Overall, the train travel was a good experience. On the first train (Delhi to Varanasi, about a 14 hour trip), I sat with a very nice Indian (Hindu) family. They spoke English, and the father and I had a very good conversation. He talked about the importance of sacrifice, and how we feel more satisfied when we sacrifice for others. Now I should know this from the Bible, right? But I live in America, and we often (or at least I often) want what we want, and rather than sacrificing what we want to please or satisfy others, we sacrifice others to please and satisfy ourselves. It really made me think. Then the following day I went from Varanasi to Mumbai. This trip was supposed to be 26 hours but was closer to 29. This time I sat with an English guy (maybe around 28) and 3 Korean girls. The girls were sweet and shared their food with us, but didn't talk with us much. They may not have felt so comfortable with English. The British guy was really interesting. He studies Buddhist philosophy and practices different meditations and things, but he doesn't necessarily consider himself a Buddhist. He had just returned from 3 months in Nepal and was on his way to the town of Itagapuri (near Mumbai) for a retreat. There he was planning to sit and meditate in silence on this 10 day retreat. And since he's done it before, he can only eat before noon, not afterwards (newcomers can eat in the evenings as well). He was really excited about it. He shared a book with me that he has read several times about "surrender" and "living in the now". The emphasis is on staying in the current moment, rather that projecting our fears and worries into the future, or dwelling on the past (which can at times be depressing and filled with regret). And he asked me "Didn't Jesus talk about surrendering?" We had great conversations during the trip, and he shared examples with me of staying in the moment and handling situatations with peace (and grace) Ex: A kid sitting next to him on a bus threw up on him. I would have found that pretty disgusting and I would not have been happy. But he looked down at his pants and told himself that nothing had really happened, it was just some food that had been in someone's stomach and it could be washed out later. Then he was able to focus on the boy and have sympathy for him and help him out.
I realized that though I didn't come to India for the purpose of learning anything, I will be learning things, even in places where I don't expect it, like from Hindus and Buddhists. And Truth is Truth. Often as Christians we believe we have a corner on the market of Truth. And yes, Yeshua/Jesus did say that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. But sometimes I think we forget that God created All of us in His image, and I'm convinced that this means any of us can at least have glimpses of Truth, if not more.
The rest of the train ride-noise and lots of people selling stuff and beggars and on the second train cockroaches (lots of them, especially in the afternoon as it got hotter and hotter). But the cockroaches are now gone and I'm left with what I learned/was reminded of from the Hindu family and the Buddhist guy. India is going to be very interesting!
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A friend of mine said her grandmother had a saying : " Even a broke clock is right twice a day ". Now we don't want to go too far because afterall, who keeps a broke clock? But it is true that Christians alone do not hold the market on 'truth' in terms of how to live. We do however hold it in terms of absolutes concerning the creater and the redemption of mankind. More people will be willing to listen to the truth of Yeshua if we lived it instead of brandishing our westernized brand of the gospel.
p.s glad you're okay
Surpise I am at the clark's house and I'm sending my first e-mail. Pray all is well see you jan 30th. Love Eileen
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