.
In search of a topic for today I came upon the unlikely story of Carlo Acutis, so-called “patron saint of the internet”, who will become the first saint of the millennial generation, if his canonization is confirmed.
.
When I say unlikely, I mean because it’s not the sort of subject I usually pay much attention to.
Still, I was intrigued. What made this child so special?
.
The boy, who died of leukemia at age 15 in 2006, appears to have been charismatic, unusually kind and devout as well as being very skilled on computers.
To be canonized requires confirmation of attributable miracles. In one case, a 7-year old Brazilian child overcame a rare pancreatic disorder after touching a garment worn by Acutis.
.
A second miracle was the healing of a Costa Rican child with brain damage sustained in an accident.
It’s of no importance whether or not I believe in any of this. My interest is in our need to believe and in the phenomenon of charisma itself.
.
We all know there are two kinds of charisma, the positive, such as this child or someone like the Dalai Lama.
The negative, like Hitler or our current president, although it truly defies me what anyone sees in the latter.
.
Negative charisma causes too much awfulness and I don’t want to give it brain time.
Instead, I’m trying to remember those I have met who simply felt good to be around.
.
No doubt we all know people who are innately cheerful, who never seem downcast and are certainly never angry or disagreeable.
It’s nice to be in their company, but I’m not talking about that.
.
A very small number I’ve met had an aura about them. I was going to say that it wasn’t visual, but that isn’t true because it was a feeling I got from the serenity of their faces.
Buddha faces.
.
Since the first time I saw them in the ruins of Angkor, I have always been attracted to beatific Buddha faces.
Perhaps I am at heart a Buddhist.
Or maybe I just seek the serenity I see in those smiles.
.
Unquestionably, the closest I have come to achieving serenity was in a Buddhist temple.
It has been more than forty years since this day at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in what was Rangoon, now Yangon.
.
Someone we’d met on another trip had asked us, if we went there, to pay our respects to the Buddhist Archbishop of Latvia who was an old friend.
We went to find him in late afternoon and sat on the floor in the man’s humble quarters. Receiving visitors was obviously a rarity and he droned on until the scurrying of rats and the buzz of mosquitoes caused us to make our excuses.
While we listened to the archbishop, a thunderstorm had passed through and as we walked back up to the main temple, dark clouds were contrasted by a sky afire in the setting sun.
Stupas were reflected in vast puddles.
Temple bells jingled in the breeze.
.
The entire complex was aglow and the towering main dome shone magnificently in the darkening sky.
There is no other experience I would more dearly love to enjoy once more.
.
Memories of Burma/Myanmar have always been poignant, given the problems of that troubled country, but never more so than since hearing of yesterday’s devastating earthquake.
Peace, serenity, it’s such a fragile thing.
Having a patron saint of the Internet is everything that is abominable about the Catholic Church to me. Trying to tie-in their religion to the technical advances of modern times is just clutching at straws. A church that takes money from its world-wide followers while investing in international mafia deals and drug-running, supporting paedophile priests, oppressing the poor workers, and even supporting the Nazis during WW2. The world would be a better place without that obscene organisation. Sorry, but I really hate it! The Inquisition, colonisation, killing native peoples, kidnapping indigenous children, all started by Catholics.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think you know I am no fan!
Recalling these memories must also feel very good. You have a very good memory, and you were right to also record these images with your camera. These photos are very valuable.
Thank you so much, Carolyn, for your wonderfully interesting memories with the fascinating photography. I love your philosophical thoughts, and I like Buddha and his wise teachings. I don’t get involved in any religious dispute for obvious reasons, and I don’t believe in miracles.
Joanna
The news of the earthquake caused me to, once again, read up on the countries involved and those in the surrounding area, and of course, to delve into the wonders of Buddhism. However, no matter how much I may admire their way of life I am not quite ready to travel with my begging bowl and one change of clothes!
Having just read your blog, I wanted to give you this website: http://njbv.org
It’s a Buddhist temple in NJ. It may be within your travel area.
Kind regards,
Gladys
Thank you!
I love looking at your old photos – and I’m amazed at how well you remember everything that happened so long ago! Especially your feelings/emotions … but then, it turns out this was an extremely good and happy memory.
Amazing old photographs. I wonder what it all looks like now. I desperately hope that it is not all so awful as it sounds and casualties are far fewer than feared. Such a beautiful place.