The Traveling Buddhist In Us All

A bit of a disclaimer: This post might seem dogmatic or preachy to some. Please if you are easily offended by such things feel free to divert your eyes. It is not my intention to be preachy or dogmatic. Otherwise feel free to read on. 

A wandering monk was walking down the road when he met a Zen master. The monk bowed three times, knelt, and then rose. “Excellent,” said the master, and the two became student and roshi.

Some years later the monk found himself wandering again in search of a master. A master met the monk along the path and the monk bowed three times, knelt, and then rose. “Wrong,” said the master.

Young buddhist monk by Artis Rams, on Flickr

A story

Let me tell you a story, a story about a man. When this man was born, his parents were told that he would grow to be either a great king or a spiritual leader. This man’s name is Siddhartha Guatama. You might know him better as the Buddha. After being coddled his hole life, Siddhartha left the confines of his luxurious home, leaving behind his beloved wife and child and went on a journey. He was looking for an answer, an answer to a question. What is the nature of suffering and how to stop suffering?

Finding a Guru

After leaving his fine palace Siddhartha cut his hair and put on a robe and went from being a rich prince, to a poor wandering man looking for his answer. He came across a guru who told him with his teachings he can find within himself the answer he seeks. He learned to meditate as a yogi and in time he learned to control his mind and control his body, but still could not find the answer he was looking for. He left his guru and went to another. The next guru could not help him find his answer as well.

From the shadows by Brett Davies, on Flickr

Siddhartha found that two gurus could not help him, so he went different path, he found a group ascetics, people depriving themselves of food, water and pleasures in life in hopes to find spiritual enlightenment. Hoping to find his answer, Siddhartha started to become the most ascetic of the ascetics. Only eating 1 grain of rice a day and drinking his own urine to survive, as he sat motionless all day. He become anorexic and nearly to the brink of dying, for 6 years. But he was realizing, he still had not found the answer to his question.

Awakening

As he sat he came to a memory of a day of a planting festival in a near by village his father took him to and remembered thinking about the earth that was being dug up, and the creatures in the ground being effected by this planting. At this point he realized something profound, that everything in this world is connected. From this he sat under a tree and pondered this and became joyful of this realization and how amazing this world can be. In order for him to keep this joy he realized he needed to eat, a woman came by and offered him rice porridge, one of the dishes feed to him by his step mother. He realized the compassion of this young woman. He had removed the rags he was wearing, bathed in a near by river and meditated under a tree. After time he comes to a realization and awakens, becoming the Buddha.

Teaching

The Buddha puts together a Sangha Monastery a place for him to teach those who wanted to learn his realization. There he teaches the “middle way” and to focus on THIS moment to his followers. He teaches to outcasts, women, and merchants. He tells his followers to find their own path of enlightenment by wandering the roads and connecting with those who are willing to help you and in return offer a lesson, if they are willing to listen.

Now by Hartwig HKD, on Flickr

Realization

As I mention this last part I start to think about the profiles of some wanders, like JetsetHer, TravelFreak and TheTravelingCamel. The all mention something similar that when traveling and meeting others in this world, they learn more about themselves. Much like the Buddha instructed of his follows and what he did later during his life.

We Travel Like A Buddha

It makes sense, because as we travel we put aside the things the trouble us at home, we forget about the work, we stop looking into the future, we are only enjoying the moment of our vacation, our travel and the people we are with when traveling. As the Buddha teaches, we are living in that moment.

As we all travel, perhaps we all become wandering Buddhists, learning more about ourselves, every trip making us more enlightened and just living in the moment. Maybe we should travel more often and become as wise as a Buddha.

What do you guys think? Leave a comment below, send me a tweet on twitter, or post on myfacebook. Heck even send us a message. Let me know so I can help. Subscribe to our newsletter to gain even more tips. Happy travels

Erick Redcloud

A partially blind Graphic Designer, Freelance Travel Photographer, Artist, Buddhist and Vegetarian who loves to travel. Erick loves traveling by being with the locals and going off the beaten path. He is the founder and owner of Pathlesstravels and loves inspiring others to follow their dreams, whether it is to travel or something completely different. He started Pathlesstravels to hone is photography skills and to meet amazing people, and to help a friend break into journalism. Check out his photography at his link.

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