An Indian expatriate, who returned to India with her family after
many years, quotes an American cab driver who says, 'America? It's just
drugs, rock and roll, and sex, no?' That perception of America makes me
feel sad. I have felt a deep sense of respect for the way American
values individuality.
Americans' divorce rates are among the highest in the world: somewhere around 50%. Millions of broken families and millions of children who grow up with single parents? That makes me feel sad too. But then, this separation from one's families may be what instills the individuality in Americans.
Many yogis agree that pain and suffering are caused by the pursuit of pleasure and desire. The Declaration of Independence signed by the founders of the United States of America grants the right to the pursuit of happiness to its citizens.
If what these yogis agree on is right and it's true in the case happiness and sadness, the American Constitution and the code of its establishment inevitably grants sadness to its citizens. All Americans have the right to be sad. Do Americans make themselves sad while they pursue happiness, their birthright? If so, where do they look outside their community to find true happiness?
Robert Pirsig, the author of 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance', and 'Lila', studied at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India. He was on a quest for a complete understanding of the virtue he calls 'Quality'. After reading his book, I think that he might have realized the true meaning of Quality. He returned to his country after staying for a while in India and continues to live there.
Steve Jobs used to go to the local Hare Krishna temple on Sunday nights for food. After listening to his speech to Stanford students in 2005, I think that he may have picked up some deep Hindu values. He roamed India looking for enlightenment. I sincerely hope his seven-month trip to the country I was born into was helpful to him.
The West seems to be glancing occasionally, out of the corner of its eye, at the East for true understanding of itself. If great Americans have looked for happiness, enlightenment and liberation in the Orient, can India and other Asian countries offer happiness to the large masses of the West?
Americans' divorce rates are among the highest in the world: somewhere around 50%. Millions of broken families and millions of children who grow up with single parents? That makes me feel sad too. But then, this separation from one's families may be what instills the individuality in Americans.
Many yogis agree that pain and suffering are caused by the pursuit of pleasure and desire. The Declaration of Independence signed by the founders of the United States of America grants the right to the pursuit of happiness to its citizens.
If what these yogis agree on is right and it's true in the case happiness and sadness, the American Constitution and the code of its establishment inevitably grants sadness to its citizens. All Americans have the right to be sad. Do Americans make themselves sad while they pursue happiness, their birthright? If so, where do they look outside their community to find true happiness?
Robert Pirsig, the author of 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance', and 'Lila', studied at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India. He was on a quest for a complete understanding of the virtue he calls 'Quality'. After reading his book, I think that he might have realized the true meaning of Quality. He returned to his country after staying for a while in India and continues to live there.
Steve Jobs used to go to the local Hare Krishna temple on Sunday nights for food. After listening to his speech to Stanford students in 2005, I think that he may have picked up some deep Hindu values. He roamed India looking for enlightenment. I sincerely hope his seven-month trip to the country I was born into was helpful to him.
The West seems to be glancing occasionally, out of the corner of its eye, at the East for true understanding of itself. If great Americans have looked for happiness, enlightenment and liberation in the Orient, can India and other Asian countries offer happiness to the large masses of the West?
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