A balanced living where nature meets progress and development. It's a place that's a blend of culture and faith.
These are the Indians and the Tibetans, living in harmony with the Gods in McLeod Ganj.
In February 2013, I traveled to be with the Gods in McLeod Ganj. They call it "Little Lhasa" because it had had a large population of Tibetans in exile since 1959 when the Indian Government accepted them and gave them a place to put up their Government while in exile.
That's only in India. They warmly embrace refugees and protect their rights, safety, and security.
The greatest love is the Indian Government's support of their expression of faith in Tibetan Buddhism.
My journey in McLeod Ganj was graced by a unique encounter with the Dalai Lama, the Spiritual leader of the Tibetans in exile. I was fortunate to meet him at his residence, where he shared profound insights about 'Jataka Tales' with local and international pilgrims.
I'm a Christian, but I've studied Major religions in India for over a year and incorporated their beliefs into my faith.
The world would be better if we were not too fanatic about our religious affiliation. When people would tend to fight for their faith as the best and the only truth, I would try to learn and understand others' faith deeply.
I befriend people of different backgrounds and faiths in India. It's about respect and understanding, not prejudice and religious superiority.
With the universal God, we're all equal. God just happened to appear in different places and times in a completely different image depending on the culture and language unique to each country.
When I was in India, their Gods were my Gods. The Gods and the Goddesses in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, and Christianity. All are Gods, but also a universal God.
In McLeod Ganj, I felt the Divine Beings, the Gods of the Tibetans and the Indians. It was different images, but I prayed to their Gods on its universal form.
Stepping into the Namgyal Monastery was a transformative experience. It was a union with the Divine that didn't diminish my Christian faith but instead deepened and enriched it.
That's why Major religions thrive in India, and people learn to live in harmony and reverence for each other's faith.
My visit to Himachal Pradesh was Divinely inspired. I traveled alone, having faith in the Divine guides.
Whether you're a Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, or Christian, we're all brothers and sisters here on earth. We share a common humanity. Your suffering is also my suffering, and our joys are shared. We are all part of a larger, interconnected whole.
During these challenging times, what we need most is a sense of shared humanity. We need to pray for each other without boundaries, religious affiliations, prejudice, or discrimination. What we need is love, the purest form of reverence to God, to guide us and inspire hope.
Just love.
Ultimately, our love for humanity is our highest reverence for God. It's a love that transcends religious boundaries and unites us all. It's a love that inspires us to be better, to do better, and to create a world of understanding and respect.
So it is.
©️ 2020 Del Cusay
