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inner peace - no more walking
day 145: 平凉 (pingliang) = 0km
Almost 2000km, some fantastic 5 months - and now I’m not going to walk anymore.
All you guys have been so supportive and so kind, thank you!
So many friends I’ve made on the road and so many on the Internet.
…but now I am not going to walk anymore.
It’s not only that my feet are killing me:
It’s not that.
Also on top of this, I have achieved something that I could have never hoped for:
I have found inner peace. Do you know what I mean?
I know this might sound totally silly…
…it’s so hard to put in words or pictures.
It’s like…
…for example, all this worldly stuff; the cookies, the soda pop, the potato chips, the gallon of pear juice (hm… pear juice!):
- I don’t need all this anymore, it means nothing to me!
This walk has given me so much…
I’ve stood in the presence of the Buddha - massive Buddha, heavy snow
I’ve walked the way of the Tao - mountain temples
I’ve talked to the Father and to the Son - watch my back, Lord
I’ve felt the peace of the Prophet - Muslims and water fountains
…and I’ve grown something like a beard:
My dear friends, please forgive me…
With this new peace of mind, I just can’t continue my walk - it would be meaningless!
So what am I going to do now?
I am in my hotel, and I still have some money left:
If push comes to shove, I can always sell some of my equipment and live off that for a while.
Like, for example, the computer should get me a couple of months rent. Then there are the cameras.
Or I could get a teaching job…
No, I don’t think that’s what I want.
I want to stay here for a while and meditate. Maybe join a temple and become a monk.
Or a Muslim. After all, I already have a beard!
Soundtrack: Serj Tankian - “Lie Lie Lie”
—total: 1904,9km
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April 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I was fooled partly, was I the only one? haha…
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Bloß gut,dass ich das erst heute (3:April) lese!
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Lilu: Der smarte Sinologe durchschaut alles.
Hermann Mensing: Vergib mir, ich wurde praktisch gezwungen!
Lorraine: Hope you like the video with the song!
Alfredo: Haha, so were you fooled or weren’t you? - About the sources… I just go with the flow, make out a route on maps, ask people on the street, keep my eyes open for interesting stuff; and then there are the few landmarks that I HAVE to see. Pingyao was one of them. And Xi’an. My greatest dream is Samarkand, I hope I can make it!
froggyfrog: Don’t be sad little frog…
Rubi: Haha, du wirst dir noch eine Degradierung zum Kampfzwerg 2. Klasse zuziehen wenn du so weitermachst! (Außerdem, wenn dann schon “Fleife”)
jule: Hehe…
Corinna: War ich wirklich so jämmerlich?
Steven: It’s all good I guess!
Maggie: As serious as the slippers!
claudia: Haha, was ist wenn doch?
Achille: Chinese 老百姓 are very warm-hearted and kind towards a guest from afar. The tradition of hospitality is has very strong roots in the Chinese mindset. I honestly believe that it is not the same in Germany. We could probably be considered more “cold” towards strangers.
Tal: 那个是骂我还是表扬我的？
kev: 我不！！！
Christiane: Da bin ich geehrt!
Muriel: I tried a massage once, and I couldn’t stand the pain. That is entirely due to the fact that I am a proven sissy.
Maria Flink-Schütz: Ich tue mein Allerbestes! Sehr schönen Gruß zurück aus dem kleinen sommerlichen Pingliang!
Marten: De Moffen haben einen kartoffeligen Humor, was?