Create Our World

Here is my Craig’s List Post.

Sometime after July 14th, I need a ride heading towards Michigan.
I am visiting my Nana and Papa in Northern Jersey (Somerset) but I could get to the city if needed or nearby to meet up for the ride.
I am beginning a hitchhikin’ / ride catchin’ trip around the country, so unfortunately, I cannot offer any gas money for the ride, however, I am a photographer and a great conversationalist.
Check my blog for more info.
http://createourworld.wordpress.com

Let’s Journey!!!
All the best,
ben.

I read Siddhartha in my last year of college.  I was going through a classic book reading phase; On the Road, Siddhartha, Travels with Charley, Bonfire of the Vanities, and a bunch of others.

At the time, I recognized although I was about to graduate from Michigan State University, I had a lot to learn.

I was recently inspired to start reading again and looking through my aunt’s books, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse stood out.

Two ideas grabbed me from the book which will be instrumental in my coming journey and maybe yours:

1.  You must learn on your own!!!

“Wisdom is not communicable… Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom.  One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” (Page 115)

We all learn by living.  Sadness, happiness, love, suffering; they are a greatest teachers.

2.  To accept and love your world, as it is

“…it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration, and respect.” (Page 119)

It is easy for me to think that ONE DAY, when I have traveled the world and am wise, I will be happier.  Or ONE DAY, when I have met my soul mate.  Or ONE DAY, when I am rich, that will be the day.

Today is that day.  And it will always be that day.

Create Our World,

ben.

“And Govinda saw that this mask-like smile, this smile of unity over the flowing forms, this smile of simultaneousness over the thousands of births and deaths-this smile of Siddhartha-was exactly the same as the calm, delicate, impenetrable, perhaps gracious, perhaps mocking, wise, thousand-fold smile of Gotama, the Buddha, as he perceived it with awe a hundred times” (page 122) of Siddhartha.

9 days ago, I left Richmond. Well, to be more accurate, was trying to leaving Richmond, but couldn’t catch a ride.

It took all day for my Macbook computer to be “fixed,” (a week later it is back in the shop) so about 5:30pm, I stood on an off ramp near Downtown Richmond hoping to get a ride to Charlottesville.

I made a sign. It was bright orange.

“Charlottesville” With a Big Thumb.

Cars whipped past.

I tried another off ramp, near Staples Mill Road.

The cars whipped past.

As the sun went down, I gave up.

After sleeping at my good friends house, Anderson and Amy, I got up early and hit the road. This time trying to get as far EAST as possible on Broad Street.

At around 9am, I was again on an off ramp headed towards Charlottesville with my sign.

The cars still whipped past.

In a big city, it is hard to catch a ride.

UNTIL, Jason pulled up.

Jason and his girlfriend, Laurel (I lifted a photograph of his from flickr)

He was off to deliver some macaroons to girlfriend at work. She is a French Teacher at a local High school. They have been dating for about a year.

He had picked up these macaroons early morning from a local baker. “Come over before I start baking,” she says, which means before 8 am.

He sneaks them on her computer, while she is at an assembly.

Jason is a Romantic Dude!

“Well, I’ll take you to Charlottesville,” he says. He is not doing much today.

We drive. We talk.

Jason offered me his iPhone; “I know I don’t know you well, but…” he starts. I guess he is getting a new one soon and doesn’t need this one. We make tentative plans to send it to me in Jersey.

We couldn’t find parking when we got to Charlottesville. We drove around awhile.

Jason had ideas to get his girlfriend another present.

After finding a spot, we walked around the Downtown Mall and he looked up a place to buy a whole loaf of cornbread.

“Eppie’s Restaurant” in the Downtown Mall is the place.

“It takes about an hour,” he says.

So we wandered around. Charlottesville was hosting the Third Annual Look Festival of the Photograph. “3 Days of Love, Peace, and Photography.”

Jason just loves to give. He recently wrote me an email about how there should be a television program about giving gifts to others.

He is the man and a reminder to me about the fun of giving gifts!

Create our world,

ben.

“For it is in giving that we receive.” – St. Francis of Assissi