Chris Yencha, Image and Pilgrimage 3

The idea of pursuing a liminal existence through pilgrimage is a concept discussed throughout Image and Pilgrimage. At one point, it was stated that a long, harsh journey full of hazard and sickness is capable of releasing a soul from the weariness of a body submitted to discipline in order to develop a more spiritually mature being. I have never personally understood the connection between suffering and enlightenment. The idea of releasing the soul from body by pushing the body to perform against pain and absence seems to foreign to the belief system that I have come to believe. It appears to me that the kind of hazards that one may force upon their body through pilgrimage is far more stressful and tiring than that of careful discipline in everyday life. I also do not believe my soul will benefit greatly from going on a physical pilgrimage; however, I have never been on a long hike or any similar excursion. My ignorance concerning the matter is a complete indication of my misunderstanding of the effectiveness of pilgrimage. I hope to one day experience this idea of liminal existence in the form of a physical journey.