travel

Body is the tabernacle.
Traveling one thousand miles,
The gods are still in place.

The body is the temple of the gods. It should be kept clean and pure, so the holiest of events can take place. Sacred, it should be kept undefiled. Consecrated, its interior is where the deepest questions are explored.

In olden times, the devout carried tabernacles so that they could keep up their devotions even when far from their homes. Their gods were inside these boxes, protected and treasured. Followers of Tao believe that the gods are within themselves. Therefore, wherever they go, they carry the gods within them.

During their travels, when they come to a resting place, they open not a receptacle but themselves. They carry their sense of “place” within themselves. Even while sojourning, they remain oriented to their inner sacredness. Perhaps they can even make breakthroughs more quickly, for the preoccupation of the mind are no longer present to interfere with the flow of the divine. Once people connect to their inner strength, there is no end to the wonders of travel.

Deng Ming-Dao, 365 Tao

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu

I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within. ~Lillian Smith

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ~Mark Twain

Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation. ~Elizabeth Drew

I love to travel, and would like to be able to do more of it. I finally got to New York just this year, a trip I’ve wanted to make for a long time. It’s a beautiful city, really. I also love going to San Francisco and had a great time up there earlier this year. I really want to get back to Ireland, and over to Europe, and also head over to Asia. It’s easier to travel now that the kids are older and can be left on their own or aren’t a pain to take with us.

Going to Hawaii was good last year, especially getting to drop my parents off in the ocean. Their remains will get to travel to Tahiti and who knows where else! Such a lovely way to end up, just traveling all over the world. I can’t decide if I want to do that in a few years or live at the golden retriever ranch raising goldens or both. Anybody out there got a ranch and want to raise golden retrievers and travel the world? Well, I think it would be fun.