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Taoism, Philosophy, Healing, and Health
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Return to List of Archives or Return to Current Issue TOC Taoism, Philosophy, Healing, and Health
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The Three Sacred Dragons of Mt. Shasta "Mt. Shasta is well known as a sacred mountain, referred to as the Himalayas of the western hemisphere. Mt. Shasta is rich in nature's signatures. Through the years Mother Nature has opened her book and taught me the meanings of many sacred places around Mt. Shasta." Tantric Travel Log: How Ganesha Wins the Mango "I went to south India in search of source. Having practiced meditation, yoga, and tantra in over a dozen foreign countries, I'll admit I’m on a frenzied spiritual quest and India holds a certain mystique, a certain uncertainty. Get Away to Cebu If your idea of a perfect getaway includes walking along white sandy beaches, watching a beautiful sunrise and sunset, swimming and diving with colorful fish, savoring succulent seafood, and shopping for the best bargains ever, Cebu island is the one place where you want to be. A Visit to a Japanese Bathhouse The Japanese Bathhouse provides a frazzled Japanese man with a place to relax. Not only was there the bath and massage, but there was a dormitory, restaurant, TV room - it was kind of like home away from home - all in the basement of the Tokyo Station! Customs of Sindh Today, the inhabitants of Sindh, a beautiful province of Pakistan, are suffering due to drought and their women continue to suffer from ancient customs such being married to the Holy Quran or being killed in the "name of honor" through Karo Kari. Learn more about these horrifying customs from our writer in Pakistan. Part 1 of A China Saga: Our Trip to the People's Republic of China Follow this writer as she shares her travels to China with us – from information on getting there to the foods to handicraft factories to even the toilets. Part 2 of A China Saga: Our Trip to the People's Republic of China Continue with us on our journey to China, including visits to gardens, banquets, and factories in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian. Motherland Join Dipika Kohli as she journeys to her homeland of India for the first time. Window on Southeast Asia From Monkey to Monk Join English teacher Robert Wilson as he observes a Thai ceremony for ordaining boys 10 and 12 years into temporary monkhood, in the first article in our series on Southeast Asia. Vietnam: Land of Smiles and Sales To date, U.S. visitors to Vietnam are few and far between perhaps because most Americans are unsure of the reception they'll receive in what some still consider an "enemy nation"#151;a wholly inaccurate assumption that most Vietnamese would like to see reversed soon. And it definitely looks like they're on the right track. Join Wayne Crawford as he tours Vietnam, a friendly new frontier for many travelers. The Hard Road to Delhi Join Dipika Kohli as she backpacks across India, despite the concerns of her parents. Window on Southeast Asia Listening to the Rice Grow: A Journey Up the Nam Ou River in Laos Part 1 The geographical isolation of Laos has made it a difficult place to reach for years, and its political isolation after the victory of the communist Pathet Lao in 1975 made it a hermit state. Today, however, Laos is opening up to the world, and this charming, quaint, and surprisingly beautiful country is again accessible to those who don't mind a bit of roughing it. Join English teacher Robert Wilson as he explores Laos and her people. This is part of our continuing Window on Southeast Asia series. Window on Southeast Asia Listening to the Rice Grow: A Journey Up the Nam Ou River in Laos Part 2 Join Robert Wilson in part 2 of his exploration of the Nam Ou River area in Laos as he finds a doorway without a door, shares a meal with the Akha people, and rides a tuk-tuk alongside chickens and a pig. Window on Southeast Asia Luang Phabang: The Lao Fairy-tale City A tourist to Laos, marveling at the simplicity of the hill-tribe way of life, the peacefulness of the Lao villages, and the endless emerald green fields, could easily forget that Laos is an ancient and rich civilization. Join Robert Wilson as he explores Luang Phabang, the fairy-tale city of Laos, in his continuing series, Window on Southeast Asia. If ever there were a fairy-tale city, this city of sparkling temples, palaces, French architecture, teeming with art and culture and cut right out of a dense jungle, is it. Window on Southeast Asia Finding Religions—Plenty of Them—in Kuala Lumpur I'll never forget the feeling of getting off the plane at the Kuala Lumpur airport and realizing that I was finally standing in a city with what must be the most exotic name in the world. The name Kuala Lumpur is magical and makes one think of an ancient and exotic city. The history and the translation of the name, however, may lead to disappointment. The name is Malay and means "Muddy Convergence [of rivers]." Window on Southeast Asia A Glimpse of "Last Time" in Borneo "It shouldn't have come as a surprise to me that I was sitting next to someone whose great-grandparents used to eat people and preserve their skulls. The truth is that half of the world's people have ancestors who practiced cannibalism, maybe more. Still, as I sat there on the plane from Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to Kuching on the island of Borneo (also part of Malaysia), it was a strange feeling." Join writer Robert Wilson as he shares with us his glimpse of Borneo (a fascinating blend of interesting foods and culture)... Window on Southeast Asia Brunei: The Abode of Peace In the continuation of our series on Southeast Asia, follow writer Robert Wilson as he journeys to Borneo, a country best known for its sultan who was the richest man in the world until overtaken by Bill Gates. Window on Southeast Asia Sukhotai, Birthplace of Thailand In the continuation of our series on Southeast Asia, follow writer Robert Wilson as he journeys to Thailand's birthplace, Sukhotai, as he learns a few lessons about blessings in disguise. Window on Southeast Asia A Thai Funeral For southeast Asian Buddhists, death has a different meaning than it has for westerners. I found that fact reflected in how they marked the end of one’s life, and it explained why funerals were not the weepy affairs they are in the west. At the same time, I also found that philosophy and religion don’t prevent people from having the same reactions to the death of a loved one that people everywhere have. The funerals I saw that marked the natural end of a long life could be almost cheerful events, while the ones that marked more tragic ends were less so. The first Thai funeral I attended fell somewhere in the middle. Window on Southeast Asia Into the Burmese Supernatural The people of Myanmar (Burma) are amazingly creative. Storytelling and storytelling competitions are a favorite past time in Myanmar. Not surprisingly, the Burmese supernatural is a rich wonderland of stories and legends. At the heart of these legends is a spirit known as a "nat." < Window on Southeast Asia Shwedagon: Myanmar’s Holy Land It’s been said that as soon as you leave the airport in Yangon, the capitol of Myanmar (Burma), you know you’re in a different place. I remembered that as I started my vacation from my job in Thailand at Yangon’s Mengaladon International airport. I didn’t even have to leave the airport lobby. As soon as I reached the arrivals lounge I noticed the men in skirts. Window on Southeast Asia Kyaiktiyo: The Golden Rock That Balances on a Hair Sometimes getting to a destination is half the adventure. It's no wonder buses in Buddhist southeast Asia often have a religious shrine erected on the dashboard in the belief that it will keep the bus safe. (Something has to.) There are usually small statues of the Buddha, pictures of famous pilgrimage sites or famous monks, jasmine garlands, flowers, incense, and anything else auspicious. The bus I took from Yangon (Rangoon) was especially well decorated with religious items as it was not a bus to just any destination-it was headed to one of the most sacred places in Myanmar. It was headed to the shrine of Kyaiktiyo, which is part natural, part man-made, and entirely sacred." |
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