some thoughts
typical peace corps type thoughts, but none-the-less, they can not be said enough...
Does the American really, truly understand what it means to have inaccess to information. To be uneducated. Information is so accessible. Some recently observed capabilities, or pearls of knowledge we take for granted:
The ability to spell
This is learned in every elementary school, public or private in The States. Elementary school is not completed by so many (especially women) here.
That washing your hands and brushing your teeth help maintain good health.
Because it is part of our social rhythm we do not appreciate the value of that knowledge.
The need to read to your child.
Not for studies, but for enjoyment.
Just look at the wealth of knowledge we have accessible through word of mouth, popular books, and even magazines. For instance, we know salt can contribute to high cholesterol.
Peruvian cooking is salty. That is how they make a meal of potatoes and rice some what pleasurable. When having lunch with my mom, she mentioned that she should run with me in the mornings because the doctor said she has hight cholesterol. I (politely-as-can-be) explained the relationship between salt and BP. She looked at me wide eyed and i have to say each meal since doesn't knock me over due to its saltiness (as previously).
As we stomp and trample forward, do we stop to even view the basics? Do we even know the basics are there or where they came from?
Hey This Is Monastery Sam here. I just caught up on all of your recent blogs and its very interesting to read about all the things you are learning in Peru. I thought this one was especially interesting in comparison to a recent workshop we had on Mindful eating. We were talking about how the US is obsessed with consuming energy. Food energy oil energy and in this sense information energy. As many parts of the world starve for fuel food and knowlege we glut ourselves.
ReplyDeleteIn fact there was a woman at the retreat who became quite agitated at a story in the media. While I felt for her strong connection to suffering in the world our teacher here pointed out the effect of so much information and how it effects us. We cause ourselves so much suffering because of all the negative things we take in from processes foods to processed media. I was reflecting on how much more real and healthy reading this blog is to get information. Filtered through your direct experience and so much more organic than from an artificial news source.
As you said in an earlier post the only demand to be truly compassionate is to just be with what is in this moment. There is so little we can do to change the whole world but we can help those closest to us and that effect just spreads and spreads. What we take for granted here as the basics in food or health care of standard of living is something so many people don't have and yet we are constantly dissatisfied. I wonder how you see this in the people of Peru. Despite their situation Do they seem happier that people in the US?
Thanks for posting so much and I look forward to reading more. And thank you for addressing suffering in such a direct and human way. If you want to read more about my weekend workshop you inspired me to start blogging. Go here http://dharmadharmaku.blogspot.com/
Thank you for such a thoughtful entry. I am sorry that I didn't see the post until now.
ReplyDeleteTo say that they seem happier or more sad would be an oversimplification either way. It is far more complicated than that.
They get sick a lot, when they get sick or someone dies young they are sad, for example. However, their own their own houses, and raise their own cattle and produce. This is extremely rewarding work that produces high self efficacy. That depression you see so much in the states "what am I doing with my life?" "what is this all for?" doesn't happen. They live with the earth and feel her every day. They seem much happy for that.
So, "Do they seem happier than people in the US?"
Yes and no. It is just a different kind of happiness and sadness.