Going Forth from Home into Homelessness

No, I am not homeless. (Not literally, anyway.) The title is a rendering of a famous Indian Buddhist phrase used to describe those who left their families, possessions, and social attachments to contemplate the message of the Buddha. (I haven't done any of that, either.) No, this blog post -- my first! -- is about the process of starting a new stage in one's life. In Indian (specifically Hindu) practice, there were four stages to one's life: student, householder, forest-dweller, and then renouncer. In the traditional scheme, only after obligations to school, work, and family have been fulfilled (usually at a ripe old age) can one consider the third and fourth, when the person renounces all material possessions and ties to wander the forest, meditate, and contemplate the meaning of life. The Buddha renounced prior to fulfilling these obligations, however, and encouraged others to do the same, arguing that finding the answers to life's questions should not take second place to anything else.

I have sometimes thought of the concept of "forest-dwelling" (the "going forth into homelessness") as a metaphor for those times whenever we enter new, uncertain stages in life. The old, comfortable, familiar frame of life (the metaphorical "house") is or must be left behind. It is a difficult process, whether one chooses it or not, but the Hindu and Buddhist renouncers demonstrate that it is also an opportunity for self-exploration. Hence, I have started this blog as a way to think out loud through this process, and potentially stay connected with friends and continue conversations that otherwise might be cut off.

This is just the first of hopefully many posts, on about a weekly basis. Upcoming topics include favorites of children's literature, movie reviews, a comparison of the Buddha to St. Francis and Chris McCandless, and, of course, world wars, because we don't want it to be too upbeat. Next time, though, join me for a discussion of graphic novels as "great books."

Hope to see you then.