Behind the Scenes
Discovering World Religions
The chiming of bells echo through the sanctums of the Boudhanath stupa. A soothing hum is strung, plucked from the very mouth of an ancient deity, mimicked and replicated by those who hope to grasp some of the wisdom and peace that embodies him. Bodies are dipped in ancient waters, hoping that their sins will disappear like stars amongst the rising sun. A desert dweller raises his hands signaling near and far for the call to prayer, all while enchanting them with his poetic like words. On hands and knees their heads lie bowed in servitude and graciousness upon the very being that gave his life for theirs. Faces tightly pressed upon the wall stained from the tears of those who weeped before them.
“A desert dweller raises his hands, signaling near and far for the call to prayer…”
Religion. Since the first bricks were laid, the first songs sung, it has been a force that governs us. Some choose to worship one, some many, and some dispell it completely, casting it away behind the pages of disbelief and illusion. Religion is a powerful and beautiful thing that has spread across the world. It opens your eyes and gives you a taste of something so powerful to so many.
Our journey starts in the Iglesias of Ecuador. A man sits on his knees, hands clinched together refusing the air to escape. His eyes shut as he lifts his head up to a crucified Jesus Christ. You can hear the murmuring of a brisk whisper. He begs for forgiveness, he begs for guidance. This is a common theme throughout the churches in Ecuador.
“You can hear the murmuring of a brisk whisper. He begs for forgiveness, he begs for guidance.”
Ecuadorians hold their religion sacred, its been engrained in them since adolescence. Everyday is Sunday service, as the streets pour over with believers when the preecher finishes his daily sermon.
Here Christianity flows through every believers heart, particularly Catholicism. This was due mainly to the Spanish reign over the country, also seen in the architecture present through places suck as Quenca and Quito. They hold to their passion and undying faith to dictate their actions. However, Ecuador is a diverse country, still fostering ethnic groups finding a way to mix the old ways with the new. A group of indingious people combine the old teachings of Pacha Mama ( Mother Earth) with those of the Virgin Mary.
The very theme has spread across the entirety of the continent from glimmering churches in Colombia to the large statue of Christ the redeemer erected on top of sugar hill in Rio de Janeiro where his presence signifies how Christ watches over the city. Majority of the population are strong in their faith. I remember sitting in a taxi in Peru where the driver performed the holy trinity motion every time he passed a church. I asked him why and he responded, “ I would be nothing without Jesus and thus I must thank and respect him.” Christianity is strong within the people of South America, and they hold to their faith of the one who gave his life for theirs. They look to him for guidance and strength and follow his teachings lead by example. Christanity has shaped the people of this region, though it is only one religion. For our journey continues east to an ancient religion still practiced by many today.
Across the wild ocean a different religion emerges, one led by example through the teachings of an enlightened one. Buddhism, intertwines within the fabric of every follower throughout Asia. From “The Land of a Thousand Temples” that is Bagan, Myanmar to the Golden encrusted shingles of the temples in Bejing, China, an ancient lesson is taught.
“…one led by example through the teachings an enlightened one. “
Walking through the hallways of these beautiful temples, it’s easy to take notice of the amount of gold and detail that is put into each small corridor. Across the walls stories are being told.
They begin with the emergence of a man by the name of Siddhartha Gautama, born in the fifth century in present day Nepal. He was a prince and thus his wealth was bountiful, however he longed for something different. He sought after enlightenment, which after a long journey he eventually found under the Bodhi tree. He then spent the rest of his life teaching others this spiritual sanctuary. I was often confused on the core aspect of Buddhism. So when I was in Thailand I took the time to sit with a monk and discuss what it means to be Buddhist. Buddhist don’t pray to a “God” or even pray for anything in particular. They believe in reaching that level of peace and spiritualism found by Gautama.
“He then spent the rest of his life teaching others this spiritual sanctuary.”
For as they sit barefooted, hands pressed and chanting to a large statue of Buddha it is out of respect for his teachings. It appears as the ultimate form of peace one finds in himself and others. Just looking at the dharma or teachings of Buddha one may see this. He taught that wisdom, kindness, patience, generosity, and compassion are among the highest virtues one must obtain. Listening to the core root of this religion reveals its beauty as it contains aspects that are important in every religion and even those who don’t choose to practice religion. Budduhism seems as a bases, the fundamentals other religions and people base their life off of. I truly found love within the teachings of such an important religion, yet the journey continues west to a religion I hold near and dear to my heart, Islam runsthrough the sands of the middle east.
Across the Red Sea I soon found myself in the bustling city of Cairo. Merchants filled the streets attempting to sell you anything your heart desired. It was here that I discovered Islam in its rawest form. Islam, literally meaning peace circled all around me. I grew up Muslim, so experiencing Islam was nothing new to me, however here, as I walked into every shop giving the greeting of Salam with my hand over my heart, I experienced a warmness unlike any other.
“Merchants filled the streets attempting to sell you anything your heart desired. It was here that I discovered Islam in its rawest form.”
It was in Cairo where I first heard the call to prayer blare over the intercom and echo through the streets. I watched as everyone stopped what they were doing to complete what was asked of them by their Lord. It was here I found peace and solitude in the mosques of old Cairo.
Islam was the last of the 3 Abrahamic faiths to be discovered. On the golden sands of the Middle East, a man ( prophet Muhammad (pbuh)) was given a message of the oneness of God and his importance and relevance throughout all mankind and like wildfire that message spread.
Across the Middle East through the north and western edges of Africa, people heard and followed that message. It united people, as they were taught love amd respect and a way of living through the message of God.
“It united people, as they were taught love amd respect amd a way of living through the message of God.”
I remember my time in Senegal, a place that holds true to its roots on the theology of Islam. They hold it close to their hearts as you see and hear the way each person interacts with one another, the mosques they build all for the worship of God. There was truly no other sight that compares to when a man is in the solitude of prayer, his face pressed against the ground, seeking forgiveness and guidance from his lord. It was impossible not to stop and admire. The beauty of Islam fills the streets throughout these parts of the world, a beauty that touches each and every soul, alas our journey continues to a different area of the world. A nation filled with color, a nation filled with hymns, history, and spice. It was India that I discovered Hinduism and what it means to be Hindu.
The waters of the Ganges River flow smoothly through India serving as the heartbeat of the country.The very source of spiritual prosperity of a religion that encompasses thousands of deities with a common goal, to give the lessons of living a righteous life. Hinduism is a faith of many concepts, like their presence of many gods, but unlike other religions, it is not one of structure. There was no founder like Jesus for Christianity or Muhammad (pbuh) for Islam. Instead there are sacred texts that date back from 8000 – 6000 BCE and some even older than that. Thus making it the oldest religion to be practiced on this earth. Hindus believe these texts are of divine right and therefore timeless. The vedas are considered the sacred text from the origins of the religion.
Hinduism like many other religions I have come to learn gives a set of directions or ways one must live life. There is no single authority to being Hindu but Hindus believe in certain ideas that govern life. Ideals such as the belief in reincarnation, the belief in karma, the belief in the gurus or enlightened masters, and the belief that the living being is first and foremost a spiritual entity. Hinduism is a multifaceted religion and for each concept there is a God that is to be worshipped.
“There is no single authority to being Hindu but Hindus believe in certain ideas that govern life. “
These Gods such as Shiva, are plastered over the walls of temples and have statues erected in their name. Through my travels in India I observed Hinduism at its rawest. The Chiming of bells constantly echo, alerting the Gods of their arrival. It was quite fascinating above anything else I’ve ever seen. It’s a colorful religion boasting a spectrum of pigments throughout each holy sight, in a way mimicking the plethora of shades that encompass the people.
However, as I ventured more north to Kathmandu, Nepal, hinduism appears differently, morphed into something different. It occurred to me while walking through the Monkey temple in Kathmandu. The temple lies on a tall hill overlooking the entire city. Monkeys scurry around in search of food and frightening nearby travelers. Before climbing the steps, I stumbled into a room. The room was bare, walls naked, except for the presence of a large spinning wheel in the center.
“It occurred to me while walking through the Monkey temple in Kathmandu. “
On the wheel depicted large painting of Gods telling stories and foreshadows. A drum began to echo and beat in my chest as the wind chimed the hanging bells that lied on the top of the sanctum. The wheel continued to spin and spin as the bells chimed. The beat of the drums began to enter your soul. You could feel it’s presence on your heart. A spiritual awakening. I could feel it. It was like nothing I had ever discovered.
This feeling, this presence is what encapsulates each devotee. Hinduism was by far the most awakening experience I had. It was truly fascinating, yet my journey continues to a different part of the world. An area where three religions call home, and within the sanctums of its walls, another religion I was unfamiliar with emerges. It was in Jerusalem that I discovered what Judaism is.
Walking through the ancient city of Jerusalem, you begin to take notice. A presence of 3 religions all call this city home. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Through observation and conversation, a religion that was shrouded in mystery and false ideas became apparent. Traveling through the old city I stumbled upon a wall, lined with small paper stuffed into its crevices. Heads were pressed tightly on the wall as tears began to fall. I had stumbled upon the weeping wall, a sacred area for all Jews.
” Traveling through the old city I stumbled upon a wall, lined with small paper stuffed into its crevices. “
Many began to cry, adhering to the name given to the monument, but why? Why shed tears, over what? A wall? I saw a man sitting on a chair. His hat was tall, his hair curly. I sat down next to him, hoping to get more of an insight to the actions made by the people in front of me. He easily explained it through stories.
Judaism began like many other monotheistic religions with God giving a message to a man, Abraham. In that message, Jews believe that God made a special covinenet with all Jews and that one day they would rule a strong nation. Thousands of years later after the time of Abraham, the prophet Moses led the israliets out of Egypt and was given the ten commandments, a list of rules that each person were to be govern by. Another set of rules to live life, a fundamental for religion. And with those rules, their religion begins to share similarities to that of Islam and Christianity and every other religion.
Some would even consider it the first chapter in a long line of religions. Sengouds are compared to churches or Mosques in Islam and Christianity as Jews holy place of worship. The wall in which originally captured my attention serves a great importance in Judaism as its close proximity to the Temple Mount, an area sacred to all monotheistic faiths alike. The Jews weep at this wall because of the history of the destruction of sacred temples that occurred throughout history.
My travels have taken me all over the world and taught me a great many things, yet religion and the practice of religions continues to be one of the reasons I travel. Seeing the practice of other religions has opened my eyes and mind to what it even means to be human. The power of religion or lack of is immaculate, a strong governing force that holds true to many of us, and even those who toss it aside still find ways of living life by a governing rule.
“Seeing the practice of other religions has opened my eyes and mind to what it even means to be human. “
A similar governing rule that each other religion encompasses. If you take the core beliefs of every religion that encompasses this earth, you will find beauty, you will find a set of rules that teach us to be kind and respectful to one another, to accept one another. Religion is fascinating and truly a beautiful thing, if we take the time to learn and observe it.