The Kumano in Japan requires visits to a number of different areas which includes temples and shrines and because it is located in mountainous country it means walking up and down lots of steps. This pilgrimage only involves about 50 kms of walking in total and there is some danger from wild bears. Pilgrims carry a small bell to warn off the bears. Jenny was most impressed with the standards of quality and orderliness by the Japanese in both building and maintaining the shrines, paths and facilities. Because the Camino and Kumano are “twinned” Jenny has a special certificate acknowledging this achievement.
Unfortunately the August session of Comparative Religion will be the last for this year due mainly to a decline in numbers. My approach to the topic has been somewhat unconventional and so it has been a partial success only. I did enjoy most of the classes and the enthusiasm of participants and I appreciate the support of Benalla’s outstanding U3A organisation.
For the August session on Wednesday the 3rd Laurence Neal will present information and video about the Exclusive Brethren. This replaces the scheduled talk by a Buddhist teacher/practitioner which was cancelled due to insufficient notifications of attendance. Because this will be the last class the other scheduled topics and trips for the remainder of the year are also cancelled.
Having learned from this experience to be more forthcoming about my area of greatest interest and still wanting to be part of U3A I may propose a different class for the summer of 2017 when short courses may be held. As a guide to what such a class would entail, it will include inquiry into beliefs of all kinds and some focus upon wisdom, the understanding about and the acquisition of it – think of Socrates for an approximation of what I am talking about! The course would not be about conventional or academic philosophy nor the promotion of any ideology, political or religious.
Mike Larkin