Finally, a new post.
In between classes today, I was doing research for my upcoming vacation to Thailand, Cambodia, and Loas. Looking into getting a Sak Yant tattoo- a sacred Buddhist tattoo that is meant to protect devotees- got me to thinking about piety in everyday life.
While I've given up drinking of late (mostly for non-enlightened reasons, like my wheat allergy- drinking isn't the same without beer- and the fact that I wanted to look thin for being on TV), I still have a long way to go on the road to enlightenment. Thinking about the list of things one must do in order to maintain the magic of a Sak Yant tattoo, I imagined what lengths I would be willing to go to. In different areas, monks ask different things of those wanting a tattoo- like, in Thailand, one must go for three days and nights without speaking to anyone else, while in Cambodia the list includes giving up intoxication, inflicting pain on others, and walking under houses (traditionally Cambodian houses are on stilts).
I found myself thinking that I would easily give up all of those things, that my new way of living since I've been in Korea has already become more focused on not doing those things. And so, from now on, I've decided to look for enlightenment in every way that I live my life.
1 comment:
yer gonna be on tv?
and more pertinent, sometimes passions take a back seat to food and shelter. i'm finding myself frustrated that i have little time to read and write and various other things i rather like. in keeping a roof over my head, food in my belly, health care and all the rest i have a job that monopolizes my time. i like my job, but i have always been multifaceted and its tough to keep up passion for jut one thing. at least for me. i find myself wishing that i could earn a similar living reading and writing and making shit. and maybe i could, but i always have expensive health care looming without a job like the one i have. obviously the choice has been good health at the expense of more fun.
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