We Will No More Fight

As an American traveler, it is hard to truly comprehend life in a poor country like Cambodia, devasted by centuries of war. Of course, Chuck and I travel at a very comfortable level, enjoying great meals and air conditioned hotels, but we try to meet local people and to understand their everyday lives. We got a closer view the other day when touring the ancient temples of Angkor Wat with our guide, Senah, age 32.

Senah was the second son of a government worker when Pol Pot's Khmer rebels invaded their small village. With the Communist rule, they searched to eliminate all professionals, to provide only agricultural workers for the new state. Senah's father attempted to escape but was finally murdered along with thousands of others in the area. His mother raised the family alone, working in the rice paddies. until l978 after the government collapsed. The US left the country with thousands of unexploded land mines. They have now maimed and continue to maim thousands of Cambodians/ We see them every day at temples, playing their instruments with unseeing eyes and amputated limbs.

Cambodia is a small, poor country still trying to recover from the ravages of repeated wars, but filled with mostly warm, hopeful, hard working people. Our hotel waiter at our hotel smiles at us daily as he walks around with shrapnel in his belly. Our guide Senah also smiles and tells us each day that "we will no more fight!" I hope he is right.

Happily, our "Journeys Within"hotel owners pour all their profits into community projects here, such as constructing wells of clean water for families in the squatters'village, providing scholarships for locals wishing to attend college, and providing mini loans to new businesses. We have seen all three projects in action and a little money goes such a long way here!

How could we not help with efforts like that? As Americans, we have much we can share and live such privileged lives, with human rights these people can experience only in their dreams. So, our stop in Cambodia became our effort to "give back" as well as our holiday.
We were fortunate to learn about life from some of the poorest, but most inspiring survivors we have ever met. We had much more than a vacation!

The Taboo Touch

When our son Nate met us in Thailand last week (a very happy reunion), I extolled the virtues of Buddhism from a Western traveler's viewpoint. I mentioned the peaceful temples we saw, our traveling safety in Buddhist countries, the hospitality of Buddhists, and the values of meditation and inner peace, without the influence of capitalism.

With enthusiasm, the three of us embarked upon a nature hike at Thailand's largest peak, discussing Buddhist practices. As we entered a clearing, we came upon a decorated shrine, surrounded by eight saffron robed Buddhist monks. When one of them asked us to snap their photo, we readily agreed and expected "good karma" to come our way. As Chuck finished the photo, he handed me the camera as all the monks suddenly gasped. The leader asked Chuck to wipe off the fingerprints because "a woman had touched it." Taboo! Red feminist flags waved in my brain, as a sense of femal indignation welled within me. What century did these character live in, anyway? Luckily, I held my tongue.

Later, as I calmed down, I did some reading and discovered the reason for the remark. Monks must take a view of chastity, following a precept to avoid any sexual contact with females. But just touching the same camera breaks that vow? It turns out that women can only attain Nirvana after reincarnation as a man! How can a current religious philosophy eliminate contact with 50% of the population? Buddhism may have valuable spiritual practices but its gender values are clearly outdated!!

So much for the ideals of Buddhism! All three of us held lively discussions that night, comparing Buddhism to our own faith of Christianity, where women are at least honored in their own right. Perhaps all faiths can learn from the others and adopt practices which help each person's spiritual growth, as long as they are consistent with one's beliefs. Once again, traveling forces us to confront our own behaviors and beliefs, comparing them with others. Then we can say we have an "exmained life" and perhaps an "examined faith" as well.