Yoga

Yoga, Buddhism and 18 Years in Asia – They are Not the BoogieMen We Have Been Taught to Believe They Are

Since September 11th, 2001, many people who are not

Muslims have begun to look at Islam with greater fear

and negativity then they did previously.

Having at one time had such a feeling myself, I can

understand this, and more importantly, understand what

it was that made me feel negative about Islam at one

time.

Perhaps it was the perceived warlike aspect to it that

I feared or the constant distrust and expressed

dislike to the values of the country of my origin, The

United States of America.

But after having lived away from the U.S. for the last

18 years and having spent time in Muslim countries and

with Muslims in their homes, my opinion is quite

different.

Perhaps it was just the case for me that it is for

most people.

We are unable to put a human face on those things that

we do not know or are confused about because we have

little or no opportunity to do so or an interest in or

ability to do such a thing.

Sometimes it is easier to feel an aversion to

something or someone then to make any real effort to

learn and understand about it.

I feel that being exposed to Islam and Muslims has

been one of most enlightening experiences of my life

and my time living in Asia.

I remember being impressed when I was talking to a

young woman in her home in Indonesia some year’s back

who interrupted our conversation by telling me that

she had to go prey.

I remember another woman in another part of Indonesia

who when I questioned her about Islam and its

treatment of women as I had been taught to perceive it answering me in a wise and simple way, a way that any woman in any

country or of any ethic or religious background could quickly and easily understand.

She said that if her man or husband was a good man,

she would “follow him” and if not, she would not.

I remember the Muslim man who after working all day to

support his life and family, came home to study the

Q’uran with his children and make sure that his

children were attending to their studies in school.

I remember the kind and appreciative expressions that

were given to me in food and smiles when I came into

such homes to visit and teach.

I remember the Afghanistan refugees in northern

Pakistan who when seeing me observe their construction

of a home, quickly and generously invited me in for a

visit and refreshments.

I remember the Muslim family in Brunei Darussalam,

who on seeing me take shelter in a neighborhood wooden

building that was used for community meetings,

inviting me in for the night, and offering me food,

and then taking me into the capital when they went to

work the next day.

I remember the Muslims in both Malaysia and Indonesia

who discussed my interest in Islam with them in a

sincere, intelligent and patient manner, and looked at

me with clear eyes and a sober consciousness, as they

listened and responded with accountability and wisdom.

I remember traveling on boats and ships in Indonesia

and Bangladesh and seeing how even while working and

traveling on boats in this manner, at times of

prayer, people stopped what they were doing and prayed

with a fervent concentration and devotion, that one

who was familiar with both Yoga and Buddhism and their

morals, ethics, practices and meditative techniques

could instantly understand, appreciate and respect.

I remember visiting with and staying with Muslims in

Thailand and Indonesia, who showed the same

characteristics as their brother Muslims in other

parts of the world, those of duty, understanding, and

patience.

Other things that a practitioner of Yoga and Buddhism

would quickly see and understand the significance of.

I remember being picked up while hitchhiking in Jordan

after the first Gulf war of 1991 and the Muslim who

picked me up expressing his anger at the United States

and then apologizing to me and offering me an apple.

I remember during that same visit to Jordan at the

same time meeting a number of Iraqis who were taking

shelter from the war in Iraq being friendly,

regardless of the fact that The United States was

waging war on their country, a war that was not their

making but was instead the result of the actions of

their leader.

I remember attending the funeral of a well - respected

teacher who was a Muslim in a small Indonesia town and

how the spiritual leader started to cry when he talked

of this man’s death and how all the men tried to touch

the casket of this man as a sign of love and respect

as he was taken away for burial.

What is the point of all of these remembrances?

That although there are elements in Islam that we may

feel some aversion to and may direct some misguided

believers to think that they should hurt and kill

others, there is also am element in Islam that is

something that we can all easily understand and

respect.

That is, that there is a human face to it, men and

women in love and building and living a life and

raising a family, most of the times in social,

political and economical environments that are less advantageous then what we have in the west.

Perhaps the Muslim who blindly follows the teachings

of the Q’uran with little or no insight about how

people are throughout the world is no less dangerous

or insightful then the Christian who judges all as

sinful and as being sinners.

Perhaps a woman who is exploited in some manner in an

Islamic culture, society and environment is no worse

off then a woman who lives in cultures and societies

where woman and a woman’s worth are routinely

exploited through pornography.

For us to have a greater ability to live our practice

of Buddhism and Yoga, we need to have a greater

ability to meet and get to know Muslims with an open

heart and mind and little or no preconceived ideas

about how things are with them and about them.

We need to understand that some of those things that

we may quickly associate with as being Islamic, such

as the genital mutilation of women or honor killings

are more rooted in the culture of one particular

country and ethnic group, not teachings of Islam.

We see in countries that are “Buddhist” and among

people who call themselves “Buddhists” widespread

corruption and exploitation of women and children plus

violence and warlike tendencies but for some reason do

not look at it as being a problem of Buddhism, but

instead as being a problem of people, countries and

cultures.

If we look closely at the history of Buddhist

countries and how they interact with each other, we

will see much violence and war.

We also need to understand that many of the Islamic

teachings and practices are geared to the same things

as ours are, not to been violent but to be wise and

pure, and patient, loving and kind.

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)