own destiny in India. How it will be harnessed in a land of such a vast population is a story still to be told...
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