h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was looking at people's pages from who's online and found myself here. How agreeable to meet a fellow traveler on the Way, though I am less Tao than thou, probably, and closer to Hindou. One point I notice is you say if there is a god we probably don't need him anyway. If there is or isn't, why is god a 'him' in English, please? I have French for my language and le Dieu is masculin, by definition, unless specified to contrary. Not so in English, so I am not understanding this. You have advantage of not gendered language. Just curious, not critical.

Namaste

Satyagraha

Hello Satyagraha,

Welcome to h2g2. I hope that you enjoy your time online and that, as a native French-speaker, you don't find the language constraints here too irritating. Thank you for pointing out my little linguistic slip. I've changed the wording to ' him / her / it', which is probably a little more inclusive; in fact, I suppose that just about includes everybody / everything now.

I'm not sure how you got the idea that I'm Ormondroyd, by the way. Actually, I'm Lear. (Just for the record, Ormondroyd is here :- http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/U95721 )
It may be that you clicked on my name by mistake, in the Who's Online box, or possibly the h2g2 server somehow sent you to the wrong place. The latter seems unlikely, but then again the former also seems rather unlikely to me since I'm not often online here these days. Not to worry...

Abientot,

Lear

PS - What does 'namaste' mean?

O, o! I am sorry about the name. I was looking so many people and their pages one after the other that I write down name Ormondroyd to be able to remember him, then I must have not wrote down yours by mistake on next page I look at. How ashamimg. I feel... how you say this one? ish? Is this because the are not so clever the animals? Wild ones are not bad.

"Namaste" or "namashkar" is all-purpose Hindou greeting, for all times of day and most occasions with hands together and a bow. I am shamed to admit I don't remember literal translation let alone to English but at ashram where I spent some foolish years of my youth that was how everyone greet everyone and leave everyone always. This was long ago. I am no youth now! Maybe less fool too.

S.

Spending time at an ashram doesn't sound so foolish to me. You can say that you tried an alternative value system, and if nothing else at least you probably have a better insight into your own culture as a result. I would imagine a commune environment is probably also a good place to learn about human nature, in its positive and negative aspects. Were you one of the original hippies who (as the legend goes) travelled to India in the '60s seeking enlightenment and cheap drugs, or were you a more recent seeker? Or perhaps it's none of my business...

Namaste, then

Lear

Ah Lear,

I apologise I have not been on line in two days. My schedule is quite erratic at the time being.

I was an original hippy. I first went to ashram in France, then to India, not to seek drug, though some did. I did not want that. I was very confuse about who I was. I say other places my parents think I am from outer space, not France. I think so too. All adolescents are from outer space, a little I think but I was very mix up. I believed I should leave my family and culture to find myself. All I did was take my family and culture with me to wherever I go! The droguards (drug+ ard, a French affix meaning use too much too excessive, indulgent, extreme, all your English -ard words are with same meaning) annoyed me so much with their hashish and permanent state of oblivion. I try too hard just with the meditation, and the yoga, and learn more, more, more. I was addict of learning, which is not necessarily better than hashish, if you don't understand what is it did you learn? I was too young.

That was in the late 1960s. We did not eat properly or wash too often, and thought this was the path to enlightenment . That is why I am calling it foolish. Be dirty, hungry, and see God. Since then, I study, but mostly just try to live as Hindou a life as I can, knowing I am at base not part of that culture and probably could never really understand what it mean to them. I understand what it mean to me. Then I live by those principles. I suppose it is not too bad, this choice.

Our foolishness was to try to put on Hindouisme like a garment, and believe we could grasp meanings which are part of totally difference, ancient culture, with our 18 year old minds. Possibly now, over 35 years later, I did grasp some. Why have they no face. Some of us are happy to be past the angry and frustrating part of life! (The part where parents are asking every other minute, 'when are you going to come back to France, get married, and have children?' )

Namaste,

is the best smiley for French, n'est-ce pas?

S.

Wow, a real-life original hippy, and a French one too... You're a collector's item, Satyagraha.

I understand your point that much of the 'seeking' that was going on in the '60s and '70s, was a bit shallow. You put it well when you talk of wearing Hinduism (or Buddhism, or Taoism, or whatever) "like a garment." I imagine the same is true of many people today who dabble in 'new age' philosophies and belief systems, without really knowing or caring too much about the cultural roots of the philosophies they're glancing at.

Then again, a more charitable reading might say this is symptomatic of some lack in Western culture. A feeling that there must be more to life than that which can be classified, quantified, and sold. Few people these days seem particularly satisfied with mainstream Christianity, so they go looking elsewhere for what they feel they need. The danger is that in doing so they end up trying to escape from their own culture, rather than using insights from other cultures to illuminate and enrich their experiences.

I myself have an interest in Zen Buddhism, also Taoism, but I know that there's not really any way a Westerner could hope to gain much more than a superficial understanding of their cultural backgrounds. I'm more interested in taking what I can from them and incorporating that as I see fit into my own life. As such, while it's inevitably rather a dilettantish interest that I have in, say, Zen (it couldn't really be otherwise), I feel that pursuing it is both instructive intellectually and useful practically. I'm sure that it has helped me to live in a generally healthier and calmer way. (Although this probably also has something to do with turning thirty, and realising that I'm not going to live forever after all. )

So... I would say that trying on different philosophies and value systems, can be instructive if it's attempted in a thoughtful, sensitive manner. If not, though, it sort of ends up looking like cutural tourism, which probably stinks a bit.

Lear

'Cultural tourisme' that is funny! I think I am the most guiltiest of that, then. I have been cultural tourist all my life.

I know this coversation is most sporadic. I am looking for better appartment and that is time consuming. To say nothing of tedious and a bit chilly (nothing like Canada, thank goodness!)

I think I am a fossil. Curiosity-seekers can find the old French hippy on the hill. (It's the same guy as the fool, of course )

S.