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Thoughts for the visitor . . .
For the most part the people living in the villages we visit are happy, sane and healthy. They have all that they need (most notably each other), the stability of their traditions and the healthy physicality of a simple agricultural life. At times the elders there are strong and active for more than 100 years (perhaps they are doing something right). Sacred Heritage Travel is offering you a chance to visit, for a short time, the naturalness that most of humanity has lived throughout known history.
During our visits to the villages we really don't rough it that much. We have built native style homes for our travelers to enjoy. We have beds there with sheets and blankets so you won't need to bring sleeping bags. The village experience does not include indoor plumbing so we use good old-fashioned outhouses. Simple washcloth washing works well for a few days and we are often at hot springs. If during your visit some of the earth of the place lands on you it will easily shower off later, while the effects of the experience may last a lifetime. Our visits are often only overnight or a few days, followed by comfortable hotels with their showers and laundry service.
A large part of the villager's natural health comes from their food. Home grown and organic, it comes from land that has been prayed over thousands of years. Edifying to the soul as well as highly nutritious. Most often it is potatoes and soups of grains and vegetables. Beans, eggs, chicken, fish and some meat make up the proteins.
Even though we all have the imprint of the ancient ways in our collective consciousness, a few people new to the sights, sounds and tastes of the third world go into various levels of culture shock in their initial close encounters. Perhaps to be advised beforehand will lessen some visitor's surprised reactions.
Naturally the life style close to the earth will show on some of the children's faces, they can get delightfully dirty. Their clothes aren't being daily machined through a chemical wash either. Traditional adobe walls and packed dirt floors haven't been 'prettied' by petroleum-based paints and they aren't being scrubbed with chemical detergents. Earth people don't mind that sometimes the planet sticks to them as they live in close association; it is simply a part of the village naturalness that produces people relatively free of cancer and other toxic related diseases.
People are people everywhere; at times we may noisily express our joys or disagreements. The village homes have not been built for soundproofing. If a nearby home is loudly enjoying a party or passionately discussing their differences the experiences are shared by the surrounding homes. This lifestyle tends to be open to each other and hiding is not easily accomplished. Immediate peer and community involvement will quickly make the individual aware of unbalanced actions. This is all very different from the Western-techno culture that tries to hide its problems behind closed doors.
Another thing, there is no city garbage removal so rubbish tends to accumulate, though periodically the folks will decide to clear it. Also the domesticated animals that are a part of their rural life aren't being followed with a poop-scoop as they daily move through the village paths.
To experience for a short time the natural ways that most of humanity has lived throughout known history we need to set-aside for a few days that which we are accustomed to. Some times our travelers will choose to focus on and be bothered by a small thing like a bit of rubbish, losing sight of the magnificent lands we are in and the learning expansion available in cross cultural contact. You will see what you want to see; attitudes are mostly choice. Beyond the isolation 'comfort zone' of typical plastic tourism, it is the genuine traveler who comes to experience something new and sacred in the full meaning of pilgrimage.
It's all in the attitude, it's all in the intention.
This attitude thing makes itself obvious, over and over, when in a single group there are those grateful for and blessing the experience while a few others wallow in the self created misery of the their complaints. On the other hand, some come feeling they have to be a martyr to attain spirituality. This kind of rigid self-denial (asceticism) was appropriate in ancient pre-Buddhist India. Now considered outdated, this type of "seeking out the misery" is not very pleasant for your travel companions nor your native hosts.
Cultural Anthropology made leaps and bounds when it moved from the sphere of observer to observer-participant. It's so much more fun! Set your intention. With flexibility, receptivity and kindness the heart centered traveler adventures in joy. To truly experience the ancient traditions of these lands we go to be in it, to be a part not apart. Those few days of close communion require that our minds and hearts be open. This is a condition highly conducive to receiving the blessings of the sacred places and the people living in their ancient ways. Often I have greatly enjoyed witnessing the travelers who have come, despite their fears of the unknown, only to find, after having shared the natural genuineness and open hearts of the native villagers, their fears melted by love. |
