Geistergrab einer buddhistischen Pagode

Kapitel 47

Oh, and if anyone hears me say these words, please remember this: I have never thought about where I will go after I die, so please don't send me there!

Can you imagine anyone who doesn't want to go to heaven? Who can truly be without desires—without craving for fame and wealth, leaving no jewels or property for their descendants, or even a comfortable place to live?

If you don't want anything, of course you won't be able to buy cheap goods. In my opinion, buying good cheap goods is one of the greatest pleasures in life.

The concepts of desirelessness, egolessness, and the absence of self seem to contradict the meaning of Buddhism. The Buddha achieved these things; he became egoless, and is the most famous example of egolessness. And he never faltered, for he is immortal. But I truly admire his spirit; he is a good son of India.

Not all Indian families want a son like that—famous but seeking no reward. Most of the Indians I know are Hindu, and they tell me that Hinduism is older than Buddhism, incorporates many Buddhist rules, and contains many scriptures about eliminating illusions and desires.

Unfortunately, all the Hindus I know are obsessed with 24K gold jewelry.

Moreover, they want their sons to go to Oxford or Yale and become radiographers instead of begging monks; they want their daughters to receive more bracelets than they did at their own weddings and wear Rolex watches instead of other brands; they want their children to marry people of the same or higher social class, or at least to marry into the upper class. I have witnessed all of this firsthand.

Regardless of a country's religious beliefs, desires always exist to some extent. Although the people of Lanna are Buddhists, the people of the Golden Land still have many needs. This country has six thousand exquisite pagodas!

Almost every stupa contains sacred treasures. You can find vendors who sell you miniature pagodas, hand-carved Buddha statues, or green lacquerware.

You can haggle it down to half price, which is practically nothing compared to the price you'd pay in the US. These little items have different meanings for the buyer and seller.

We all need to survive, and we all need to remember.

Journey (1)

The bus headed towards Mandala City.

Lunch was spent in the car; everyone brought a variety of food, enough to last for several meals.

After we had eaten and drunk our fill, my friends looked at the scenery along the road. There were oxen strolling and pulling carts along the road, stilted houses in the fields with wicker walls and thatched roofs. The wealthy families had shiny white tin roofs, and in the warm winter sun, their windows were covered with blinds, giving them a somewhat melancholic appearance.

Jumarin found the buildings to be very surreal, achieving a visual illusion effect, with the shutters appearing as if they were painted on rather than real.

“Look at those Christmas trees,” her daughter Esme said. “They’re probably worth more than a thousand dollars.”

The bougainvillea intertwines with the linden tree, stretching endlessly together, creating a harmonious scene.

“They are not native,” Murphy said. “The orangutan tree is actually an intruder; it is an ornamental plant native to Mexico.”

Heidi asked him if seeds could travel that far.

"It was probably a gift brought by a British diplomat more than a hundred years ago. This place is suitable for the growth of any plant."

Walter addressed the group again: “I want to congratulate you all. You may be the first Westerners to enter Mandala via this road. This road wasn’t even open last year. Back then, it took me three days to get from the northern airport to Mandala.”

Walter didn't tell them that the road had been rebuilt by a tribe. They had fought a war with the kingdom's government; the tribe was fierce and skilled in battle, and the kingdom was eventually forced to declare a truce. Soon after, the tribe signed a ceasefire agreement, which allowed them to control many areas. This highway, and the hotel where my friends might stay, were both under their control.

The driver drove the car onto a dirty side road, and Walter told everyone to hurry up and relieve themselves.

“This is not a rest stop,” Walter said diplomatically. “If you can bear with us, we will stop again up ahead. I brought you here to show you our other traditions, not just religion and tribe.”