Wisdom

I look East, where Wisdom comes from. The wide steppes, the deep forests, the powerful rivers of India: “As the preserver god, Vishnu keeps the cosmos running smoothly, ensuring that everyone and everything is in its proper place. He sends his avatars to earth in order to restore dharma, the righteous order of the universe, whenever it is threatened.”

How deep and far ago this heritage goes I shall never know. I have plenty of evidence for it, from my parents teaching, their experience, their legacy. I go by instinct, and continue to learn by reading, meditation and exercise. Often I turn East for confidence in fighting anxiety and other disorders. About fear:

Ganesha

“Ganesha, the son of the powerful gods Shiva and Parvati, is one of the most popular gods in modern Hinduism and is widely worshipped throughout South and Southeast Asia. Even people in predominantly Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, devoutly worship the god.

As the remover of obstacles, worshippers call on him every day for matters great and small. His popularity far exceeds the number of stories about him, as there are relatively few myths of Ganesha compared to other popular figures like Vishnu and Shiva.

He has the head of an elephant and rides upon a mouse. This portly god often appears in iconography with four arms holding a bowl of modaks (sweet dumplings), his broken tusk, and an axe, noose, or trident. Statues commonly portray him with a hand raised, palm facing outward in abhayamudra, a gesture meant to dispel fear.”

The Ganges

I imagine travelling from here all the way to the Ganges, over Eastern France, the forests of Germany, the steppes of the Ukraine, the immense lands and seas of central Asia, finally to the banks of the Ganges. This flight does away with fears and illness, I feel human again, if a little weaker. I shall always be grateful for those mighty gods, in many ways pillars of the Universe.

Where does that leave my decidedly European upbringing? It is entirely compatible. Many are those European thinkers and writers who got inspired by the mythology of India, form Nietzsche to Hermann Hesse to Albert Camus. I am thus in good company when I try to emulate them, however unsuccessfully. 

Siddharta

“Hermann Hesse shared his era’s enthusiasm for India. Unlike many before him – Herder, Novalis, Schopenhauer, Max Müller – he actually undertook the long journey to South Asia. In 1911, he reached as far as Ceylon, today’s Sri Lanka. Reality disappointed him. In his travel diary, Hesse self-critically noted that the Europeans’ longing for India was probably actually a form of homesickness for wholeness and spirituality believed lost in Europe.Hesse’s novel Siddhartha, written in the tradition of a romantic enthusiasm for India, was also influential for a later phase of the India frenzy that prompted thousands of young people from Europe and the US to set off for India and Afghanistan in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of them had Siddhartha in their backpacks and were seeking an alternative in India to rationality and progress. The cultural exchange between India and Europe experienced a new heyday. In addition to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, German bands – among them the Krautrock band Embryo – also travelled to Afghanistan and India.”

Students

In conclusion, Eastern cultural heritage stands as a vital pillar for Europeans, enriching our understanding of diversity and fostering a sense of unity. By embracing and learning from these rich traditions, students can cultivate a broader perspective that enhances both personal growth and academic pursuits. Engaging with Eastern heritage not only aids in breaking down cultural barriers but also inspires creativity and innovation. As future leaders, students have the opportunity to champion the appreciation of these invaluable contributions, ensuring that the mosaic of our shared history continues to thrive. It is imperative that we recognise and celebrate the profound impact of Eastern cultural heritage on our collective European identity.

THE SOUND OF FARAWAY LANDS