Wandering

Vasko · Jan 13th, 2004, 20:45

Does anyone know of any good literature on wandering monks, meditative walking, etc.?

I find wandering in strange places to be very good for the soul. I thoroughly enjoy setting out without a destination, going wherever my intuition takes me. Recently I've been thinking about the philosophical side of this. Some observations:

1). Whilst wandering, one becomes consciously unaware of the self. Optimally, you become one with your surroundings and the world. You step into the stream of life and it takes you along.

2). When you forget yourself, you step out of time. When you step out of time, you have no future. When you have no future, there's nothing to be afraid of or worried about. All that exists is the moment, and you become that moment.

3). Wandering is addictive. There is always the next corner to turn or the next hill to climb. What could be beyond them? Basically it doesn't matter if you're in the city or in nature, something keeps pulling you forward. The promise of unknown secrets unfolding before you, you being in a completely novel surrounding...

4). Wandering is no good in familiar surroundings. You know exactly what's around the corner and where you will end up (unless you're heavily intoxicated).

It just doesn't have the same magic to it.

Back to my original point: does anyone know of any good literature related to this???

shanshas · Jan 13th, 2004, 22:17

Some of the books by Bill Aitken like "Branch Line to Eternity", "Travles on a Lesser Line ", and a few others. "Chasing the Monsoon" by Alexander Frater. Books by Mark Shand. Xanadu by William Dalrymple are a few that come to mind. But I suppose in each of these books, the wanderings have a purpose so cannot be called wanderings in the true sense of the word. However, good reading.

Shan

Wanderer22 · Jan 14th, 2004, 01:08

Hello Vasco, Have you read anything by Hermann Hesse?

"Siddhartha" and "Journey to the East" are a
couple titles that spring to mind. "The Glass Bead Game" and
"Steppenwolf" are also good.

The text of Siddhartha is online at,
http://www.online-literature.com/hesse/siddhartha/1/

Check http://www.gss.ucsb.edu/projects/hesse/ for more
info on Hesse.

Have FUN...... Where ever you go, .... There you are.

Wanderer 22

sgeneris · Jan 14th, 2004, 04:17

Incidentally. the Conrad Rooks' Siddhartha (1972) based on the HH book is also being shown at a number of art houses since last year (30th year anniversary).

rickshawwallah · Jan 14th, 2004, 05:52

The Way of the White Clouds - Lama Anagarika Govinda

Vasko · Jan 14th, 2004, 21:20

Thank you all for your suggestions, I'll see what I can get my hands on. Some of the stuff was out of stock on Amazon.

trvl_in, look out for my book on wandering in upcoming years

Sort of related to this whole wandering business: I find that one of the greatest moments of bliss for me while traveling is when the train makes that first nudge and slowly moves out of the station and starts heading towards unknown territory. The sense of freedom mixed with anticipation is exhilarating.

Does anyone else have similar experiences? When do you feel the highs of traveling?

Vasko · Jan 16th, 2004, 18:24

Quote:

Originally posted by trvl_in
The neurological pathways in our brains seek a path of least resistance, meaning that whenever our lives follow predictable paths in familiar environments our brains become hard wired for these expectations, and the habitual sense of dull familiarity sets in.

It seems that novel things grab our attention from the very beginning of life. Studies using the "preferential looking method" have shown that infants prefer to look at novel objects instead of familiar ones. They quickly get bored with the same object, i.e. they habituate. This suggests that novelty seeking is hardwired in our neurological makeup. But to what extent? Other studies claim that individual genetic differences play a part in how much we seek new and exciting things.

Obviously this doesn't fully account for the fact that some people seek adventure and others don't...

Apana · Jan 16th, 2004, 21:39

If you're interested in a list (non-India specific) send me a PM and I will send you a bibliography. I did my thesis on travel literature as autobiography.

Apana

Vasko · Feb 12th, 2004, 20:42

To anyone interested:

Henry David Thoreau has written an essay called "Walking" in 1862, in which he 'preaches' the joys of aimless sauntering in nature. (He did, however, find himself always ending up west or southwest on his walks - leading him to think that the West was intrinsically the place for novelty, wilderness and exciting potential, whereas the East was laden with the past and its corrupting civilization).

It is an interesting read to anyone interesting in wandering, walking, sauntering, etc. - not least because of its transcendentalist underpinnings.

Will Marks · Jul 25th, 2004, 14:34

Walt Whitman is around the same period as Thoreau, with similar nature loving transcendentalist underpinnings.

Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac tells the story of Jacks wandering in California with poet Gary Snyder, lightly disguised as Japhy. They consider themselves modern wondering monks and throw in plenty of pop dharma in an entertaining way.

Some real monks have put pen to paper.

The Autobiography of a Forest Monk, by Venerable Ajahn Tate of Thailand is an interesting account of a long life wandering, broken by three month rainy season retreats. Quite a contrast to Kerouac, but the style remains accessible.

There's a collection of writing called Forest Recollections: Wandering Monks in Twentieth-Century Thailand

Hesse's 'Narcissus and Goldmund' is also good, although Goldmund does all the wandering and Narcissus does all the monking!

I'm into this stuff as well, so if any one knows good texts about wandering monks in India, I'd be interested.

Jan 13th, 2004, 20:45	#1
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 498	Wandering Does anyone know of any good literature on wandering monks, meditative walking, etc.? I find wandering in strange places to be very good for the soul. I thoroughly enjoy setting out without a destination, going wherever my intuition takes me. Recently I've been thinking about the philosophical side of this. Some observations: 1). Whilst wandering, one becomes consciously unaware of the self. Optimally, you become one with your surroundings and the world. You step into the stream of life and it takes you along. 2). When you forget yourself, you step out of time. When you step out of time, you have no future. When you have no future, there's nothing to be afraid of or worried about. All that exists is the moment, and you become that moment. 3). Wandering is addictive. There is always the next corner to turn or the next hill to climb. What could be beyond them? Basically it doesn't matter if you're in the city or in nature, something keeps pulling you forward. The promise of unknown secrets unfolding before you, you being in a completely novel surrounding... 4). Wandering is no good in familiar surroundings. You know exactly what's around the corner and where you will end up (unless you're heavily intoxicated). It just doesn't have the same magic to it. Back to my original point: does anyone know of any good literature related to this???

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Jan 13th, 2004, 22:17	#2
shanshas Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calcutta, India Posts: 51	Some of the books by Bill Aitken like "Branch Line to Eternity", "Travles on a Lesser Line ", and a few others. "Chasing the Monsoon" by Alexander Frater. Books by Mark Shand. Xanadu by William Dalrymple are a few that come to mind. But I suppose in each of these books, the wanderings have a purpose so cannot be called wanderings in the true sense of the word. However, good reading. Shan

Jan 14th, 2004, 01:08	#3
Wanderer22 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 472	Hello Vasco, Have you read anything by Hermann Hesse? "Siddhartha" and "Journey to the East" are a couple titles that spring to mind. "The Glass Bead Game" and "Steppenwolf" are also good. The text of Siddhartha is online at, http://www.online-literature.com/hesse/siddhartha/1/ Check http://www.gss.ucsb.edu/projects/hesse/ for more info on Hesse. Have FUN...... Where ever you go, .... There you are. Wanderer 22

Jan 14th, 2004, 04:17	#4
sgeneris Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: usa Posts: 132	Incidentally. the Conrad Rooks' Siddhartha (1972) based on the HH book is also being shown at a number of art houses since last year (30th year anniversary).

Jan 14th, 2004, 05:52	#5
rickshawwallah I know cheap and best! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, USA Posts: 204	The Way of the White Clouds - Lama Anagarika Govinda

Jan 14th, 2004, 21:20	#6
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 498	Thank you all for your suggestions, I'll see what I can get my hands on. Some of the stuff was out of stock on Amazon. trvl_in, look out for my book on wandering in upcoming years Sort of related to this whole wandering business: I find that one of the greatest moments of bliss for me while traveling is when the train makes that first nudge and slowly moves out of the station and starts heading towards unknown territory. The sense of freedom mixed with anticipation is exhilarating. Does anyone else have similar experiences? When do you feel the highs of traveling?

Jan 16th, 2004, 21:39	#8
Apana Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 147	If you're interested in a list (non-India specific) send me a PM and I will send you a bibliography. I did my thesis on travel literature as autobiography. Apana

Feb 12th, 2004, 20:42	#9
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 498	To anyone interested: Henry David Thoreau has written an essay called "Walking" in 1862, in which he 'preaches' the joys of aimless sauntering in nature. (He did, however, find himself always ending up west or southwest on his walks - leading him to think that the West was intrinsically the place for novelty, wilderness and exciting potential, whereas the East was laden with the past and its corrupting civilization). It is an interesting read to anyone interesting in wandering, walking, sauntering, etc. - not least because of its transcendentalist underpinnings.

Jul 25th, 2004, 14:34	#10
Will Marks shanti shanti Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 66	Walt Whitman is around the same period as Thoreau, with similar nature loving transcendentalist underpinnings. Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac tells the story of Jacks wandering in California with poet Gary Snyder, lightly disguised as Japhy. They consider themselves modern wondering monks and throw in plenty of pop dharma in an entertaining way. Some real monks have put pen to paper. The Autobiography of a Forest Monk, by Venerable Ajahn Tate of Thailand is an interesting account of a long life wandering, broken by three month rainy season retreats. Quite a contrast to Kerouac, but the style remains accessible. There's a collection of writing called Forest Recollections: Wandering Monks in Twentieth-Century Thailand Hesse's 'Narcissus and Goldmund' is also good, although Goldmund does all the wandering and Narcissus does all the monking! I'm into this stuff as well, so if any one knows good texts about wandering monks in India, I'd be interested.

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