After the people involved in the launch of the book had left for a more formal occasion, Nick and I started talking about spiritual journeys. I knew from experience that silent sitting atop a dormant volcano watching the sunrise can give a deep insight into our insignificance in the true scale of the universe, and that in an urban environment such moments are rare and ephemeral.
is to be in the moment that is important to me: the look with naked eyes in a vast starry sky without clouds, a musician takes us into the depths of his soul, or gasps " Oh, I say, "as Murray or Djokovic rake latest sublime strokes of each other. Perhaps that fear inspires fear, knowing the we really insignificant in the scale of the universe.
When Nick sent me a review copy of his recently published "newspaper" of the pilgrimage of a white Anglo-Saxon Australian to Mecca and Medina, he undertook with his wife and daughter in 1992, I wrote to him that, as described above, my approach would be a curiosity and a "personal spirituality" rather than being a follower of a particular religion.
His trip, he said, "... was initially a curiosity and participation, and finally, an understanding of research leading to spirituality and deep faith in the Almighty." more importantly, I focused on the spiritual dimensions of Hajj without seeking in any way to proselytize / marry the merits of Islam as a religion. My hope is that Westerners could understand rites Hajj through the eyes of a "white Anglo-Saxon Australian", leading to cross-cultural and religious understanding.
"There is an ongoing process. Creeds are the least of my concern; I think you feel it from the text. "And indeed, I do. My school years were spent in the white area then predominantly Christian south London, on the other side of the world of Nick. My" hero "of the time included Richard Heart of Leo and Robin Hood, who defended what we have learned English were our rights.
My knowledge of Islam was thus limited to the crusades which for two hundred years from 1095, was the stated objective of restoring Christian access to the holy places and near Jerusalem, as well as stamping out all traces of paganism and polytheism, which survives here as animism. this struggle between Christianity and Islam continues to this day, although the battlefields of the "war against terrorism" are now all over the world, such as Prism documents recently disclosed and occasional terrorist attacks here in Indonesia clearly.
Nick said in his remarks introductory to extensive bibliography, "the first Western scholars focus more on the historical aspects of Islam. ... Personal accounts of travelers to Mecca, as Sir Richard Burton (1821-1890), added some understanding of Hajj in the West, but not its religious and spiritual aspects. "And this is where the story of his journey from Nick proves immense value. Every step of the way, each ritual creates" a deep sense of empathy in the great community that seeks affinity with the Almighty. " this vast community, he speaks numbered about two million, a huge logistical exercise. Fortunately, his newspaper, the heart of this book, has "provided a basis for a new investigation ... and learning [which] continues to inspire a sense of spirituality and a deeper faith in the Almighty. "other pilgrims in search of their spiritual core of Islam, which literally means" submission to God, "or, indeed, in other religions would do well to seek this modest book.
Each country is allowed an annual quota of pilgrims by the Saudi government. in 1992, Nick and his family were among three 107,000. last year, there were some 221,000 Indonesian pilgrims, a number that has been reduced to 40,000 this year because the construction of a shopping center and hotels for the well healed around the area Masjidil Haram is still ongoing. The waiting list already long 12 years, will necessarily be. Given that Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which is in overall charge of making arrangements for Hajj is currently appealing the decision.
local drives Jakarta Expat can order a copy directly to Nick: nhbhughes@gmail.com. Sale Price: Rp.100,000 per pound (shipping, etc. in addition). Rp.20,000 donation to Jl. Raden Saleh Mosque Orphanage welcome.