I was just in India, and went to the holy city of Kurukshetra, accompanied by several friends who are devout Hindus. They were explaining to me that this city is THE place. The gods gave the holy scripture HERE.

"HERE!" they emphasized. They took me to the very spot where it was given. "Right HERE! Dont you *feel* it?!" they asked.

Clearly I wasn't getting it. I didnt want to argue with my dear friends, and didnt want to be rude. But, frankly, I didnt "get it". I understood the meaning, the tradition, and even understood why it meant something to *them*, but for me, it was ...just another temple.

My friend was dissapointed that I wasnt impressed by having the unique honor to be standing at the holiest place on earth. He tried a different approach, "Mike, this is our Jerusalem. This is THE holiest place on earth".

Still, my face wasn't 'wowed'. My words were always polite, and always respectful. But they understood that I wasnt impressed.

Then I thought about it... I've seen the same kind of thing happen in reverse. I have been to the home of THE virgin-mary, and Japanese tourists were snapping pictures like it was Disneyland. Clearly THEY didnt get it.

I've been to the Hagia Sophia, the church where most of the 12 apostles were buried at one-time-or-another. This was THE place. But it was converted into an Islamic Heritage Museum. They didnt get it.

I also went to the mosque where Moses' staff is kept on display. The Islamic Moses that is - "Musa". I wasnt impressed. I didnt get it.


It struck me that we throw so much emotional energy onto a pilgrimage place that the perceived "holiness", "sanctity" is only in our own accomplishment of the journey. In reality, THE place doesnt matter - it could be a 7-11, or Jesus tomb in Kashmir [which was my original goal, but islamic terrorists turned me off when I was less than a hundred miles away].

Previously, I was very eager to see Santiago/Compostella in Portugal [tomb of St James, Jesus' brother], and to visit the "usual holy sites" in Israel/Syria/Jordan.

But, now, it suddenly doesnt seem to matter. Will I get it? Will the ppl around me 'not get it' and distract from my own experience?

Your thoughts?

this post....i dont get it.lol

To me, the universe is the holiest place you can be.

Why people don’t seem to get it I’ll never understand.

Actually, I do understand what you mean. Oddly enough, for me it was Sitting Bull's grave site.

Sitting Bull had never been one of my "favorites" from history. Geronimo, Cochise, Chief Joseph, yeah those I enjoyed their history, but I never really thought about Sitting Bull or got into the history of that nation. I was amazed at the emotional pull I got at the site. My feet actually started tingling with the energy that ground is infused with through the floor boards of the truck. There were three houses in the area that were his too, but only one of the houses had any pull for me. It was weird, it bothered me immensely to see trash in the house and I just wanted to go in and clean "my house".

To my immediate, sleepy-headed recollection, I have never been to a "holy site," not that I have a personal interest in going to many. Many of the most holy, sacred energies I have felt have come unasked for and in no particular place at all.

I understand exactly what you mean-

Much of the power does come from the journey of a pilgrimage, but any person can choose to create a sacred journey that will bring them to a holy place, even if it is a seven eleven. The divine is in all things and if you are of open enough heart, any step you take can be a pilgrimage.

It's all about state-of-mind though, isn't it?

Wench wrote:
“Oddly enough, for me it was Sitting Bull's grave site.”

I can see that. I’ve felt the spirit of Sitting Bull just by looking at his photographs in history books. He was as close to the spirit as any man who has ever walked on the face of the earth I am sure.

MikeMontana,

I think it is a very insightful post.

You wrote:
"... Then I thought about it... I've seen the same kind of thing happen in reverse. I have been to the home of THE virgin-mary, and Japanese tourists were snapping pictures like it was Disneyland. Clearly THEY didnt get it..."

'Getting it' is the 'holy grail'!!! Whatever the belief. The belief itself being a very personal 'construction'. 'Kurukshetra' is their 'Jerusalem', or their 'home of THE virgin-mary'.

'Getting it' for oneself, assuming we're talking about a connection with 'spirit', regardless of the journey, or core beliefs which bring one there: Christ, Buddha, Mohamet, or any other journey,
... 'getting to spirit' beyond one's personal journey, is where we might find that we've always been, and always will be one big 'whole'.

Paradoxically, believing is essential, but one needs to 'let go' of 'it': the belief, to 'get it': spirit that is.


We all tend to remain attached to the 'belief', imposing it as THE BELIEF, and miss out on the 'spirit',

... maybe!

MikeMontana,

I really liked this post.

I agree that the pilgrimage/journey is much more important than the destination. The answers are within us. The meaning we ascribe to these things is also within us. Travel is a great way to put a lot of thoughts and feelings into perspective, and based on your post it sounds like it did just that!

Thanks for sharing about your travels! I really do enjoy reading about them!

It makes sense to me that the endpoint might be a bit of a let down- life is a journey not a destination...

A pilgrimage should be the same...

But for me I feel most awestruck in nature, not at/in man-made or man-connected spaces...

Man has some awesome places and creations... but for me they all pale in comparison to a forest, canyon, mountain, meadow, wetland, ocean, etc. These places are where I get chills, or feel joy, or realize my insignificance...

Is not the entire universe Gods beautiful creation and therefore "holy"?