But these initial surface and superficial differences
between Mike and me do not tell the whole story. In fact, I believe that you
could pick any two random people, and once you examine them and their lives more
closely, analyze them more deeply, you will find that they will have several things
in common. This is like another version of Kevin Bacon’s six degrees of separation
showing us not only how connected (in both analog and digital senses of the
word) we are but also that it goes beyond skin-deep.
In fact, I was wrong to assume that we had little in common. That is just the tip of the iceberg because not only is his book A Story about Karma: Finding Love and Truth in the Lost Valley of the Himalaya interesting and well-written, but it is indeed personally appealing to me. We ended up having many things in common, which may have been a case of sheer coincidence, a divine plan, or both, or neither.
To start off, by zooming and focusing too much on the mountains, I failed to see the woods, the trees, and the ocean, that is, our common love and admiration for nature. In fact, we both identify with and see ourselves as part and parcel of nature. Moreover, his story was set in my current hometown Vancouver. As I read on and delved deeper into his personal story, I found out that his father was German, and I grew up in Germany. In fact, at one point in time, I used to live less than half an hour from his father’s hometown in Solingen.
Furthermore, Mike was interested in traveling and exploring
different cultures and had an interest in Buddhism, all of them are checks on my side
as well. Mountains were his passion, but in a sense, his profession of choice
was writing, one of my budding, nagging and ever-present passions (feel free to
browse through this blog for a brief glimpse thereof). I believe that childhood
dreams and ideals are more spontaneous, free, unhindered, and
unencumbered by adult thinking and consideration, and they tend to point to our true self,
especially when it comes to our calling and vocation.
One of the themes we discussed during our interview was not to judge by appearances and that those appearances are indeed deceiving. We know we should not judge a book by its cover but often do it anyway. Yet as Mike told me during our interview, we should always examine everything and not take things for face value; we ought to look past and beyond the surface and see and understand what is lying beneath and underneath.
In his book, Mike details a
conversation he had with a Buddhist monk, which occurred with a spectacular view
and scenery as a backdrop to accentuate and elevate the already profound message. The monk asks
him, what would happen if you and I switched clothes. If I wore your jeans and
shirt and you wore my Buddhist robes, would that make you a Buddhist monk and
me a mountaineering tourist?
And yet, we tend to quickly jump to conclusions as we hold fast
onto preconceived notions and often judge without stopping, pausing, or even thinking.
The day in my undergrad years when I decided to don a Hare Krishna haircut,
not out of conviction but out of playful fun because it was on my list of wacky
things to do in my life, I was surprised and shocked how people suddenly and abruptly
changed their interactions and behaviors with me. Some people were more
respectful and greeted me in a rather stereotypical Hare Krishna fashion and
manner, while others shouted obscenities at me.
Closer at home, while my brothers just laughed and took it
as good hearty fun and my father was slightly confused, my mother was
offended and refused to talk to me for a few weeks. All this had come about not
because of my actions, behaviors, or opinions but was simply due to a different
hairstyle. It was such a refreshing and eye-opening experience, a type of
unexpected social experiment that told me volumes about how people, even those
close to and around us, quickly judge a person by their haircuts. Let alone,
skin color, religious and sexual orientation, profession, and all of this was
occurring in a place and within an environment that is known for being rather
liberal and open-minded.
Growing up, both Mike and I had stood out in our respective
communities. Due to our ethnic backgrounds, we looked different; in other
words, we were a visible minority. This creates an initial distance and
separation between us and others. There seems to be a wedge and wall between us
and everyone else in the community, and it puts us on the spot as one is
immediately bombarded with preconceived notions, whether they are spoken or
remain unspoken. Although unpleasant and uncomfortable, at the same time, this experience is an opportunity for building strength and resilience.
This is also similar to the experience of the secluded self-sufficient
and semi-nomadic mountain dwellers of Nepal who had been living the same way for hundreds
of years and who continued making a home in the harsh and difficult terrains of
the Himalayas. They had little access to facilities and infrastructure, from roads
to water to electricity and technology, many things that we take for given
and for granted in our Western lifestyle. In fact, Nepal is a country that is
composed of various separate ethnic backgrounds and identities and most of them have different traditions, customs, and beliefs, and even significantly
different languages. Add to that, a society that is marked and still often
driven by the idea of a caste system, which tends to divide people into
different categories.
The region of the Lost Valley was not only difficult and
challenging ground to get to, but it had also been only recently opened to the
outside world and to tourists and mountain climbers. Naturally, Mike was
immediately drawn to it, and it was not just a matter of climbing the
impressive pyramid mountain of the area, there was also a force guiding him in
that direction. As a result, he put together a crew that included artists and
nature photographers including his wife and partner-in-adventure to capture this
unique lifestyle before it changed while also making it to the top of that
beautiful mountain.
All of them put their life on hold and gathered and
collected the necessary funds to embark on this mountaineering adventure. His
own German upbringing brought the strong will and determination to fixate his
eyes on the prize, the snow-capped summit of pyramid mountain. It was a very
difficult undertaking, even difficult for me to read about in the comfort of my abode,
with various unexpected pitfalls and difficulties along the way that he vividly
describes and outlines in his book. As he kept inching closer to his purported
and stated goal, he also sensed a spiritual connection with the place as well
as its people.
Normally, books of this ilk would then end with him reaching
the top of the mountain while showcasing and showing off his pictures. But suddenly,
the book takes an unexpected and, in my view, welcoming sharp turn. In fact, Mike
fails in his endeavors and is not able to fulfill his long-held desire
of climbing that mountain. At the time, he feels desolate, bewildered, and
heartbroken. I can only imagine putting in so much time, effort, and money to
make his dream a reality and suddenly not being able to complete the final step
due to unexpected and unforeseen bureaucratic and climatic hurdles.
As a result, he had time to spare, and they decided to spend
it in a nearby village. There he met Karma, a bright and promising young girl
alongside her family; immediately, there was a spiritual bond and connection between
them all. It was one of these synchronicities and alignments that like puzzle
pieces fit and are meant to go together. It may have been a past life or a
divine force, but in the end, it gave him one of the most important and
meaningful experiences of his life, much more so than climbing a mountain would
or ever could.
In fact, Mike explained to me that the initial goal was not
so much to get to the top of the mountain, but it was more about the deep
human connection he wished to foster between the people around him. His travels
in the region gave him an in-depth and inside look of culture, lifestyle and
traditions that were foreign and yet familiar, at times horrifying and yet
emotionally comforting and satisfying, a world of contradictions in which
beauty reigned hand in hand with hardship. Indeed, while not being able to climb
the pyramid mountain, he had successfully climbed and conquered his inner
mountain.
This experience gave him a new and significantly different lease
on life. What was seen as normal and as commonplace was now put and tilted on
its head. Although traveling opens the mind, his journey ended up being the experience
of a lifetime, as he managed to connect and resonate with people living a
different lifestyle embracing different views about what is important and relevant
in life. It also helped him to connect with his authentic self, the inner
feeling, and certainty that we call intuition and gut feeling.
While sometimes we need to make difficult decisions and they
may seem illogical, unreasonable, or even highly uncomfortable, they may turn
out to be the best choices we have ever made. Equally, if we are open to those friendly
and supportive winks and nudges of fate and destiny, where a sign or a face
appears out of nowhere but is meant to teach us something about ourselves, and
when we heed that call and trust and follow its direction, it may take us not
only to unexpected and rewarding places but to where we were meant to be in the first place.
In my mind, there is little doubt that it must have been
fate or a divine force that was guiding Mike along his travels and whispering
in his ear, and yet, he was always presented with the choice of either heeding
the call or of turning a blind eye or his back to it. In moments like these,
those who are set in their ways and are stubborn or inflexible and fail to adjust
to the changing circumstances will miss out on
some of life’s most precious rewards and experiences.
Just like the changing culture of the mountain dwellers, it is important to go with the flow. In many ways, modernity and technology are easing their life and burdens. They have water, toilets, electricity and begin to enjoy the ubiquitous benefits of technology. But deep inside they do not unplug or disconnect from their dharma, their cultural background and identity, their unique way of life and being. And ironically, Mike’s rambling sojourn in the Lost Valley helped him find his way and path to his inner self, one that is grounded and embedded in peace, harmony, understanding, and compassion while beckoning and inviting us to take up that challenge of climbing that inner mountain entrenched deep within and inside each of us.
For the full-length interview on Youtube, please click Arash's World: Interview with Mike Schauch, whereas a podcast is available here at Arash's World Podcast.
To further explore the world of Mike Schauch, please go to his website: MichaelSchauch.com
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