[pct-l] Enlightenment and thruhiking

[reynolds@ilan.com]

There are two (2) types of enlightment that I know of. Although both are
described as spiritual, one has to do with one's place in the universe
while the other has to do with knowledge/relationship of/with and/or
becoming a favorite of, a/the spiritual Being/world.

One tried and true method of obtaining the former is to silence the outside
world and reduce your dependance on it. Fasting and meditation are common
approachs. Obviously, to cut your essentials down to a precious few, leave
your previous life behind and trek 2600 miles qualifies as silencing the
world and overcoming [actually reducing] your dependence on it. If you
think of thruhiking as a kind of fasting from civilization you will get my
point.

In this sense ANY backpacking is an enlightening experience -- thruhiking
being simply more intense.


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