Under the Turkish Sky

The turquoise blue has an alluring appeal between blue and green. I think of Istanbul: the old historical town, once ruled by Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Turkic influence, a curious blend of east and west, culture and religion. More than 2000 years have left their traces of faded splendor and grand design.  It is however like a precious jade stone that has been polished, the luster and warmth are even more captivating and worthy of careful savoring.

One afternoon we entered a mosque in Bursa with full carpeting and peaceful atmosphere. Sunlight penetrated through the domed ceiling and cascaded around the courtyard fountain below.  Barefoot… the elderly, the young, all sat quietly reading scriptures on the podium, pausing with closed eyes or contemplative gazing into space. Enrobed in my monk’s gown amongst them, I did not feel at all out of place. Initially, we arrived as tourists: looking around, taking photos, moving about, click-click, snapping more shots… that energetic pace of visitors. Gradually, there was a magical pull… an invitation to partake in their doings, find a corner to sit down, relax… and take a breather in between time and space.

Before the trip to Turkey, my knowledge was extremely limited: ‘an Islamic country that geographically spanned Europe and Asia. It has mushroom-like stone pillars, white terrace-field shaped ponds, Turkish jade, Turkish baths’… and that was it… period. On this occasion I participated in the cultural exchange program sponsored by the Anatolia Cultural & Dialog Centre – the visit covered several cities in Turkey. We travelled in ferries, trains, buses and airplanes. Apart from the sightseeing and shopping, we also visited schools, organizations, shared meals with the locals, and this included one home stay. Obviously, it was not possible to visit and see all the important sites, scenery and unusual landscapes within the short 10 days. Although our guides provided plenty of historical and cultural information during the trip, upon return to Hong Kong, only a very muddled recollection was left in the mind. The Google search engine is a very useful tool indeed to fill the gaps.

However, what I would really like to say is this: even if the mosques and monuments in Turkey are so grand and magnificent; the scenery and landscape even more charming and breathtaking… the most lingering image in my mind is of the smiling and friendly faces. Those lasting memories of the people are what impress me most.

Our monastic robes (of monks and nuns in our group) made us stand out even amid our own group of Asian tourists from the east. When we walked around town, the majority of people would give us second glances, and many would take the initiative to greet us with a smile or request a photo with us. After chatting with a few, I suspected that in the bottom of their hearts, they thought that we spend most of our time practicing martial arts. We apologized in disappointment when they enthusiastically composed their kung-fu posture; only to shake our heads and admit that is not what we do. Buddhism is something that seems totally foreign to the majority of Turkish people. In their country with a dominant religion of 98% Muslims, the people, their friends and relatives, have been going to the mosque since young – devoted to reading scriptures and making prostrations.  For many, it is probably their first encounter with a Buddhist monk or nun. However, they were generous with their friendliness. Because they were very happy, we were also felt happy.

What is it that makes people accustomed to labeling others… to stereotype? Is it because we are lazy to learn more about others? Is it ignorance, or anger that blinds us? It has been a long while since I have experienced that Shaolin Kung-Fu is perceived as a trademark of Chinese Buddhist monks. After 911, terrorist attacks became synonymous with Islam. Cathy from New York, one of our group members, has many feelings about that connection. She had personal encounters with the results of that catastrophe and the ensuring sorrow, fear and hatred. During the trip, we explored together an Islamic country opening her arms to the world. After this, how will we continue to label the Islamic religion?

When we speak of the Islamic religion, which aspect of Islamic religion are we referring to?  As a rule we tend to oversimplify our understanding of certain people and events, to the extent of ignorance and settle for narrow definitions.  There is a frequent tendency to exclude multiple factors and superimpose a generic description. The Buddhist teachings on “prajñapti” indicate that reality is not obvious; it is buried under multiple layers of concepts and constructs. What we need to do is to differentiate between concepts and entity and be an observer, and simply notice conditions of the present moment.

Language is on the one hand conducive, and yet, can also be restrictive to the thought process. When I say: “the flower is fragrant”, the type of flower is but one aspect. What kind of fragrance is yet another. I may experience the scent of the flower in this particular moment, but will that remain in the passage of time? Conditions and phenomena are changing all the time. The world is far more complex than one person can comprehend. Therefore, by learning to discard concepts, a person might be able to observe the beauty of every flower encountered in a world of dazzling colors and choices. Think of people like flowers… each individual in a community is different, and each has his own unique path.  The same is true for Buddhist monastic members, or Turkish Muslims too.

Let us consider for a moment the common human values of morality and virtue: What if we put aside the constraints of laws and moral reflection and ask: “If any of us state that ‘all killers should die’, do we actually comprehend that each case is distinct and different?” Our background orientation may be culturally influenced – do we speak parrot-like repetition of other people’s comments?  Can we view the killer as a person, with flesh and blood and emotions and not just as some ruthless, heartless brute? Buddhist scripture repeatedly teaches about perception, concepts, and also the interdependence of conditions. Causal relationships help explain how the world comes to be, and the forces of karma and volition. Individuals themselves will ultimately reap the fruit of his or her own evil acts.

If I myself cannot apply the wisdom, and instead condemn the accused person with anger and hatred, am I not committing another kind of evil? Honestly speaking, if it is not clear how to decipher the causal link between past conditions and future fruit, then at least I can remind myself to refrain from making hasty judgments. Speech can be kind or wicked, and there is no necessity to judge a person as good or bad. Buddhism teaches that only with more understanding and less ignorance, can one interact with another on an equal basis with compassion. This intercultural and inter-religious dialogue trip has opened my view to some beautiful variations and colors of humanity in the world around me.

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