Fun with Dick and Jainism

(LATE ENTRY)

“Less is More”

“Live simply so others may simply live.”

I was surprisingly calm as the three bare naked Janes walked into the room and sat down cross-legged in front of our group. The small room smelled a mix of B.O. and nursing home. Fluorescent lights and colorful tinfoil décor overhead gave the room a cheesy, un-guruesqe feel. The head Jane seated in a simple wooden throne explained that he was late because he was meditating. He usually will not speak to groups after 6pm but since we traveled such a distance, he made an exception. The Jane began to explain (via a translator speaking broken English) that he eats only one meal a day and will not use any utensils or dishware to consume it. He also will not use scissors or any machinery. Thus rather than cutting his hair, he rips it out by hand.

That explains the unusually spotty pattern of hair growth on his scalp.

The distinguishing feature marking a Jane (other than their “sky-clad” or naked appearance) is their peacock feather duster broom they carry with them at all times. The function of the broom is to sweep any unseen insect or bug out of the way to prevent bringing harm to living creature by their tread.

The core belief of the Janism religion is non-violence in all aspects of life, food, communication (verbal abuse), and thought (negative thoughts toward others). Therefore are strict vegetarians. No meat or vegetables that grow underground ie: potatoes, onion, and garlic. Everyday the Jane will climb the 636 steps to honor the largest monolithic statue in the world, a stone representation of one of the first Janes. This particular Jane claims that he was a wealthy man, but gave up all of his possessions including his family to become a Jane.

As students start to fire questions at our Jane guru, my mind drifts off contemplating what he would do if I slapped the fly that has just perched on my elbow. I decide not to find out considering I have already made the fo-paw of stretching my legs out and allowing my feet (the dirtiest part of the body) to point at the three Janes. This, I was curtly informed by the student to my left in a harsh whisper, is NOT allowed. I tune back in to hear his response to the question that has been posed,
“What is happiness to you?” He responds simply,
“Happiness is control over ones desires.”
Hmm, I wonder what a different world we would live in if the majority of the population agreed with this sky clad man sitting cross-legged in front of me. His bold rejection of societal pressure to excessively indulge every desire in order to achieve happiness struck me as somewhat profound despite the fact that I can’t help but feel like I am in a zoo. These Janes have almost reached an animal like state. They are not fazed as the group of curious students takes their pictures and are memorized by their every movement. There was a robotic feel to their presence. As if they had become zombies somewhere in the middle of their pursuit to rid themselves of their possessions, desires, wants, and basic human needs. As a result, there bodies and minds have been numbed to strong feelings. It is like I am sitting here witnessing the de-evolution of man. So strange.
While I try to forget about my aching back and legs that have fallen asleep long ago from the time spent in the cross-legged position my skeptical mind is filled with questions. What happens if you get sick? Will you die before submitting to the hospital machines that would help you? Do you ever cheat, step on a bug when no one is looking? Who keeps you accountable? For all I know this is some big money making scheme and as soon as we leave they will all go out for king fishers and a steaming hot plate of chicken biriani.

We have started our tour of North India.

I am in Hyderabad right now.

We have just started the third course of the semester on religon. Besides being known for pearls, Hyderabad has a high concentration of Muslims, 80%. After our study of Islam we will fly to for a touristy time visiting the Taj Majal and such. Then we head to Varinassi to study Hinduism in depth. We will be visiting Mumbai and some other cities as well as we will be finishing the last two courses on this trip, living out of our suitcases bouncing from hostel to hostel.

The majority of native Indians have not visited as many locations in India that we will have by the time the semester is done.
For that I feel SO fortunate and blessed. I can barely believe that we are over half way done with our semester.

Due to us being on the road for the next month, blogs will be updated with less frequency and more concisly, but I will try my best.

Happy Vetrans Day! (and I would like to take this time to make a very special shout out to my Mother...)









HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!



Love, Lydia

bike safari

I found my bike ride home from the Selvaraj household (the home that I stayed in over our mid-term break) fantastically amusing.

It started out a bit shakily.

I had two full backpacks of stuff. One on my front and one on my back. This proved to be cumbersome. After about 3 meters of pedaling I fell off. This happened directly in front of three barefoot Indian boys on the side of the rode. They were nice enough to try and hide their laughter. I would have found it hysterical to see a foreign girl tumble off a bike on to the mud road because she was trying to carry way too bags.

My solution was to throw both backpacks on top of each other on my back. Although awkward at first, this was much more manageable.

Biking along enjoying sun, clear blue sky, and warm air, I encounter my first obstacle: A large herd of milk cows claiming the entire road. No problem.
I biked off the road and avoid collision.

Not more than a 20 yards later, I am forced to swerve off the road again. This time a herd of unhappy goats are chasing behind me.
Only slightly shaken, I continue my trek with my big lumpy backpacks on top of each other strapped to my back.

I progress about 200 meters more before out of nowhere, a monkey darts out of the brush and runs right in front of my bike tire.

I wasn't able to dig out my camera (held within one of the 2 packs somewhere) to capture an image, but thanks to googleimage.com
this actually might be the same friend that I almost squashed...

As I watch the monkey scamper off, my eyes drift down to notice an over sized gray and black spotted lady buggish sort of critter crawling up the strap of my pack.

At this point, I realize I have failed as a bio major.

Time to turn on my animal appreciation radar. The rest of the trip I use my knowledge gained in a class I took last spring, Interpreting Spring Landscapes, which honed my bird watching/appreciating abilities. : )

I'd Like to take this opportune moment to make a shout out to Jim Gilbert the guru of looking at and loving plants and everything else naturey.

If you are interested in knowing, I saw:

-Seagull like birds flying in the air
-many butterflies
-many dragonflies
-pigeons
-and a crowish type of bird

The End