Interesting Punishment...

In Prague there is a famous bridge called the Charles Bridge. There are 30 Baroque style statues that adorn this bridge. I was intrigued by one of these statues which is of a crucifix with writing in Hebrew in bronze. The story of this statue is interesting as it says that the Hebrew writing was put there at the expense of a Jew of Prague as a punishment for blasphemy againsts Christianity. the wikipedia article on this statue is here .

Hmm...Now that's an interesting punishment!? I was thinking if a non-Sikh, let's say Hindu, blasphemed our Gurus, would it make sense to have them pay for a writing in, let's say in Sanskrit, that said something like "Guru Nanak is great!". We wouldn't want to be associated with that. It just doesn't make sense. How is that considered a punishement for the Judaic faith? Its pretty much saying that Jesus Christ was a prophet of the Jews as well and not the ultimate prophet!? Oh well, I guess the 1600's in Europe was a pretty crazy time, and this interesting conflict between Jews, Christians and Muslims has been going on for a very very long time. I learnt a lot about that during my stay in Europe.

Any way, here are some pics from the bridge.

Doors of Prague - Part 3

A. Singh took a much better picture of this door because he has a much better camera...but it was quite exquisite.


















Plain black door with funny looking face on top!



















This is the door to an embassy, I think the Italian embassy!! Click on picture to get a better view. Now that's a door!!


















"I am the sunshine that lights the path for those that enter through this door...."

Doors of Prague - part 2

Remember my post of the European infatuation with lion heads with a ring through their mouths!?

















Heavy wooden door...


















Heavy wooden door with funny looking Singh!!?? :-)


















C'mon, don't tell me you don't look at this door and say "Hmm...cool!"

The Doors of Prague.

All I can say is "fascinating". No, I do not have door fetish as my friend A. Singh, who accompanied me to Prague, would say. I just find the handiwork and the elaboration quite fascinating. It also reminds me of the gurbani tuk - "guru duare hoe sojhi paisi, et duare hoe hacha hoisi..."





 

Slacker...going back home!!

Sorry. I have been a complete slacker with my blog. My last months in Europe have been so busy. Because of work I have crossed the Atlantic Ocean approximatley 8 times (that's 4 round trips) in the last 2 months!! In addition, travel within Europe is huge. I am writing this from the Stockholm airport. Any spare moment I get at the airport are also consumed by work. But before I do my next work email, I thought I'd slip this in.

I will be moving back to Boston area by the 1st week of November. Things are not going to slow down, but at least I will be back home. I left Boston about 4 years ago for Toronto, and the last year I have been in Munich. I hope to blog when back and will definitely get off my *(&^ and post some pictures. Hang in there.

Another thing I want to do when I get back is share my thoughts and present commentary on interesting happenings around the world and wonder about the Sikh perspective. For example, the Pope's comments about Islam, Jack Straw's comments about the hijab, recent reprimands by the Akal Takhat against Guggha, Ecology and Climate change etc.

Okay...stay tuned. And remain in Carhdi kala!