[ this little entry is dedicated to danette... thank you for inspiring me to continue writing here, as I have been on hiatus and was beginning to lose my focus ]

. . . .

I’ve recently written an entry over here about a dream I have always had, of traveling to The Himalayas.

But, the above entry was more for the collaboration project and not-so-much my innermost feelings about it.

I’ve always had this dream since I was a child, of traveling to the snowy peaks of the Himalayan mountain range. The dream or vision affected me enough that I had gotten into Eastern Philosophy as a teenager. And I sort of became obsessed with all things related to the mysticism and spirituality of the East.

As a teen I was already meditating. I studied the Bhagavad Gita, after obtaining a free copy from a Hari Krishna devotee at an airport. This was a long time ago, of course, as the Hari Krishnas are prohibited from preaching their religion at airports.

Anyway, the dream or vision still remains to this day. Well, more of this desire to travel to that distant land more than anything else.

But it causes me to question…

Do I really need to travel somewhere to attain some sense of spiritual closure, or completeness?

Does traveling anywhere really benefit the person experiencing the journey?

Myself, I don’t really have the financial means to become a world traveler. And I’m sure I’m not alone in saying this, but perhaps there is some energy or feeling that can be acquired by traveling to certain places. And being that many places in the Himalayas are considered holy, they presumably can benefit the traveler seeking a means to go on a pilgrimage.

I’ve always thought early in my life that I would be able to somehow travel to India, Nepal, and Tibet. Maybe I shouldn’t dismiss the possiblity just yet, even as I am older now and have family obligations and such.

But, in my mind I am traveling there. Getting some kind of sense or vibe of the region, through my visualizations, through reading and study, through pictures and photos… and from others who’ve traveled there.

So, in a sense I have been there in spirit, perhaps….

Buddhist Philosophy would say that it’s all in your mind, anyway. And places one has traveled are only but memories of those past experiences.

Either way, the true path to any spiritual or contemplative destination, is always an inner journey of devotion and self-discovery….