Tui Motu InterIslands 1 August 2010 editorial

contents 2 editorial celebrating the building of life 3 Letter from chair: Elizabeth Mackie op The feast of the Assumption isa careful growth which comes from 4 letters mid–year reminder of the awesome the example of the monasteries; 5 Hope for Palestine mystery of resurrection life. We and places this over and against Peter Bray fsc celebrate this gift in Mary; that the piecemeal and hurried way she has reached the fullness of her in which we modern “efficiency” 6 The Assumption humanity, going ahead of each of us experts build – with too little Kath Rushton rsm to enjoy the complete gift that life thought for future consequences. 7 The Quiet of Mary holds. I hope you enjoy as much Joy Cowley as I did looking at the pictures To show a good example of what Tony talks about from 8-10 When Men meet Mountains which accompany Joy Cowley Jeph Mathias and Kath Rushton’s articles on the New Zealand, Peter Stuart has highlighted the beginning of 11 Divine Beauty Assumption. Mary’s strength and gentleness shine brightly. the rebuilding of the Kopua John O’Donohue Monastery. The monks have just 12-13 Creativity for Holiness In a remarkable short piece, begun to build their permanent Tony Watkins Brother Peter Bray reflects on the monastery after a period of being poem: Beatrice Hoffmann difficulties of life in Palestine. Yet in New Zealand for well over 50 14-15 Building Kopua Monastery despite these, and they are many, years. By way of their charity, Peter Stuart he is able to see the hope which and faithful to their rule, it is the poem: Ted Loder the Bethlehem University holds for guesthouse that has been built first 16-18 Portmeiron: land of the the building of that nation, and to - the giving of hospitality being harbour of Mary celebrate this. the first obligation of a Cistercian Michael Hill ic monk. We see displayed here what In another celebration of life, Jeph Tony Watkins is saying: careful 19 Pastoral care of Teachers Mathias looks at a day in the life Paul Andrews sj choice of building materials, of a doctor in the rural clinic of brilliant use of light, simplicity in 20-21 An illumination: yoga and Madgram. The throbbing life of all. And we await the next period of Catholicism a mountain valley is delicately Nicky Chapman who knows how many years when depicted. In doing so, Jeph is the monastery itself will be built – 22-23 Creation made flesh sifting the life of Himalayan India a testament to the slow growth of Daniel O’Leary and seeing beyond the traditional beauty. 24 Do this in memory of me life that is slowly being changed as Marilyn Elliston the demands of modernity trickle Michael Hill shows another side 25 film reviews: into these stupendous valleys. He of careful, visionary building of a Paul Sorrell; Patricia Kane can see both positives and negatives place of beauty. What he refers to flowing from this inevitable march as an ‘architectural Disneyland’, 26 Interview with William of time, lamenting the good that Portmeiron. It took Clough Dalrymple will be lost and saluting the gains. William–Ellis all of his very long Chris Hegan life to bring this to completion. 27-29 book reviews: On a different line, Tony Watkins And it remains as testament to Kathleen Doherty; Judith reflects on human creativity in one human being’s desire to bring Anne O’Sullivan; the building of life. He looks at pleasure. Mike Crowl the way in which power has been 30-31 crosscurrents: distributed over the centuries These four articles are some of a Jim Elliston; Peter Norris through the use of architecture, dazzling array of reflections on 32 Mother’s journal and contrasts the way of the the celebration of life which the Kaaren Mathias monasteries to the way of the Assumption symbolizes so clearly. cover: photo by Jeph Mathias cities. He opts for the slow and Happy reading. KT taken in Himalayan India

2 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 open letter from chair of tui motu foundation

Dear Tui Motu Readers, With this issue of Tui Motu, readers will receive the funds are well managed and that repayment a leaflet which explains the work of the Tui Motu dates are clearly recorded, with funds available to Foundation. I draw this to your attention and debenture holders at the end of each period they invite you to respond to it if you can. have specified. The Tui Motu Foundation has been established If you are already supporting the Foundation, as a Charitable Trust, distinct from the Tui Motu we thank you most sincerely. Perhaps you know magazine itself, but designed to support Tui of someone else who could be interested. If so, Motu’s continued life and growth. For while Tui please pass the Foundation leaflet on to them. Motu pays its way month by month through If you have not yet considered a debenture or a subscriptions, it is still not able to cover increased donation to the Foundation, we would like to salary costs in the changes that have had to be ask you to think about doing so. If you need made since the retirement of Father Michael Hill. additional information, please contact us. Any of Interest from the Foundation is used to cover the the trustees will be happy to assist you. shortfall. Although ordinary wisdom would say that this is The Foundation is growing slowly and steadily, not the time to be investing money or inviting but is still a long way from achieving the target of others to do so, we believe that Tui Motu has been one million dollars, which the trustees consider from its beginning an act of faith rather than a to be a realistic investment to meet the needs of logical business proposition. Thirteen years on, the magazine. we still believe that. We therefore commend to We are over half way towards our goal, and the all of you the needs of the Foundation and trust Foundation‘s trustees are very grateful to our in your continued support for this magazine of faithful supporters. We can assure all of you that which we can all be so proud. Elizabeth Mackie OP For the Tui Motu Foundation

Tui Motu-InterIslands is an independent, Catholic, monthly magazine. It invites its readers to question, challenge and contribute to its discussion of spiritual and social issues in the light of gospel values, and in the interests of a more just and peaceful society. Inter-church and inter-faith dialogue is welcomed. The name Tui Motu was given by Pa Henare Tate. It literally means “stitching the islands together...”, bringing the different races and peoples and faiths together to create one Pacific people of God. Divergence of opinion is expected and will normally be published, although that does not necessarily imply editorial commitment to the viewpoint expressed. Independent Catholic Magazine Ltd, P O Box 6404, Dunedin North, 9059 ISSM 1174-8931 Phone: 03 477 1449: Fax: 03 477 8149: email: [email protected]: website: www.tuimotu.org Editor: Kevin Toomey OP Assistant Editor: Frances Skelton Illustrator: Don Moorhead Directors: Rita Cahill RSJ, Philip Casey, Tom Cloher, Robin Kearns, Elizabeth Mackie OP, Peter Murnane OP, Katie O’Connor (Chair), Mark Richards, Kathleen Rushton RSM Printers: Southern Colour Print, 1 Turakina Road, Dunedin South, 9012

Tui Motu InterIslands 3 August 2010 letters

a vital missing link as man was then an inclusive word. letters to the editor - I believe something vital was missing That is not the case today. To include from the moral debate between We welcome comment, women in the meaning of “men” is to Bishop Peter Cullinane and Fr Peter discussion, argument, debate. use sexist language. This should not Murnane. I have no doubt the trio But please keep letters be tolerated in the Church’s liturgy. of activists believe that the Waihopai under 200 words. If homines needs to be translated at all, it should be as “mankind” or base is implicated in doing real The editor reserves the right “humankind”. But how about ‘for us harm.Their beliefs however are not to abridge, while not changing all and for our salvation’? Is it too late proof of anything and clearly that is the meaning. to change? not what their trial was about. Response articles (up to a page) David J More, Dunedin I am equally persuaded that no are welcome - action can be considered moral that but please, by negotiation. is not based on a just relationship the dream of god I am a very occasional reader of Tui between the means and the ends to advance the love of christ involved. The question that remains Motu. In the April issue I read the Father Murnane needs to take is whether or not the ‘Waihopai spy letter headed “The Dream of God” thought about the effect his “stunts” base’ is linked in any direct way to and I was saddened by the bitterness have upon the public image of the injustices and harms being done by that I saw in that letter. The more Church. There are enough people the US government. I read it, the more I saw a group of making their views known as to the women who are so discontented that Though the investigations by Owen reality of what humanity is doing to it made me wonder why they were still Wilkes and others would lend our planet and the populace without in the church. If they see that church support to the assumptions of the his antics which do little to advance as “patriarchal and oppressive”, why activists, no one can say with any the love of Christ in our present do they not leave it and go and join certainty what information is being day world with its many problems. another church which does not gathered or how it is used. Even have such qualities? Why do they stay Maurice McGreal, Hillcrest less clear is their assumption that inside this overpowering body and their actions actually saved lives – snipe at it from inside? Perhaps anywhere. for us all they cannot find such another I received a copy of the commentary church. Such actions lead only to Given the uncertainty involved on the new liturgy on Sunday and disunity and there has been enough perhaps the appropriate target for am concerned to see that the Creed disunity since the Reformation. the activist trio, indeed for all New still contains the words “For us Zealanders, is a government that Only now are we coming to grips men and for our salvation”. This is continues to allow the base to operate with the damage caused by one an incorrect translation from the autonomously. What assurances do person who sought to go off on his latin propter nos homines et propter any of us have that the activists are own tangent. I rather feel that the nostram salutem. “Homines” is the wrong? What control or oversight idea of the one church mooted by accusative plural of “homo”, which does our government have over the Jesus was just that - one church, not means mankind or human kind. It information gathered or how it is several thousand all putting their own does not mean man. The latin for used? personal viewpoint. Compromise “man” is “vir”. In my experience in is often better than challenge. And Like most New Zealanders I take recent years, many congregations we should always remember that it great pride in our stance against have omitted the word “man” when is God’s church, not ours! We waste the entry into our ports of nuclear reciting the Creed and simply recite so much time attempting to reshape armed ships of the US Navy. Why “for us and for our salvation”. God’s way into our way instead of then should we be content to allow shaping our way to God’s. I am a When the English version of the the US to enter our country and firm believer in the theory of “If you Creed came to prominence at the gather information that is beyond don’t get what you want, then want time of the abolition of the Latin our control? what you’ve got”. Mass, there was some justification Paul Green, Palmerston North for translating “homines” as “men”, Tony de Joux, Wellington

4 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 hope for palestine

In recent months it is more difficult to is imploding. Yet in the midst of all this get through the checkpoint and some uncertainty it was very supportive when of the checkpoints have been closed to we were in Rome to hear education in Palestinians and foreigners – these are schools and universities – with our now only available to the settlers who mandates to promote justice and peace are on confiscated Palestinian land. It is – being talked about as “the greatest also getting more difficult for students to investment of the Church” in the get permits to go to places of pilgrimage Middle East. These words resonate in or interest in Israel. We have tried to a particular way for us at Bethlehem take some of our students to Jaffa, University where our work is nothing Brother Peter Bray is a well-known Nazareth and the Galilee but they could short of education in the service of New Zealand educationalist who last not get permits. Many of them have nation-building. year volunteered to become the Vice- never visited these places even though So, yes, there are many challenges Chancellor of the Bethlehem University, they have grown up here in Bethlehem. facing Bethlehem University but there Palestine. Here he reflects on his first In the short time I have been here I have is also an amazing amount of good will year’s work. seen more of this country than some of the students who have lived here their and an incredible resilience amongst n early July we finally celebrated the whole lives. the students, faculty, and staff. When I Igraduation of 656 students and so reflect back over the time I have been at brought to an end the academic year When I see the students, faculty and Bethlehem University and see the way which was the first time Bethlehem staff coping with these and many more the restrictions have been increased, I University had more than 3000 students. restrictions, I am amazed at the attitude cannot see a way for peace to come. There Those graduates pushed our total they take and the resilience they show seem too many obstacles in the way. number of graduates to over 12,000. in getting on with life. It is surprising However, if I was writing some thirty Many of these are making a significant for some of our visitors to hear so much years ago I would have said exactly the contribution to building Palestine into laughter on campus. These visitors same thing about Northern Ireland, about a workable nation. The graduation was become aware of the restrictions and South Africa, about Germany. Somehow, a wonderful occasion. I found I was can’t believe the way the Palestinians beyond my understanding, peace did enthralled watching these wonderful just get on with life and cope. come to those places. This is the hope I young people so joyful and satisfied hold on to now, that somehow, beyond I have been greatly inspired by listening that they had reached this goal. Seeing my present understanding of how it can to the stories some of the Palestinians them with their families and friends happen, peace will come. When it does tell about their experiences in being celebrating on campus made up for some come what we will need are educated, restricted, humiliated and verbally of the challenges we faced during the resourceful and creative Palestinians who abused and how they deal with all that. course of this academic year. There are will build the new Palestine. One student told me recently that he has some wonderful young people here who begun his degree over again because he Bethlehem University is making a show such resilience and courage. Some had started and was then taken in the huge contribution to create that pool of them have had to put up with so much middle of the night and put in prison for of people who will be responsible for just getting to Bethlehem University that eighteen months. He was never charged, making this new Palestine. I have great it was such an achievement actually to never tried or convicted of anything and faith in God’s Spirit at work in the graduate. still has not been given any reason for people in Bethlehem, the place where That ceremony brought to a close my why he was detained. In spite of that he the Word became flesh and where we first full academic year. It was one in has come back to Bethlehem University continue to seek to live out the Gospel to which I learned a great deal and was determined to make the most of the which Jesus called us. What is truly the faced with challenges both internally opportunity here and is very positive source of our strength is this growing and externally. It was a year in which I about life. awareness that we are doing God’s work was on a great learning curve but also and that we dare to believe God’s spirit It is difficult to see where things are one with much satisfaction. I have is guiding us. n really heading. The flotilla disaster is never worked in a place where it is so being trumpeted in Israel as a victory If you wish to support students and the work obvious that what we are doing here at for Israel and something the Prime and development of Bethlehem University, Bethlehem University is worthwhile and donations can be made through Caritas Minister says he will not apologise for enriching for students who come here. Aotearoa New Zealand. Contact Director because it is Israel’s right to defend Mike Smith; Ph 0800 22 10 22 or email for In the time I have been here, however, itself. The so-called ‘peace process’ is more information: michael.smith@caritas. I am very aware that the restrictions far from achieving what it says. In some org.nz Tax receipts for donations received imposed by the Israelis are increasing. ways, however, it is almost as if Israel will be provided.

Tui Motu InterIslands 5 August 2010 scripture

the assumption

Kathleen Rushton

e hear of the woman clothed language, full of scriptural imagery, Wwith the sun in the first reading John describes the vision of a sign for the feast of the Assumption of the in heaven which contains a woman, Blessed Virgin Mary (Revelation 11:19, her child and a dragon. The narrative 12:1-5, 10). The seven verses are best of Revelation 12 assures us of the approached by applying some basic ultimate victory of God’s faithful ones. principles of biblical interpretation. Throughout history, the symbol of the literary genre woman has had many interpretations. Most scholars accept that the primary What is the genre or literary style of the meaning of the woman is corporate: book from which our reading is taken? the people of God, whether Israel, Apocalypsis, the first word of theBook the Church of Christ, or both. In the of Revelation means ‘unveiling’ and is narrative of Revelation, the complete translated usually as ‘revelation’. This picture of the woman is found at book has its roots in the prophets the end of the book when Christ’s and in the Jewish-Christian literature Church becomes the New Jerusalem of apocalypses. The writer, known (21:1-3). The actual afflictions of the as John, mediates visions or dreams author’s community are placed within ‘unveiled’ by a divine being or an angel. the frame of cosmic history as a whole Contrary to popular understanding, which is an ongoing struggle between biblical apocalypses and prophets are (basileia), belongs to the domain of God’s faithful ones and those who concerned with the present and with power or rule. The third, ‘consistent oppose them, between good and evil. particular historical situations. resistance’ (huyomone) translated often as endurance, is for John the active Given this primary ecclesial (church) the historical situation quality of standing up to evil. This is interpretation of this vision, is it still What is the historical situation one of the works of the faithful. An possible to find a secondary reference of Revelation and how does the apocalypse can present paradoxes. Life to Mary? The woman is described as writer address this? At that time, is simultaneously thlipsis and basileia. the mother of the “male child who is it was most unlikely the Christian We can look behind the veil of to rule all the nations with a rod of community faced any systematic ordinary experience (the unredeemed iron,” a citation from Psalm 2 which is Roman persecution. Rather, the affliction) and see the true order also applied to the Messiah as well as writer’s concern was that Christians of life (God’s reign). Life in God’s to the faithful people of God. Patristic then – people living ordinary lives as reign provides the power to live the writers link this vision with the mother we are today – would be tempted to consistent resistance which is essential of Jesus. Throughout the canon of succumb to the values of the Empire. in the time of affliction (2:2-3; 3:10; Scripture different images intertwine. Rather than living God’s way, they 13:10; 14:12). More explicit interpretations, would make compromises to its both individual and corporate, of way of life. The writer asserts again placing the part in the whole Revelations 12, illuminate the role of and again that God rules this world What difference does it make to place Mary and the Church in the ultimate (11:15). Yet, this world is still ruled by the seven verses of this reading within victory of the Messiah. evil powers. Throughout Revelation, the context of the Book of Revelation? there is an interplay of three words. The woman, clothed with the sun scripture and ancient tradition One, ‘affliction’ (thlipsis), belongs to surrounded by the moon and stars, Catholic teaching on Mary and the domain of trouble, hardship, pain is probably the best known of visions particularly the dogmas of the and suffering (2:22). Another, ‘reign’ of Revelation. In highly symbolic Immaculate Conception (1854) and

6 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 the quiet of mary

ail Mary, chosen of God. You were little more than a Hail Mary at the Cross. When you gathered all those treasures Hchild, an empty room filled with sunlight, lacking in self- in your heart, did you know the nature of the sword that would awareness, sensing only the tidal pull of the universe drawing drive through them? That day, the world went black with a grief you to a place and time. Even then, you did not notice that the so much bigger than you. You felt the pain of every mother’s sun stood still, burning up all shadow, and the voice that spoke child who had been tortured and killed. And you were every had the depth of ages. You looked down at your feet jewelled mother who had lost a child. Your only solace was the thin with dust, and said, “Whatever it is, let it be voice of wisdom that threaded itself through the darkness to done to me.” And God became your guest, remind you that all crucifixions have resurrections. furnishing the empty room with wisdom. Thank you, Mary, for being with us at times of Thank you, Mary, for the gift of simplicity. great loss.

Hail Mary, mother of Jesus. You gave Hail Mary, mother of the Church. No one told God human form, and for nine months you us about your leaving. We see a quiet room held that newness, feeling within you filled with light and wisdom. We see work- movements of the life that would change worn hands and a life nearing the end of history. This was the treasure you held the steep path of blessing. When your boy in your heart. When he was born, you came for you, what did you say? Did you looked into his eyes, seeing eternity, ask him where you were going? I think and you knew what all mothers know, you already knew what was to be, and that all babies come into the world with gladly you took his hand, he now guiding angel song. you, to that wider place of presence beyond words. Thank you, Mary, for being the mother of all mothers and all newborn. So now we sit with you and Jesus in the same quiet way, knowing but Hail Mary, woman of hospitality. It was unknowing, aware of the tidal pull on a fine wedding party, music, dance, food, o u r hearts and the voice asking the question. and then the wine ran out. You felt responsible for the guests; We feel the same bewilderment that you did, but now you are but your son was not yet ready for the huge commitment that here, and here is your Son, so we are able to whisper, “Let it be lay ahead. He argued. You insisted. For years you had been done to me.” his teacher, helping him to take first steps, and you knew now was the time for him to take the step that would establish his Thank you, Mary, for the emptiness that receives. mission. So water in jars became the wine of celebration, and a symbol of all that was to come. Thank you, Mary, for making the blessing of marriage, the first Joy Cowley miracle.

the Assumption (1950) were identified what the theologian Yves Congar created this sculpture in consultation as problems in Catholic-Anglican called two lungs: the lung of the East with the parishioners when the church unity. After years of study, ARCIC with its insights into spirituality, was redesigned. Mary points to the commissioned Mary: Grace and Hope icons, contemplation and liturgy that open Bible while she faces towards in Christ (2004). The Commission the lung of the divided West was able the altar of the church. Her gestures found these teachings are quite to re-receive the place of Mary in the highlight the Word and Sacrament consonant with Scripture and part of Christian faith. of her Son. In addition, the sculpture the ancient common tradition of the symbolises unity for it is a composite early Church. Those involved speak an image of materials, basically Oamaru of “the ARCIC method” of going The image of Mary as a mature older stone collected from the restoration behind entrenched positions to find woman is in St Mary’s Church, New of Christchurch’s two cathedrals, again what was held in common. It Brighton. In 1983-84, a parishioner, Anglican and Catholic. n was often when they breathed with Christchurch artist, Ria Bancroft,

Tui Motu InterIslands 7 August 2010 church in the world where men and mountains meet

Every doctor faces challenges in their career. But when New Zealand doctor, Jeph Mathias, chose to practise in the Himalayas, he found all kinds of new hills to climb

ainhelu peak looks down on us, puny people cycle of sowing and reaping, making and mending. I’m scurrying at her feet. And sauntering along without on my balcony, the sun’s turning pink and I have space to a care for humanity, the green-grey Chennab river think over a day in Madgram where, close to the soil and Bsings its own songs of freedom. This evening Madgram their animals, people dance to the rhythm of the seasons. villagers are burrowing away on their little strip of arable land between the upthrusted Here in remote Lahaul, high in the Indian Himalayas, we’re schist and gouging river. A at humanity’s ragged edge, my man with an ox-drawn plough wife Kaaren, our four children scratches furrows in the dark and I, working on community dirt, and women wheeling health where few medical services behind him swoop on the exist. Health, in New Zealand unearthed potatoes. They’re and Lahaul, is determined making ready for when Nature more by the relationship of pulls her winter woollens close people to each other and the over her exposed skin. land that sustains them than medical services. Therefore, Preparations for those six white though we do some traditional months are already well along: doctor-patient medicine, women twisting supple willow our role is more like socio- twigs into baskets or carrying anthropology. To offer locally sackfuls of autumn-gold grass sustainable health alternatives shorn off steep hillsides as we first have to get a feeling for winter fodder for their cow or the place and understand its sheep; and men lovingly watching barley whisky drip, drop underlying determinants of health. That’s a delight – here, by milky drop, into earthenware pots from their improvised life is not sophisticated or elegant, just cast in tradition, stills. In a month they’ll all be hunkered around tandoors uncomplicated and beautiful like the antique jewellery warming their hands, drinking chai or whiskey and talking hanging on the women. softly of days past and those to come. Faces around us are open and welcoming, creased like the When the green tide finally rolls back it will bring another mountains which mould them, and people dress in earthy

8 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 woollen fabrics with traditional handwoven motifs. When we arrived a neighbour invited us to her village ceremony to welcome in the spring festival of hariyal. We’re always asked to sit and sip milky chai, and yesterday we came home with bund gobi (cabbage) casually uprooted and given by a villager as we passed. In a system perfected over time, irrigation ditches and wooden sluices bring water from the unseen glaciers. It’s seldom said, but deeply understood, that those massive solid dams are what sustain us. Intricate social arrangements, also fine-tuned over generations, determine which channel is opened and which blocked by a slab of slate; which family group gets water each day. I like the simplicity of this raw, wholesome life. If modernity is Lycra-smooth then Madgram’s material is rougher; homespun and frayed by the mountains over which it is draped. This morning I visited a health worker in Ritholi, crouching in a jhula (kind of flying fox) to whizz halfway across the Chennab and then hauling myself up the final 40m, eyeing the ravenous water below. A 10-year-old girl got in as I got out, unfazed by a 15-litre milk can that almost matched her body weight. I enjoy hurtling across one of Asia’s great rivers and auscultating chests with my stethoscope as part of the same job. Even when I am a clinical doctor, soaring ridges and deep winters are always close. Every patient is a story to be listened to, a textbook chapter on human physiology, anatomy or psychology impacted by mountains, severe weather and extreme isolation. Treating patients here offers me challenges. Ingenuity often has to augment our limited equipment and limited skills. Once in Pangi, a very sick eight-year-old girl arrived on foot over a 5000-metre pass from Kashmir with a liver full of hydatids. She let us examine an abdomen lumpy with cysts, discovering what she and her mother surely already knew: surgery was her last chance. The mountains around us and her family’s meagre resources walled off all her other options – and ours. The doctor with me suggested making a hydatid trocar and we operated under general anaesthetic using my improvised cut-down syringe to drain 13 cysts. It was enormously satisfying. Returning from community health in the Ritholi government pre-school, bearing gifts of food given to me along the way, I find the village carpenter waiting. Kaaren had removed the local bone-setter’s cast – an egg yolk- soaked bandage – to reveal a broken arm, dislocated elbow and ominously dusky, pulseless hand. It was compartment (left) Jeph and family syndrome, a dreaded emergency. It requires immediate (top) Karen shares a light moment with a local woman; surgery – one I’d never done. Jeph crosses the Chennab in a jhula; sowing and reaping – a man demonstrates the pierced “I have to operate”. I said. “Even now it may be too late. goatskin he uses to winnow the barley You may lose the use of your arm.” He shrugged and held

Tui Motu InterIslands 9 August 2010 the limb towards me. “ I couldn’t sleep last night for the in overalls hungrily grubbing the ground with a drill like pain. Open it, get the badness out. If not I can still drive a metal proboscis. A little sign described an Indo-German my ox.” Deep stoicism is always found where men and private/public partnership that will generate so many mountains meet. megawatts of hydro electricity. My wild brown water is their liquid gold. Locals can’t read the sign but welcome My next responsibility – groceries – starts with a 3km ‘progress’ – some for the road which come as collateral, mountain-bike ride. Everyone knows everything about us and others for the possibility of a 40-hour-week and so there is no quick trip to Udaipur. In an hour I’d got regular wages rather than another season of planting peas my mail, retrieved three shoes and bought vegetables, but or herding sheep on high ridges. also interacted gently with people living before food miles, Wars on Terror, traffic jams, carbon footprints, or other On other rides I have seen little ‘notifications’ in English modern constructs. regarding various dams of the 14 projected for our little I was home in time for our local cook, Divyanti’s, dhal and stretch of Chennab. It seems wrong to shackle untamed rice with sliced cucumber. It is good food shared by our waters into a chain gang of hydro lakes, slaves to Punjab’s family and the others in our small health team out of the burgeoning factories. Wrong? New Zealand did it long midday sun’s reach. ago, Indian women need electric washing machines more than my New Zealand family does, and the voracious Usha arrives just after lunch. She’s the young woman production provides employment to millions. The steep from Naamu who helps with our gorges here at least mean that there will be conversational Hindi. She is part way no displacements and little loss of arable through masters-level English in Lahaul’s Deep stoicism is always land. What can I say? development is a two- only university. Everything is in Hindi. edged sword to which there is no defence. Rather than formal lessons she corrects found where men and us as we talk around a topic of interest, I wonder what will be gained and what today negotiating a path through village mountains meet will be lost when this world unravels (as it life as an educated but low-caste woman. surely will) and is rewoven into modernity’s While correcting my pronunciation she uniform fabric. Some day the road will be tells me about discrimination, ostracism sealed for tourists who drive over Rothang by other students, jobs and opportunities closed to her. and meander across bridges over the Chennab. In Udaipur cafes they will sip filtered coffee, check emails and buy a “Doesn’t caste seem wrong?” I venture. She smiles. “Wrong? stem of gladioli cultivated with tractors. I’ll be glad when It’s tradition, it’s my life here.” Lahauli fields are not tilled by orphans of neo-liberalism, The expectation is that she’ll soon be married to a Naamu modernity overthrows the traditions of caste, opportunity boy from her caste, milk the cow daily, and cut and carry is not restricted by gender and Pangi children have basic its grass. Like glacial water running through Madgram to medical care. join the Chennab her life runs in an intricate system of I’ll be sad though when the bears are gone and the glaciers pre-determined channels and slate grey doors that others are retreating behind them. I hope there’s never a hotel open and close. up where we met a shepherd smoking in the sun after My Hindi lesson lets me lift the veneer, and look at the local crossing ice in rubber sandals. One day only the old culture through Usha’s eyes. This view of village life isn’t people will remember to welcome the spring festival of so idyllic. Modernity didn’t bring discrimination, social hariyal, and there will be no free chai in quaint Udaipur. control and exploitation – they were already here. Maybe As modern doctors in a remote valley we’re completely development increases the scale of injustice, pollution, involved, the scimitar of progress in our hands too. All weapons stockpiles and skewed trade, but for some of us we can hope is that what little we may do might deflect it also affords freedoms and opportunities that Usha will the development trajectory slightly so that what evolves never enjoy. is something gentler to the Earth and other humans than our other world across the mountains has chosen. fter a full day’s work, I think back to my mountain As evening comes, I sit deep in shadow down on my bike ride early this morning on a road etched balcony at the skirt of our virgin mountain, Bainhelu. into a rocky gorge with the Miyaar river running Up on the snowy tops a long, low ray lingers. A truth Aand shouting way below. The river’s far bank looked as hits me: regardless of mountains men are men, capable of untouched and inaccessible as anywhere on Earth. immense beauty and terrible violation wherever they are. Lahaul has many such places. But this morning in the Untouched by humans, Bainhelu is blushing deep pink Miyaar I saw that the Earth’s most secret fold is not now with the sun’s last kiss. It’s magical. n sacrosanct. Just beyond the snowy gully, I came upon men Printed permission the Christchurch Press

10 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 divine beauty

John O’Donohue

e live between the act of minute to the next. Politics, religion, of our timid perceptions. The tragedy Wawakening and the act of economics, and the institutions of is that what we refuse to attend to surrender. Each morning we awaken family and community, all have cannot reach us. In turning away from to the light and the invitation to a new become abruptly unsure. At first, it beauty, we turn away from all that day in the world of time; each night sounds completely naive to suggest is wholesome and true, and deliver we surrender to the dark to be taken that now might be the time to invoke ourselves into an exile where the to play in the world of dreams where and awaken beauty. Why? Because vulgar and artificial dull and deaden time is no more. At birth we were there is nowhere else to turn and we are the human spirit. In their vicinity we awakened and emerged to become desperate; furthermore, it is because are unable to feel or think with any visible in the world. At death we will we have so disastrously neglected the refinement. They cannot truly engage surrender again to the dark to become beautiful that we now find ourselves us because of their emptiness; they invisible. Awakening and surrender: in such terrible crisis. pound our minds and feelings because They frame each day and each life; they lack the coherence to embrace between them is the journey where In a sense, all the contemporary crises the inner form of the soul. They are anything can happen, the beauty and can be reduced to a crisis about the not a presence but rather an absence the frailty. nature of beauty. When we address that evicts and vacates. difficulty in terms of the call to The human soul is hungry for beauty; beauty, new invitations come alive. rchitecture is one of the most we seek it everywhere – in landscape, Perhaps, for the first time, we gain a Apublic and permanent stages music, art, buildings, clothes, clear view of how much ugliness we on which a culture displays its furniture, gardening, companionship, endure and allow. The media generate understanding of beauty. Much of love, religion, and in ourselves. When relentless images of mediocrity and our sense of the beauty of an ancient we experience the beautiful, there is a ugliness in their talk shows, tapestries culture derives from the ruins of their sense of homecoming. We feel most of smothered language and frenetic architecture. In its Greek roots, the alive in the presence of the beautiful, gratification. Beauty is mostly word ‘architecture’ literally means for it meets the needs of our soul. forgotten and made to seem naive and ‘weaving of a higher order’. For a while the strain of struggle and romantic. endurance are relieved and our frailty When architecture manages to mirror becomes illuminated by a different The blindness of development creates the inner order of nature, the result light in which we come to glimpse rooms, buildings, and suburbs that is frequently beautiful. We respond behind the shutter of appearances the lack grace and mystery. Socially, intuitively to the order, harmony, sure form of things. this influences the atmosphere in proportion and rhythm that great the workplace, the schoolroom, the architecture incarnates. Goethe In the experience of beauty we awaken boardroom, and the community. said: ‘A noble philosopher described and surrender in the same act. We find We are turning more and more of architecture as frozen music... we that we slip into the beautiful with the our beautiful earth into a wasteland. believe this beautiful idea cannot be same ease as we slip into the seamless Much of the stress and emptiness that more aptly resurrected than by calling embrace of water; something ancient haunt us can be traced back to our architecture music that has merged within us already trusts that this lack of attention to beauty. Internally into silence.’ Beauty is the secret sound embrace will hold us. the mind becomes coarse and dull if of the deepest thereness of things. it remains unvisited by images and These times are riven with anxiety thoughts that hold the radiance of To recognize and celebrate beauty is and uncertainty. In the hearts of beauty. to recognize the ultimate sacredness people some natural ease has been of experience, to glimpse the subtle broken. Our trust in the future has Sadly, whether from resentment, fear, embrace of belonging where we are lost its innocence. We know now or blindness, beauty is often refused, wed to the divine, the beauty of every that anything can happen, from one repudiated, or cut down to the size moment, of every thing. n

Tui Motu InterIslands 11 August 2010 architecture

creativity for holiness

The author argues that we mimic medieval development. Our urban culture concentrates power in itself, whereas he is in favour of us looking again at distributing power, as the monasteries did – to find an alternative, more hopeful solution

Tony Watkins

n 1000 AD the world population excellence, and even then the urban Irish monasteries. They saved the was around 275,000,000, context is dismal. books, and they copied them, so that and fairly stable. By 2000 AD eventually they were passed down to theI world population was around Why is our human creativity at such us. The Roman Empire had never 6,000,000,000 and rising rapidly. In a low ebb, and what might we do taken over Ireland. The Irish were broad terms you could say that there about it? Instead of throwing around Celtic, nomadic, tribal and fiercely are now 22 times the number of people the fashionable clichés about how independent. who were alive during the mediaeval much better our drains are to justify period. As a wild approximation our failure, it is worth asking what As the monasteries became more we might expect now to find the we might learn from how things were powerful they were able to challenge equivalent of 22 Chartres cathedrals done in mediaeval times. the bishops. The monasteries were or 22 Le Thoronet monasteries. autonomous, independent, and rural. In a sweeping overview of history we The Irish monasteries followed the For all the talk of ‘economic recovery’ could think of 600-800AD as the tradition of the first monasteries, anyone taking a long, hard look at golden age for Ireland. Most of what which began when individuals went New Zealand, or the rest of western we know about Greek or Roman out into the desert to search for God. civilization for that matter, would be civilization was rescued for us by the These individuals wanted to be alone, forced to conclude that but others sought them in comparison with out to learn from their the medieval period holiness. Even today a our ‘human creativity’ monastery creates an is a basket-case. environment within Something has gone which an individual seriously wrong. Most can seek out God. tourists wandering The bishops in contrast around Europe are had picked up on overwhelmed by so Roman ideas. Power much medieval built- was focused in cities like environment excellence Carthage or Ephesus. that it becomes Paul kept his finger almost boring, and on the pulse. Today they need to take a we follow this same break in any one of concept of hierarchy. the superb medieval A concentration of hill-towns. A tourist power rather than a wandering around distribution of power. New Zealand needs a guide book to find any The Irish monks set built-environment out to convert Europe.

12 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 Architects who imagine they can ‘design’ a monastery miss the point. When seen like this it is no wonder that our economy-driven society is a creativity basket-case. A materialistic society sees buildings as objects and people as ‘human resources’. Individuals are reduced to boredom and frustration. Grafitti is not the problem. Our built environment is the problem. It is a direct reflection of how we go about building. No one is going anywhere. Individuals are only supporting a power-structure which makes it possible for the super-rich to indulge in even more useless activity. Personal creativity is the foundation on which the creativity of a society is built. A distribution of power is an essential My theory is that they found a ready Life is a journey not a conclusion. In first move to make this possible. Only acceptance among the nomadic medieval times every building was when every individual is on a journey people who had moved into Europe a journey rather than a conclusion. will it be possible for our whole society as the Roman Empire crumbled. They There was no rush to get anywhere. If to be going somewhere. Along the way talked the same language and had a building took 400 years that was not war, conflict, inequality and all those the same values. This was not unlike a problem, because it was the personal other results of concentrations of Pompallier in the Hokianga. He took spiritual journey of everyone who power could be left behind. Everyone Te Reo for granted 150 years before worked on the building which was would be too busy getting on with life. Rome thought it might be a good important. Love made the difference. Individuals would suddenly have the idea. At the heart of the medieval opportunity to do something which distribution of power was the concept Through the process of building, needed to be done. that searching for God was a personal individuals found not only themselves but also their way to God. Medieval spiritual journey. Others could guide As a beginning, perhaps, everyone buildings are quirky and eccentric, you or make suggestions, but finally could build their own house. Not so just like the people who built them. In you had to work it out for yourself. that they will end up with an object, a monastery you grew your own but rather so that they will discover There has always been a close link cabbages. You fell in love with your themselves and God along the way. n between power and architecture. place and began to understand it. You Tony Watkins is an Auckland architect, planner Urban design is a direct reflection of learnt how to hew stone. By the time and urban designer, and former lecturer in attitudes to power. In the medieval you got to the serious part of building architecture, who has a passion for what he calls rural countryside a complex network you were lost in love. vernacular architecture of villages offered an infinite array of possibilities. In the Cotswalds, warning sign for birds for example, you can still set out on your bicycle and move comfortably Never let from village to village until you finally land here any bird, return home by a different route. The pray none fall. next day you can follow a completely Delusory the fair different pathway. seeming shimmer underneath. Rather may exhaustion A Roman road, in contrast, got the claim the heart army to where it was needed. Our than a death so slow, motorways take us to nowhere in subtle and bizarre, particular because we miss out on making a journey when everything from this gleaming, calm in-between is a nuisance rather than oil slick far below something to be discovered. Beatrice Hoffmann

Tui Motu InterIslands 13 August 2010 architecture

building kopua monastery

Peter Stuart

n the countryside of southern visual noisiness of medieval images Rhone Valley, where the Cistercian Hawkes Bay, at Kopua near with a verbal noisiness of texts on life has been lived for nearly nine Norsewood, there lives a small walls and a clutter of ill-thoughtout centuries.) CistercianI monastic community in and ill-placed furniture. decidedly unpretentious buildings. The simplicity of spirit in Cistercian The simplicity of the buildings By contrast, the Cistercians produced architecture arises from several would no doubt delight the original a classic simplicity in many of their motivations. The most important of Cistercians, who were 11th and 12th buildings, rooted as they were in these is the ascetic; it is one expression century French monks seeking to the simplicity of a life given to of a life of poverty and renunciation return to the purity of the Rule of St contemplative prayer and worship. and discipline. Another is the clear Benedict. And the beauty of that simplicity functional mandate given to the can be stunning. (I think here of builders by St Bernard of Clairvaux in However, Kopua’s new guest-house, worshipping a couple of years ago in the great age of Cistercian expansion. designed by the architect Hugh the Abbey church at Aiguebelle in the And a third arises from a social justice Tennent, has paradoxically conscience. Bernard wrote: received a New Zealand O vanity of vanities, but Institute of Architects’ more vain than foolish! award. The paradox is worth The walls of the church are exploring, because over ablaze with riches, while the the centuries the beauty of poor go hungry; its stones Cistercian architecture in are covered in gold and its place after place has come children go naked; the money to be much admired. Yet for feeding the poor is spent this has happened in spite on embellishments to charm of the founders’ deliberate the eyes of the rich. . . What suspicion of the pursuit of relation can there be between beauty. all this and the poor, the monks, the men of God? Their instinct was to eliminate both the ostentatious and He would be saddened by the superfluous, producing the sight of the great and an architecture which was opulent Baroque Cistercian functionalist and minimalist monasteries of Central long before those terms were Europe, loyally shaped in invented. Colour, sculpture, accordance with the Counter- paintings, elaboration of Reformation response to liturgy, and sacramentals Protestant iconoclasm. like rich vestments – all He would, however, no were severely disciplined or doubt be reassured by frequently dispensed with Kopua’s simplicity even in altogether. The Protestant its award-winning guest- iconoclasts of the Continental house. It is in all probability (and sometimes English) the most comfortable of Reformation also followed the monastery buildings. this path but, as often as not, It is not for the monks only succeeded in producing themselves, and hospitality sterility in their whitewashed to the guest as Christ is a churches, and replaced the primary monastic practice.

14 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 Other buildings in the same style will follow, until the whole monastery is rebuilt in permanent form within a unified plan. While very comfortable, Grant me your sense of timing the guest-house has a severe simplicity of colour and line and furnishing. O God of all seasons and senses There is a serenity in the simplicity, grant me your sense of timing much of which comes from the to submit gracefully handling of light. and rejoice quietly Leroux-Dhuys writes: in the turn of the seasons. Cistercian light . . . was white thanks In this season of short days and long nights to a colourless glass that the architects of the Cistercian churches cut into simple of grey and white and cold stylized shape. . . The brightness of the teach me the lessons of waiting white light was augmented by reflection of the snow joining the mystery from the white-washed stone walls. of the hunkered-down seeds growing in their sleep He goes on to note: watched over by gnarled-limbed grandparent trees The General Chapter fought successfully resting from autumn’s staggering energy throughout the twelfth century against of the silent, whirling earth the introduction of colour, but gradually circling to race back home to the sun. the Cistercian abbeys succumbed to the temptation. The thirteenth-century O God, grant me your sense of timing. stained glass makers ended up by seducing them just as they had seduced the canons In this season of short days and long nights, in charge of the cathedral works. grey and white and cold For his part, Le Corbusier in the teach me the lessons of endings 20th century believed that captured children growing, friends leaving light should be seen, like shadows, as job concluding, stages finishing another form of material, noting that grieving over, grudges over Cistercian architecture is the intelligent, blaming over, excuses over. correct and magnificent interplay of volumes assembled under light. O God, grant me your sense of timing It is interesting, and by no means In this season of short days and long nights irrelevant, that the architect, Hugh of grey and white and cold Tennent, has Buddhist affiliations. teach me the lessons of beginnings Cistercian contemplative simplicity, Japanese minimalism, and a Buddhist that such waitings and endings sensitivity to meditation flow together may be a starting place, into a profoundly satisfying building. a planting of seeds At first sight it is deceptive because of which bring to birth its simplicity and because, at present, what is ready to be born – it sits uneasily alone on a cow paddock something right and just and different at the edge of the monastic enclosure. a new song But inside, it works at a very deep a deeper relationship level. a fuller love in the fullness of your time. The full completion of the monastic building project at Kopua could O God, grant me your sense of timing produce an exciting architectural creation – which is not, of course, the objective of the monks. n Ted Loder Peter Stuart is the editor of Art and Christianity

Tui Motu InterIslands 15 August 2010 There are many gifted people who have bright ideas, but there are not many who have either the money or the opportunity to put them into practice. If we are thinking of a grand architectural scheme, then there are very few who live to see their dream come to fruition. Such a person was the 20th Century Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis. Portmeirion: The fantasy village called Portmeirion is his creation and was visited recently by Michael Hill harbour of the island of Mary

View from the gardens above Portmeirion, showing the classical colonnade (built 1760), transported stone by stone from Bristol.

ortmeirion can be aptly described so he restored the house and opened Pas an architectural Disneyland. It it up as a hotel. It quickly flourished, is probably the most popular tourist because the location is so romantic destination in Wales – and with good and attractive. Within a few years he reason. Clough Ellis was born in 1883 was able to start building the village and lived well into his 90s. He had a behind the hotel up a steep slope. Some dream early in life of creating the ideal existing buildings were converted into ‘village’; he seized his opportunity rental accommodation. By 1928 he in 1925 when a derelict property had built a campanile, or bell tower, came on the market, on a beautiful which was, and still is, an eye-catching sheltered spot by the sea. Ellis was a feature. man of private means, so he snapped up the property, including land up the This was followed progressively by hill behind the house. buildings in a variety of styles. Some­ times he employed imported features, His first act was to rename the site. such as colonnades, statuary, and even Its original name was Aber Ia – whole buildings. The ‘Town Hall’ ‘glacial estuary’. His chosen name was erected in 1938 is substantially the Portmeirion: the ‘harbour of the island remains of Emral Hall, a Welsh stately of Mary’. The Welsh county name home scheduled for demolition – until Merioneth comes from the same root. Ellis intervened and purchased most Ellis was also financially shrewd, and of it. He had it taken apart, brought he knew that to realise his dream it across the country and rebuilt it stone would need to become self-funding, by stone on a commanding site facing

Campanile (1928). Ellis built this first (1928) as a ‘statement’ that something was happening.

16 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 village, punctuated by a commentary by Ellis himself, stalking around his creation in knee breeches and bright yellow stockings making quirky comments. Reading this account you might well imagine that Ellis simply created a glorious hotchpotch. What is he trying to achieve in Portmeirion? In his own words, he is making a statement against the “aridity” of modern architecture and style. His aim is primarily to give pleasure, and he succeeds. It is not so much the extraordinary variety of styles and decors – but that everything blends together into a glorious, harmonious whole. Portmeirion: Ellis had a vision and each feature fits into it precisely like pieces ina jigsaw. For instance the colour scheme is totally consistent: nothing ever harbour of the island of Mary seems to clash. And everything is to perfect scale. His miniature ‘city’ can be compassed on foot in just a few minutes. ss

View from the gardens above Portmeirion, showing the classical colonnade (built 1760), transported stone by stone from Bristol.

the piazza, the focal point of the whole widely sold: there are two shops in the village. village itself. A portico was brought from Bath in Portmeirion attracted other famous the South-West, Corinthian columns figures. Noel Coward came to stay in from Hooten Hall in Cheshire, as 1941 and wrote the highly successful well as a Victorian statue of Hercules play Blithe Spirit there. Ellis built holding up the earth: this he found an artist’s studio and tried to lure in Aberdeen in Scotland and brought the sculptor Augustus John to use it on the back of a truck all the way it – unsuccessfully. And, of course, south to Portmeirion, in 1960. Portmeirion became the locale for the Clough called his rapidly rising village cult TV series The Prisoner, starring “a home for fallen buildings”! Patrick McGoohan. Clough’s long labours were effectively He employed various artists to completed in 1973 with the erection embellish his creations. There was of the Tollgate at the entrance. It had his near neighbour, Welsh sculptor been a labour of love over 50 years. Jonah Jones; a painter who came from Germany, Hans Feibusch; and By this time he was 90 years of age, but there was even his own daughter still full of vigour as is evident from Susan, herself no mean artist. It was a very charming video, which plays Susan who with her husband started a continuously for the entertainment business in 1960 making Portmeirion of visitors. It consists of a succession pottery. The pottery continues to be of beautiful shots of every angle of the

Pantheon or Dome (built 1960). Used not as a church but for displays

Tui Motu InterIslands 17 August 2010 View of Portmeirion from waterside with the old hotel building in the foreground ss Another golden opportunity occurred a sense that it is still possible to people to dwell in ugly, brutal for him in 1941. Ellis was able to create a beautiful and harmonious surroundings. The motto of Clough purchase the gardens and woods urban environment, even if not Williams-Ellis was Cherish the Past, surrounding Portmeirion, and he later quite as extravagant as this. Most Adorn the Present, Construct for the worked with his daughter Susan to of his buildings are quite practical Future. All his life he strove for beauty, develop this woodland paradise as a fit – dwellings, shops, offices – but all which he described as “that strange setting for the jewel of his village. enhanced by delicious ornamentation. necessity”. To visit this idyllic place is Portmeirion is unique. No one who His message to our modern pragmatic to be strangely challenged and to have comes to see it can go away without world is that there is no need for one’s sensibilities forever enriched. n

‘Unicorn’ (1964) – an elaborate Georgian style house, used ‘Chantry” (1937) – built on the highest point, and containing for accommodation an artist’s studio intended for Augustus John

18 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 pastoral care of teachers

Paul Andrews

t a time when nuns and monks keeps her gaze fixed on teacher. And in second-level schools, exposes them Awere opening schools that linked teacher’s voice is in competition with the to a merciless manipulation of their with their convents or monasteries, St thousand voices of Youtube, Facebook, weaknesses by sharp-eyed and clever Thomas Aquinas was asked if caring for and the other seductive websites that teenagers. Yet they succeed. What children was compatible with the search beckon outside school hours. other managers can show a record of 90 for God. The monks thought of religious percent attendance by workers (i.e. the life as requiring quiet, the peace of the So my friend Fionnuala is not convinced pupils) without the incentive either of monastery garden, the opportunity to that she is doing the work of God. Now pay, promotion, or corporal punishment? pray without being interrupted. in her forties, she is well trained and Where else do you find predominantly experienced, and teaches young children female managers controlling large They contrasted teaching with farming. in what would be seen as a good national groups of males who often surpass the You knew the pedigree of vegetables, school. But the end of the week finds manager in strength, energy and even and when you planted them, they her exhausted and dispirited. She hates brains – and who not merely control stayed in place, and could be watered, herself for raising her voice, even, she them, but motivate them to work which manured and in due time, harvested. says, screaming at the children. Her is difficult, often boring to the pupils, When children arrived, the peace was spontaneity as a teacher is tamed and and demands sustained and sedentary shattered. There was noise and constant dampened by the official requirement to concentration at an age when they want movement. Things were broken. Ink divide the day into subjects, and submit to be active? was spilled. Children, unlike cabbages a plan for each week’s work, and then an or roses, had unknown pedigrees. They account of how the plan was executed. Teachers keep them working not merely did not stay where you planted them, or through the class-day, but also for followed instructions. If they didn’t like The signs of wear on teachers appear hours in the evening when they could you, they told you so. They demanded in the take-up of redundancy offers. be playing, dancing or watching TV. so much energy and thought that there So many teachers at the height of Teachers could claim to be the most was little left for ‘religious’ duties. their career are planning to take early successful managers and motivators in retirement with the best financial the country. Aquinas considered the question deal they can contrive. They become fairly, and his answer made an impact. discouraged when they should be – and But they themselves need to be stroked, Educating children was a work of often are – at their peak. to be made to feel good, not to be taken mercy, a giving of oneself, instructing If you ask them why, they speak of for granted. The Principal obviously has the ignorant, counselling the mixed-up, absence of recognition, of facing the key responsibility here. In a good keeping the peace, encouraging those in growing and basically unachievable family, parents examine their conscience despair, bearing with the troublesome demands from school authorities and every night to ask have they stroked and and immature, forgiving the rebels, from parents, as well as from public blessed their children more, or criticized praying for them and their families. Even opinion and the media. They feel them more. It is approval, not blame, if prayer and peace of soul suffered, it nobody approves of them, that they that fuels their children’s motivation was a work of God. cannot satisfy any of those to whom and self-esteem. For school principals, a Today’s classroom poses much greater they are accountable. Many of those similar scrutiny of their day would be a threats to one’s prayer and peace of who start teaching as a vocation, decline useful routine. into a sense of routine, of putting in soul. The pressure of examinations, the Teachers, like children, need recognition. intrusive oversight by departmental heads their week, drawing their pay, and seeking their satisfaction outside their In the best scenario, they receive it from and management boards, the limitless their pupils in the form of cooperation; paperwork, the demands of parents, and daily work. Where this decline happens, schools are in trouble. and from parents in the form of often a level of resistance and indiscipline consultation and expressed gratitude; by pupils, would wear down the most Schools have put energy and imagination and from one another in the shape of a high-minded teacher. into pastoral care of pupils, making lively and supportive staffroom, where Add to that the impact on the classroom allowance for special needs, adopting they can let their hair down safely and of mobile phones and the worldwide policies to combat bullying, offering seek help when they need it; and from web. While teacher is talking, students career guidance and other counselling. the Principal in the form of a perceptive may be deep in a texting conversation The last 40 years have also seen an eye and an encouraging attitude. Of outreach to parents, involving them as with one another, carried on under the all the ways of improving a school, partners in many ways. desk by blind but ingenious thumbs and possibly the cheapest and most effective fingers that can tap out a message on Teachers need pastoral care for for those who run it is the pastoral care their mobile and send it, while its owner themselves. Their daily work, especially of its teachers. n

Tui Motu InterIslands 19 August 2010 spirituality

an illumination: yoga and catholicism

Nicky Chapman

“... love of self, of others, and of God ... ‘though obviously different, “We’re talking 1967 or thereabouts, and the French were yet so amazingly dovetail into one another that not only is each found far more interested in wellbeing physically and spiritually in all and all in each, but where you have one there you have all, and than the English were then. The English found it a bit odd should one fail, all fail.’” (Aelred of Rievaulx) to be interested in your own wellbeing. read this passage not long after talking with Barbara “After I came back to England I was just practicing my own IWhitehouse in her cottage garden at Aramoana, near yoga using books, and working in a school for maladjusted Port Chalmers. Barbara is a fellow parishioner, and a very boys. I didn’t like the staff room where people smoked so popular, knowledgeable and down-to-earth yoga teacher. that you could hardly see across the coffee table. Instead Her life and thoughts seem to me to be living embodiments I would do yoga in the laundry room by myself, and of what the twelfth century then other staff members writer was celebrating. followed me. Eventually there were so many of us “I grew up Catholic in the we had to move from the North-West of England. If laundry room, then we you’ve got a central core of had evening sessions, and security it’s a most precious eventually the villagers got gift. I went to a Sacred Heart interested so we held our school and we were taught yoga class in the village hall. the practice of love and After that I started training forgiveness, and the joy and as an official yoga teacher. the privilege of our faith. I feel desperate compassion “I have been fortunate to for people with no faith – learn with many teachers and admiration too – they of yoga, some really good don’t believe in God and and some suspect and most Wow! they’re being good all in between. But everything by themselves!” that I took on board helped my Catholicism.” How did you become interested in yoga? How has it? “I went abroad as a “Well, take putting your governess to one of the great hands together to pray. French families. The father I’ve done that since I can of the motherless girl I was remember. It’s the whole governess to felt his daughter energy of your body and was pretty immature, so the attitude. If you put your he thought yoga was the hands together at your heart answer. centre it is a message to people on the outside that “There was just something you are calm and introverted, about the presence of her and, more importantly, yoga teacher. He was a quiet, reinforcing your own intent modest-appearing person – but the sort of person who to bring your awareness inwardly and protectively, and would stand out in a crowd although you wouldn’t know enlarging your own intention to pray from your heart. I why. I never actually spoke to him but I bought a book think of the times we have told the little darlings at school with pictures of yoga postures and found I could do quite ‘Hands together, eyes closed,’ not realising the power of a lot of them. that simple gesture.”

20 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 And meditation? What about the concerns some – even though it meant they had to change from their full people might have with focussing on nothingness, nun rig-out to leotards! If you think of the whole being – when Christianity is all about a loving relationship if you want to live and love and serve – keeping yourself with God? healthy is one way of helping. OK, it might be in God’s “I think the idea of trying to achieve an emptiness is plan for you to be totally crippled or paraplegic or whatever, misconstrued. What you try to do is withdraw your that’s another way, but it’s almost an insult to the creator to responses to outside influences – you are drawing your let your body go to waste. awareness inwards. “I had such a lovely loving grounding in my faith that “You can focus to wherever you want. It becomes powerful through the ups and downs of life so far, thank God, it so you have to make sure that you are focusing on something hasn’t been shaken. And then discovering yoga brought me wholesome and good. If you have some kind of idea of from beyond my own purely selfish joy in my religion to God then you can choose to focus on that – and God will feeling more at one with everyone else.” answer to all His names.” How have you shared your yoga? You suggest that in our yoga classes. “I’ve taught in a lot of places: schools, prisons, further “Yes, because as important as my Catholicism is for me, I’m education, yoga for both physically and intellectually not there to preach. I’m taking a yoga class and yoga is not handicapped, for people on heavy medication for a religion. I’m quite wary of saying ‘Focus on the name of depression, elderly people in rest homes, on yoga ‘holidays’. Jesus’ because immediately some doors will slam, but you “Mostly people come to yoga to do physical exercises but can use the virtues that will lead people exactly to God. they also relax together, and have one or two little ideas fed Yoga is about finding your way to God; it is just one of the into them about the lovingness that they are. That means many paths. that they can go out and be more loving to others. I don’t “I’ve got quite a few Catholics in the class and I’m sure propose yoga instead of church but it is a way of moving where they’ll be focused. However, I feel it is appropriate people back to realising a sense of community. just to guide people to find the best in themselves to focus “Sister Pauline O’Regan, in a lovely article in Tui Motu, upon. talks about observing children, to learn what Christ meant “Thousands of years ago meditation would be the only kind when he said to become like little children. Her findings of yoga to do. It was meditation to be at one with yourself, are that it is a matter of being in the moment, which is very with others, and ultimately, with God. A lot of the postures much a yoga philosophy. have only come in gradually. Many Westerners find that the “It is easier to live for the moment when you haven’t got to concentration necessary for postures helps prepare them for rush out to work and feed your family. One of the privileges stillness in meditation. of growing old in the East was to devote yourself to the “One of the yoga symbols is the horse, the chariot and spiritual life. Our elderly in rest homes are stuck in front of the driver. The body is the chariot. The horses are the tellies all day long. What good is that to their spiritual life? emotions and they will run wild unless the driver takes “We all get flashes of oneness – when we look at a little baby, hold. Meditation is to help you focus on the inner truth or starlight or a sunset, for example. Without thinking, which is God. The everlasting soul is encased in a body, for that flash, we totally identify, there is unity. We create, which is given to us as the instrument to live in until we expand and hold that unity in the stillness of meditation. get back to God. “For me, yoga illuminates and expands my Catholicism.” “You know, there’s a lovely idea – we are actually spirits struggling to be human.” Nicky Chapman is a mother, writer, and editor living in Port Chalmers, Dunedin. So you find as a Catholic that the insights of the ancient Eastern teachers were still about God? “Oh yes, absolutely. One of the ways for me of thinking about God is not from a theological but a simple human Photo of Barbara and young tour guide viewpoint. Imagine God at the top of the hill. You might in the desert, Australia, taken by live where there is snow or where there is sunshine or where Raymond Hawkins – see his website there is forest. To get to the top of the hill, you use the http://www.intotheblue.com.au/tours for method that is appropriate. information on the Gentle Desert Yoga program and other tours “In my early days of my yoga teaching I was reassured by nuns who ran the cancer hospice and they practiced yoga

Tui Motu InterIslands 21 August 2010 eucharist

creation made flesh

Pope John Paul II wrote of the Mass as a cosmic event, with its fearful darkness and irresistible brightness. The Eucharist is indeed a reminder that all are God’s body by virtue of Creation, a fact finally revealed in the Incarnation

Daniel O’Leary

ut what’s the point any already begun the mysterious process and mind. In the words of Julian “Bmore?” We hear the question of becoming flesh by first becoming Huxley, quoted by Pierre Teilhard de too often. It is regularly asked by Creation itself. Chardin, “... humanity discovers that disillusioned Catholics who no longer it is nothing else than (holy) evolution go to Mass. And by many who do. St Bonaventure and Blessed John become conscious of itself.” And, at At a precarious time for the Church, Duns Scotus held that the whole of the appointed time, after this long thoughtful young people want wider Creation was the necessary preparation infancy, the Human One was born. windows of wonder to capture their for the divine Incarnation in Jesus, the imagination, to strengthen their faith Human One. The fleshing of God was Moving beyond the destructive on a Sunday morning. not a later rescue attempt to put the doctrines of atonement-centred original, failed plan back on track. Fall theologies, cosmologist and cultural In recent discussions, liturgists or no fall, it was lovingly willed from historian Thomas Berry points out and believing scientists have been the very beginning. that Jesus did not come into the considering how the intrinsic world, added on later, so to speak, connection between the Mass and as a necessary afterthought; he came the world itself can be explored and the Incarnation of God into a world that was made originally expressed in our worship. Put another in and through himself as the creative way, how can the Mass be understood did not only happen 2,000 context of all existence. as a cosmic moment? Will this touch years ago... it began 14 something deep in all of us and Against this horizon, we are invited transform our hearts? And will the billion years ago with a to understand the Mass as the imminent “new translation” help or sacramental moment of an astonishing hinder this vision? moment we now call The revelation – the revelation of the love and meaning hidden in the first For a start, a truly incarnational Big Bang moment of Creation; the revelation of theology of liturgy insists that our the burning presence of God warming ritual acts of worship must never be and preparing the earth as a cradle seen as isolated interventions of grace “Creation”, wrote St Thomas Aquinas, of welcome for Christ; the revelation into our ‘merely’ secular lives and “is the primary and most perfect that the history of evolution is the world. Rather are they the symbolic revelation of the Divine... If we do not genealogy of the Baby. In receiving expressions of the holiness of Creation understand Creation correctly, we cannot Holy Communion, we experience the itself. This is hugely significant and hope to understand God correctly.” soul of the earth. takes some explaining. Neither will we grasp the quintessence The Eucharist encapsulates forever of eucharistic celebration. “The only The Incarnation of God did not only this astonishing song of love at the real fall of humanity,” wrote Alexander happen in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. core of the cosmos. In the sacramental Schmemann, “is its non-eucharistic life The Incarnation actually began 14 mode, Fr Berry holds, with bread and in a non-eucharistic world.” billion years ago with a moment we wine, the world is acknowledging now call The Big Bang. Two thousand The story can be told like this. An and celebrating its very being as years ago, the human Incarnation of eternally self-giving Parent-God, flowing from the womb of God at God in Jesus happened, but before already incarnate in Creation, had the beginning of time, and in each that, in the original incarnation of the waited for billions of years to achieve passing moment moving inevitably amazing story of evolution, God had self-consciousness in the human heart towards its divine fulfilment in Christ.

22 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 He identifies the Christ story with the existence is encapsulated in one and light. “This is my Body.” It is God- story of the universe. ordinary, daily sacramental moment. become-atom, become-galaxy, become- The Eucharist carries sublime Every Mass is a cosmic event. star, become-universe, become-earth, significance when understood as the become-human, speaking these words “Yes, cosmic!” John Paul II exclaims in deepest symbol of the hidden secrets of wonder to the whole of Creation in Ecclesia de Eucharistia. “Because even already buried and burning in the our own voice. when the Eucharist is celebrated on core of Creation. It is the liturgical the humble altar of a country church, In his poetic, eucharistic reflections, expression of the living river of love it is always, in some way, celebrated on especially in his Le Milieu Divin, that streamed out at the beginning of the altar of the world. It unites heaven priest-scientist de Chardin sees the time and now flows everywhere. and earth. It embraces, permeates and sacramental species as formed by the That love sustains the cosmos of our celebrates all Creation.” In his Feast totality of the world. And he perceives hearts and the heart of our cosmos, of Faith, he explains why “Christian the duration of Creation, “the growth “groaning in (their) one great act of liturgy must be cosmic liturgy, why of the world borne ever onwards”, as giving birth”, in their long journey it must, as it were, orchestrate the the time needed for its consecration. home. That is why the physical world mystery of Christ with all the voices The unfolding of the secrets of itself is the incarnate body of God and of Creation.” the phenomenon called life, in all will enjoy the same future as we will. At every moment, somewhere across its personal, earthly and cosmic Theologian Professor John Macquarrie our planet, the eternal words of dimensions, with its fearful darkness explains that this profound disclosure are spoken: “This is my and irresistible brightness, is the bread understanding of salvation is repeated, Body.” They sound around the earth and wine of God’s universal becoming. clarified, purified and celebrated at and they echo among the stars. They Without the Mass, we would surely every true eucharistic gathering “with a were whispered by our loving Mother- forget that our beautiful God is very directness and an intensity like that of God when the terrible beauty of the incarnate indeed! n (Creation and) the Incarnation itself”. first fiery atoms shattered the infinite Daniel O’Leary is based at the Our Lady The mighty mystery of universal darkness with unimaginable flame of Graces Presbytery, West Yorkshire

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Tui Motu InterIslands 23 August 2010 liturgy

do this in memory of me Marilyn Elliston laments the shortcomings of the new Roman Missal and how they may affect our attention, understanding and prayer

The liturgy is the summit toward which versions of that are there?) at its best beings – lifting them to consecrate the activity of the Church is directed; is simple, straightforward and to the the life of day-to-day with all that at the same time it is the fountain point – which does not contradict the is encompassed within, and yet from which all her power flows. expression and spirit of the poetic. St beyond, this horizon. Often when I (§10 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) Jerome was a precise translator within am at Mass it seems to me that the our history, but not a literalist. “If I catechesis that is required is to guide anguage is important to human translate word by word, it sounds people to acknowledge, recognize, and Lbeings (cf. a person who has lost absurd,” he said. understand that, because somewhere speech as a result of a stroke, for along the way some of us seem to It all seems like a return to the example). We use it to communicate have lost sight of why we are there and past for the past’s sake. There is meaning – to ourselves and to others. what we are doing. Introducing a new legitimate authority and there is It reflects the soul. Sometimes we literal translation of Latin is not going authoritarianism. There is change struggle to find exactly the right words to enlighten understanding. to convey what we intend. And each undertaken to improve things and language has its own internal and change that can make things worse. Given the freedom to act with their recognised structure, both verbally and While Rome for many years has due authority, I would have trusted in writing. Our world view changes paid lip-service to Vatican II and the New Zealand Bishops’ Conference over time with increased knowledge, its conclusions, it basically ignores to come up with an amended (where words fade from use, and new ones them and continues to claw back necessary) local version of the Mass. evolve to express a new reality or assume what the incumbent men there see I can’t help wondering whether the increased importance. Language as authority, and what I regrettably current text is what they would have requires relevance and credibility. often see as authoritarianism (ICEL’s chosen. I do not expect it to count for 1998 version was rejected by Rome). anything, but I protest: I have relied primarily on a website The Constitution on Liturgy (§40) set up by the American Bishops’ • that power is being misused to walk gave to the bishops of each region the Conference to look at the full text of us back into a long-ago past (and authority to produce local liturgical the ‘new’ Mass. To me there is little a different world view) rather than translations, subject to Vatican for the better either theologically allowing expression that is meaningful approval. That has since been ignored, or language-wise. This translation at the ‘summit and fountain’ in this day like so much else. requires a return to a literal equivalence of ours; of the Latin rather than a dynamic It goes without saying that there is a • that increasing centralized authority version which aspires to convey the need for consistency in the celebration runs counter to all the inspiration inherent meaning in the vernacular. of the Eucharist, but that does not and vision of Vatican II (the teaching In some instances that sacrifices mean that each individual word or magisterium of the Pope and the intelligibility for rigid formalism, it is expression will be used in the same world’s bishops); awkward, and lacks flow. way throughout every language or culture. What are we about in liturgy • that literally translating Latin into Latin is a language of subordinate other than, communally, conveying English is somehow thought to be what clauses and commas that result in and celebrating the reality of the risen, is required to ‘re-spiritualize’ the Mass. lengthy complex sentence structures. living, Son of God among us? Often the present order of words The Liturgy Constitution (§7) has been changed to reflect Latin Liturgy is source and summit. It is describes the Mass as “the great work structure without any change to the also ultimately pastoral. It should of giving perfect praise to God and existing meaning in current English reflect the experience of, and be able making (men) holy” – “a sacred action anyway. So we end up speaking to be owned by, the culture of which surpassing all others.” This new text is ‘Latin in English!’ What is the point? it is part. It should be all that speaks a grossly retrograde step in how we do English (and how many recognisable to the heart and nature of human that. I live in (dented) hope! n

24 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 film reviews

intimate. In one wonderful bedroom a passionate, if flawed, tribute to tolstoy scene, the pair bounce around the room imitating the calls of rooster and hen. And at the end of the film, as Tolstoy lies The Last Station dedicated to passive resistance, but there dying at the railway station at Astapovo, Film Review: Paul Sorrell is not a Tsarist oppressor in sight, and we we are given a glimpse of the love and never get even a glimpse of a Bolshevik, came to this historical drama – billed despite the year being 1910. The only tenderness she has nurtured for him in I as an exploration of the tempestuous workers we see are well-heeled young the depths of her heart. relationship between Count Leo Tolstoy communards playing at being peasants, The action is seen through the eyes and his wife, Countess Sofya – with a scything crops and cutting wood. real sense of expectation. I have long of Tolstoy’s naive young secretary, admired Tolstoy (without knowing a For me, the film is like a gem without a Valentin, and the volatile romance great deal about him), and relished the setting. But what a gem it is. Plummer that develops between him and fellow opportunity to see two mature actors, excels in his portrayal of Tolstoy as an communard Masha provides a deftly Christopher Plummer and Dame Helen unworldly but warm-hearted bear of a man handled foil to the relationship between Mirren, at the top of their form. about to sign over his inherited wealth to the main characters. Masha is also a the movement he has founded. Alarmed practical foil to his dewy-eyed idealism: While the film certainly delivers as a at this prospect, and deeply suspicious of “I’ve never met the human race”, she passionate love story, with plenty of the motives of her husband’s inner circle, says, “but I have known many individual obstacles thrown in the lovers’ path, it Mirren’s countess pulls off one histrionic could have been a far richer film, even men and women.” stunt after another in an attempt to protect a great one. The problem is that the love the ancient aristocratic family to which Despite its shortcomings, The Last Station story unfolds against a very shadowy is in many ways a fine centenary tribute historical backdrop. The depth and she has devoted her life. to one of the world’s great novelists and richness of Tolstoy’s life and thought If their relationship is troubled and a Christian thinker who strove to live out are only hinted at. We are told that the turbulent, it can also be also loving and socialist movement he founded was the heart of the Gospel. n

from the life of Peter and Colleen two outstanding documentaries Karena and their six young children, who live from the land, hunting pig and The Choir contest for choirs from both men’s and deer for food, and training and selling Michael Davie, National Geographic women’s prisons. wild horses to survive. They live at the Films/Australia Essential Viewing margins of what most of us consider a co-production The evident pride and enthusiasm among normal life, yet they radiate a sense of This Way of Life, the gaily dressed prisoners is infectious, enjoyment and what I can only describe Tom & Barbara Burstyn, and we hold our breath as the choir sings as goodness. The children are captivating Cloud South Films, NZ Panis Angelicus (music by César Franck, in their complete unselfconsciousness Reviews: Patricia Kane words by Thomas Aquinas) – we sang and affinity with the horses and their this at our school on special occasions! natural surroundings. Life is not all he first of these two films, The We get some insight into the lives of smooth – there are some unexplained TChoir, shows the redeeming power Coleman and Jabulani as they leave prison nasty occurrences seemingly connected of music among a group of prisoners to look for work or try to pick up family to a family feud on the part of one of in a South African jail, a place where connections, with all the difficulties the older relatives, but the complete men are locked for 16 hours in cells imposed by their prison record. There acceptance and lack of bitterness by the with up to 40 others, violence and rape is hope at the end for these two, and one husband and wife are extraordinary. are endemic, and only the toughest or two others, helped by sympathetic Their values are deeply Christian, to can survive. We follow an older man, prison staff and a woman counsellor, who Coleman, over a number of years as he bravely relates her story of being raped be admired by those of us who pay chooses and trains a disparate crew in to the inmates. It demonstrates what is only lip service in good times to what the art of choral singing. He is not gentle needed to turn criminals back into human we claim to profess. with them, but he gives them a sense of beings and fellow citizens. Is anyone I urge you to go to these films, purpose and self worth. Jabulani, the listening in government or Corrections in (available on DVD), for an experience 19-year-old, whose story is also told, this country? of what good people can achieve in is caught selling drugs, so is promptly our fractured world. n dropped until he can show his remorse he second film, This Way of Life, and willingness to change. We become Twas filmed over four years by the involved with the men, willing them Burstyns. It is set in the back country of Printed permission Art & Christianity to succeed at the nation-wide annual the North Island and shows us episodes

Tui Motu InterIslands 25 August 2010 faith and culture

Chris Hegan interviewd author William Dalrymple when he was in Auckland recently for the Readers and Writers festival

a run if I’d been interested in science, “Suddenly there I was in a completely astrophysics and biochemistry. But in old school, Vatican I, authoritarian, history, medieval history, archaeology to my mind superstitious setting. Part and literature and so forth I received as of that was the old belief that if you good an education as you could have hadn’t acknowledged Jesus Christ as hoped for. Many of the things I write your Saviour you were destined for about today have their roots in the the eternal fire. classes I was taught there at 16 and 17.” illiam Dalrymple is the “There was a lot of that in the Mother Wconsummate aristocratic I suggest that many of our era who Teresa Centre. In part, the poor were author package. Cultivated but have this kind of upbringing end up being brought in so they might have unaffected diction, strong nose and rejecting it, but Dalrymple has stayed some chance of salvation before they chin beneath a high, rounded brow; with it. died. And yes, of course they were laughter lines flank clear blue eyes. given what was available in comfort, “I’ve just about stayed with it,” No loafing on his plentiful laurels respect and dignity. he corrects, to my surprise if not for this prolific aristocrat though, consternation. After all, I am here and plentiful they are – a prodigious “I felt very uncomfortable with that hoping to interview a more or less output in radio, lectures and essays militant form of the church. It caused exemplary Catholic. as well as a fair swag of books for his me quite a shock. And on the other 45 years. Every one of his works has “Don’t get me wrong – I have never hand there was this absolute panoply collected at least one major award. been an atheist and am certainly not of other religions, all practised with one now. I would say I have moved devotion, having all these followers “I was born into what you could call from being a questioning Catholic and so forth. I simply had to face the a fundamentalist Catholic family. My to a questioning agnostic. And I’m question: Can it really be the case that parents went, and still go, to Mass most quite open to swinging back. Religion we’re right and they are all simply days. My uncle is a priest, my brother is one of the major railway tracks wrong? And if they’re not all wrong, is a priest, my great-uncle would have along which life runs. And whenever what’s the next step from that? become a priest had he not been killed I travel to a new country I find myself “This is the dilemma which I faced in WWI. I grew up in a world seen looking at this aspect of the people’s as a young Catholic aged 18, and through religious spectacles.” lives, whether it’s in Bali and I see which is exactly the dilemma faced by the farmers placing litle rice offerings I have to ask the ‘Brideshead question’. Islamic preachers. Do you just go and at the end of their paddies, or in the destroy all the idols, just assume this is “Was there a chapel in your house?” Carribean and I see the cargo cults Laughter. “Oh no, the family was well and voodoo. I see people in Barbados a heretical religion, or do you follow away on the downward slope by the time starting their election campaigns in the path taken by the Sufi mystics – I was born. I was brought up in a modern graveyards!” do you look for truth in disguise? bungalow. But there was a chapel in the “I’m a lot less overtly religious than I I wonder aloud what has led him in house my father grew up in. was 20 years ago, and if I go to church latter years to slip the reins of the faith at all it is often because of my wife “I was lucky enough to have the almost to some extent. Dalrymple swings back: and children bringing me. In fact, our ideal liberal Catholic education at “Did I say that?” only to confirm: children are just now being confirmed. Ampleforth College, a boarding school “India has done that to me. I came in the post-Vatican II Cardinal Hume out to work with Mother Teresa “But what remains, often to my own tradition, taught by Benedictine monks of Calcutta, aged 18, having been surprise, is the degree to which I study from the Abbey, marvellous libraries, brought up in a post-Vatican II, the world through religious spectacles. all that sort of thing. intellectualised, very liberal Catholic And it’s remarkable how many people “I wouldn’t have had nearly as good tradition at Ampleforth. I end up working with have similar s

26 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 book review

faith stories ancient and modern

Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in as the ultimate sacrifice required to let And there is a chilling account of a Modern India them reach their goal. Their stories are woman living with many other ash- William Dalrymple at odds with the increasingly Western- smeared Tantrics on a cremation Publisher: Bloomsbury, 2009 style success stories of modern India; ground at Tarapith in Bengal, seeking Review: Kathleen Doherty in some cases the proximity of the skulls to drink from or use to decorate ancient spiritual to the modern is their houses, worshipping the goddess illiam Dalrymple fell in love incongruous. Tara. Her account of her life and Wwith India when he first visited The author writes that the idea for the her beliefs is punctuated by updates as a teenage backpacker. Subsequent book came from an encounter he had from her partner of the latest cricket visits and longer periods of residence on a trek to the Himalayan temple scores – the normality of the domestic have led to lively and witty travel of Kedarnath, believed by Hindus scene is a startling contrast with the books – City of Djinns (1993) and The to be one of the principal homes of mysterious Tantric rites. Age of Kali (1998) and two histories Lord Shiva. He fell into conversation – White Mughals (2002) and The Last with a young ash-smeared and Two narratives in particular are Moghal (2006). completely naked sadhu (holy man) moving. One is the story of the Jain who, it transpired, had been a sanyasi nun who, at the age of 38, embarked Now 25 years of exploring India has (wanderer) for four years: before that on the process of sallekhana, the resulted in Nine Lives: in Search of the he was a sales manager for Kelvinator, ritualised giving up of all food and Sacred in Modern India, which takes the and had done an MBA at Patna sustenance resulting in death from reader into worlds which are scarcely University. “But one day I decided starvation, regarded by Jains not as imaginable. In his account of the lives I could not spend the rest of my life suicide but as the ultimate form of and experiences of nine individuals marketing fans and fridges. So I just detachment. Her decision followed William Dalrymple explores, as he left… rubbed ash on my body and the death, by the same method, of the puts it, “the extraordinary persistence found a monastery.” nun who for 20 years had been her of faith and ritual in a fast-changing companion in the search for spiritual landscape.” An equally incongruous story, told briefly in the introduction, is that of liberation. The nine people whose lives are a celebrated Tantric, found preparing revealed all live on the fringes of Indian a sacrifice for the goddess Kali, who The second is the story of the Buddhist society, all are on a spiritual quest had been been a feeder of skulls in his monk now living near the Dalai making enormous demands of them, youth, summoning the spirits of their Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, who in some cases demanding their death dead owners. He would not talk about had entered a monastery in Tibet at that now – his two sons were successful the age of 15, but renounced his vows ophthalmologists in New Jersey and to take up arms against the Chinese s backgrounds and stories. For instance, had given him specific orders not to when they invaded Tibet in the 1950s. Rosemary Dawson, the very talented talk about what he did, lest it damage Now, in his late 70s, he has donned his director of this big Radio Four 24- their successful East Coast practice. monastic robes again and spends his part series on mysticism that we did, time atoning for the killings he carried The interviews for the book were out by printing exquisite prayer flags, was the fairly lapsed daughter of an conducted in eight different languages, Anglican bishop. and reciting the mantras of repentance and from Dharamsala in the north in an effort to remove the bad karma. “It seems you can put it aside, you can to Kannur in the south, with four even strive to shake it off and actively women and five men, Hindu, Jain, This is not a book to be read quickly. The get rid of it, but even if you become Buddhist and Muslim. stories are too exotic and challenging obsessed with rejecting a religious They tell of the Dalit (he would to be skimmed over. Dalrymple has upbringing it remains there as the formerly have been referred to as intruded little in their telling, letting thing you’re obsessed with. ‘untouchable’) prison guard and the nine speak freely. He makes no “Personally, I carry on now out of digger of wells who for two months of judgement as to the value or otherwise habit and the conviction that there is the year is transformed into the god of their chosen lifestyles, but provides good in the tradition I was brought up Vishnu – the men who queue to kiss historical and social context, without in and it is better to have a faith than his feet include those who would not which the reader would be left none.” n allow him to drink from the wells he floundering. The result is a totally s Printed permission NZ Catholic has dug on their properties. absorbing read. n

Tui Motu InterIslands 27 August 2010 book reviews

prayer is god’s work in us

Original Prayer: Themes from the and family stories of Teresa, Francis, well. Personally I did not find this Christian Tradition Benedict and Ignatius and to become chapter so inspiring. Perhaps that is by Lavinia Byrne aware of how these stories impinged because much of what is spoken about Orbis B ooks, 2008 on their life choices and their has not been my experience. The final Price: US$16 relationship with God. The author has question though for all of us is How Review: Judith Anne O’Sullivan a great ability to convey in a simple do I prepare myself to face Eternal Life? and concise way the essence of each Themes person she is writing about. Obviously The subtitle of this book is his book captivated me from the from the Christian Tradition. For me the model each one presents to us is very beginning when I read in the overall theme is, as I mentioned in T influenced by their nature, nurture the Introduction that Prayer is not our the opening paragraph, is that prayer and above all their spirituality and work. It is something the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us and our response is theology. does in us. Now you may say this is to remain open and available for the obvious yet we can ‘work’ at prayer as There is much to recommend this gift. In other words we are invited to though it all depends on us. Having book and I ask myself what touched put God at the centre of everything. laid this foundation the author me the most? I think it would have TheJesus prayer and Taize are also part continues in the rest of the writing to to be the chapter on prayer and art. of the Tradition and have their own validate her premise. Chapter eight entitled And the Word chapter. became flesh illustrates so well that As a Spiritual Director reading this The theme that is lacking for me is beyond words music and art open our book I am led to reflect on all the Meditation. I would love to have seen imaginations to the sacred and the techniques which have been part of a chapter on this topic. However divine, to God the first musician and my journey. I find it so refreshing this book is a very nourishing read artist. The visual and auditory are part to be reminded again that our to ponder, reflect and live. Life is a of our Spiritual experience. relationship with God does not have school of prayer reminding us that it to be negotiated, it is a given. There All this may be true for the Christian is in God we live and move and have is a place for methods of prayer yet n but what about Judaism and Islam? our being. always with the reminder that it is Here the author poses many questions God who gives the gift. It was her which require the reader to have an relationship with God that turned Teresa’s life around. Once she stopped open mind. Can anything created trying so hard God could take over. represent the Godhead? And how We can be so imbued with the work does one pray with an icon? These ethic that it can permeate our prayer questions and many more will provoke life as well as our daily life. your thinking as you read the chapter about art and religion. In the presence if you really love reading I love the way the author has chosen of great art we are exposed to the your Tui Motu, you might four very different Saints from the transcendent and become more than Tradition to speak about the different ourselves. Lavinia called me beyond like to remember us in ways of praying. As someone who myself in this book. teaches Myers Briggs personality your will type I find these Saints exemplify The chapter on Prayer in cyberspace the findings of Carl Jung. This book I found fascinating. Is the Internet a reminds us that it is from the essence friend or enemy of the gospel? You Tui Motu Foundation of our being that we will relate to God could spend your days visiting the and indeed to any human being. The various websites the author gives us P O Box 6404 important thing is to be true to who and still not be satisfied. Dunedin North 9059 we really are and to pray in a way that The last word in this book the author honours the gift of our God-given commits to prayer when you are personality. ill. The best way to deal with prayer It is great to be given the opportunity when we are ill is to know what we to read in just a few pages the history understand by prayer when we are

28 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 christian faith through a young atheist’s eyes

I Sold My Soul on eBay – viewing faith another minister in a large evangelical of the darker side of atheism (the through an atheist’s eyes church. And ultimately he wrote Dawkins, Hitchens, Sam Harris Hermant Mehta this book which is published by a school, for example); the innumerable Published by Waterbrook Press 2007 Christian publishing house. atheist blogs that mock Christianity; NZ price $27.99 the secularist and often amoral Unlike many of the ‘new atheists’ Review: Mike Crowl attitude that prevails in many who write vitriolic diatribes against countries (perhaps not so much in ehta became a self-proclaimed Christianity, Mehta is fair: critical North America). He’s an atheist with atheist at the age of 14, after where necessary, praising frequently. M good morals, a sense of social justice, rejecting his family’s belief in Jainism, He puzzles over Christians who come and a concern for those worse off an ancient Indian religion that to church late seemingly in order to than he is. But by promoting reason prescribes a path of non-violence miss the music; he expresses hurt towards all living beings. Focusing on that many Christians have a them/ and science as his guiding lights, he reason, he decided that he could be us mentality; he sees many rituals as downplays the possibilities of faith. just as moral as the next man in spite pointless mostly because those doing The section of the book that I found of having no belief in God, or gods. them don’t seem to have any heart for most interesting is where he discusses them; he finds it strange that there in some detail his visits to the various Nevertheless, Mehta has remained a doesn’t seem to be a way of asking churches. His insight in these chapters man who thinks a good deal about questions after the service in order to religion and spirituality. Still only in clarify issues. is clear and sharp. In other parts of his twenties, he continues to think the book there’s an occasional naiveté seriously about truth. He meets more than a few ministers not so much about what he’s seen, who impress him greatly with but about life in general. It’s a young In 2006 he hit upon a novel way of their preaching, or in face-to-face man’s book; it would be interesting testing out religious belief. He offered encounters. to see how he viewed some things in himself as a prize on eBay: he would Throughout he maintains an evenness another decade or two. He blogs at visit any church, temple, mosque or of tone, carefully avoiding mention friendlyatheist.com n other religious building for an hour each week for every $10 he received in his auction. To his surprise he became something of a celebrity, and his auction finally closed at just over $500. The person who ‘bought’ Mehta, Jim Henderson, was a Christian minister who suggested that rather than go to the same church every Sunday for the next year, he could go as a kind of Fairtrade Clerical Shirts ‘secret shopper’ to some 15 churches Instore Now! in the surrounding region. He would fill out a report and write about his Exceptional Cut & Quality visits on Henderson’s website. By British Shirtmakers Butler & Butler $84.99 each Includes collar Henderson wasn’t out to convert insert (tab) Mehta; in fact, he often paid people to Black, Grey, Dark Blue, visit his own church to see how, from Light Blue and White Free delivery in NZ an outsider’s point of view, things (long or short sleeved) could be improved for those curious enough to attend. Mehta went to small, large and mega churches. He Ph: 0508 988 988 Email: [email protected] was invited to spend one weekend www.christiansupplies.co.nz discussing his point of view with

Tui Motu InterIslands 29 August 2010 comment

The only restriction was a limit of reality three to six priorities. Disenfranchised Catholics were sought out for focus bout 15 years ago Prime Minister groups to listen to their concerns and AJim Bolger was criticised for Crosscurrents to incorporate their views into the declaring that NZ was ‘part of Asia’. Jim Elliston planning process. In his 15 March column in the Dominion Post, veteran political This information was combined commentator Colin James analysed with demographic data, input from “east Asia’s growing indispensability outweigh the continuation of a ‘we numerous diocesan bodies and to our Polynesian and British outlier have the truth, come and join us’ other stakeholders. The strategic nation”. attitude. There are many exceptions, planning committee relied on outside notably among women Religious, but professionals on an as-needed basis He points out that China is our second the pervasive culture of the old ways for certain aspects of the planning, largest export recipient and may well still prevails. To regard missionary including contributions from non- become a major source of investment activity as restricted to foreign lands is Catholic experts. here. But China has links with Korea a hangover from colonial times. and Japan. India also comes into In 2008, a five-year strategic plan play. We won’t be able to compete St Paul has a lesson for us. He not only was published. Six actions were in labour-intensive industries. realised that the life and teachings of emphasised: leadership development Consequently New Zealand will need Jesus were the culmination of Judaism, (lay and clerical); youth and young to develop stronger relationships with fulfilling the old order, but his genius adult programmes; faith formation (all all these countries. James explains that lay in recognising that it was the ages); homelessness issues; facilities because “real relationships are not beginning of a new order: to preach the management and land assets. those between heads of government, Gospel unencumbered by Jewish Law. The diocesan staff have been reorganized ministers and diplomats but those This brought him into conflict with around the six goals. Every parish budget between people, it will also require some influential ‘followers of the Way’ and annual report is now oriented to the re-education of our education for whom the idea was anathema. It is the specific parish goals in the context system.” a common human trait to take refuge in the traditional ways of acting, and a of the plan. There is a high level of Asian studies covering history, art, kind of ghetto mentality comes easily. engagement both at parish and diocesan culture and intensive language levels, stemming from widespread initial programmes to teach Mandarin, In the business world, where survival participation in the formulation of the Japanese, and Korean will have to be depends on making sales, customer pastoral plan priorities. A fundraising introduced at secondary school level orientation is vital. Having a target of $30 million resulted in pledges if NZ is to be able to survive in the worthwhile product is not enough. of over $57 million. future. Business people engaged in Some common barriers are: adopting beating unemployment. China, for example, all stress the need a ‘we know best’ mentality; giving to understand the cultural milieu. precedence to personal priorities; inance Minister Bill English laying blame elsewhere when the Frecently told business leaders that mission begins here customer does not respond; not Corrections is set to become the largest n a move acknowledging the accepting change e.g. circumstances government Department within two IChurch’s failure, Benedict XVI which may no longer be favourable to or three years. There are currently is to establish a new Vatican body, a particular approach; unwillingness 7,184 staff, 9,131 beds catering for the ‘Pontifical Council for New to make the upfront investment; about 8,400 prisoners, forecast to rise Evangelization’. Its purpose is to assist insufficient attention to detail. to 12,500 by 2018. He said: “Every the (western) Church to engage ‘in time you call for harsher penalties respectful dialogue’ with secularism. an encouraging beginning the ($M400) shortfall gets bigger (by The hope is to re-evangelise the n becoming bishop of Honolulu $90,000 a year, plus $250,000 capital western world, which regards the Oin 2005, Larry Silva began expenditure).” church as irrelevant. drawing up a strategic plan. Over the next two years he and two assistants Meanwhile, Corrections Minister A major factor in the drift from the hosted open meetings that included Judith Collins proclaims the positive church in recent times stems from a dozens of lay leaders at every parish. effects of the new 960-bed prison in post Vatican II ‘business as usual’, The 66 parishes each created a fact South Auckland: 1,900 jobs plus $1.2b paternalistic and clericalist approach. sheet, a written list of goals, and in economic benefits over 30 years. Relatively superficial tinkering can’t concrete steps to implement them. Perhaps every town should have one. n

30 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010 was also proud of the bishop’s ascension thursday ring given to him by John Paul II. I started to wonder if people at the ave you ever made a good public atmosphere, the music, the preaching. very top of the Catholic Church were Hmistake? I did recently when I Things that repel me, such as very also unhappy with disunity. I found discovered that Ascension Thursday long services, are not a consideration. out that Cardinal Ratzinger, before was now on a Sunday. I am not I wonder whether church unity might becoming Pope, pointed out to the very good at dates and times in the happen because a younger generation Anglican Bishop of London, Bishop liturgy as I forgot to buy a Columban stops worrying about authority and Leonard, who wanted to join the calendar. On Thursday I was up linear apostolic succession. Catholic Church, that he wrote to him North at meetings in the morning and using the form of address he would travelling in the evening so knew I I remember reading Thomas Merton: use to a Catholic Bishop. could not go to Mass. However, on “How dare we pray for unity when it Sunday I was flummoxed to find that has been given as a gift of the spirit.” Perhaps finding out that Jesus the Ascension was now changed to a I thought I was one of the few who ascended on a Sunday was not the end Sunday. I gather this is not new but really cared and then I realised that of the world, but realising that others, I was overseas for a few previous other people, more important than much higher up the tree than I am, years. I grew up knowing deep inside me cared as well. When Pope Paul are also concerned about Christian that Jesus ascended on a Thursday VI, a great man, met Archbishop disunity, was an inspiration. Michael Ramsay at St Paul Outside and it takes a lot of rethinking to have We have a lot to learn from our it happen on a Sunday. It is like being the Walls, it was a historic moment. young people who are not worried told that Easter Sunday was really a This, the first meeting of Pope and about ascending on a Thursday or a Monday. an Archbishop of Canterbury since Sunday. Perhaps our desire to be right the reformation, was highly scripted, Some things are not worth fighting for and to be the ‘better’ or ‘true’ church down to the rather stiff embraces. At compared to other churches is just but Jesus ascending on a Sunday was the end of the meeting, and to the surely of some concern to people! another manifestation of the public consternation of his advisers, Paul VI display made by the two disciples It was also the start of the week of took his own bishop’s ring, and gave prayer for Christian Unity. Sometimes who asked Jesus if they could sit one it to Archbishop Ramsay. Catholic I wonder why we bother, as Christian on each side in the kingdom. Jesus ecumenists still try to explain it away disunity is the norm. People of was disappointed in their request and but in a highly sacramental church my generation seem comfortable I wonder if he would be similarly this is a significant act. with the divide. Interestingly, the disappointed in us if we are jockeying students among whom I work are In the medieval Church, and still for positions. n not as comfortable. They are very today, the ring is a sign of the bishop’s Peter Norris free to visit different churches. What authority. The former Anglican Fr Peter Norris is Master of St Margaret's attracts them is a variety of things: the Bishop of Dunedin, George Connor, College, University of Otago

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Tui Motu InterIslands 31 August 2010 postscript

technicolour lichens and the tenacity of tiny alpine plants. A Mothers Journal... Then I had energy to sit still in my Himalayan eerie and pray for friends and family in India, New Zealand, Kaaren Mathias Thailand, and Cambodia.

eeping myself company is a slowly growing art. After lunch it was snowing again – back to the tent. KTwo decades ago as a medical student in Dunedin All I had was a Hindi New Testament. Glad I knew the I discovered solitary walks, bike rides and yellow-eyed gospel stories I read slowly and carefully. I wrote down penguins on the Peninsula. But the last ten years with new vocabulary like ‘plead’ ‘robe’ ‘power’ and ‘to fall at his children have provided few opportunities to savour my feet’. Next time to look in detail at maps of this wild and own company. It does feel luxurious when it happens beautiful area. I schemed routes to walk with the family though, like my day last week stuck in a tent. and made geographical connections of rivers, ridges and rain shadows clearer in my head. Maps are always a source It had started with me impatiently stamping around in of joy. pre-dawn tussock imagining a clear sky and stars when all I could see were thick clouds. Hoping to cross a high pass Late afternoon. I wrote another song, borrowing a I felt impatient and irritated. Plans spoiled, I had nothing favourite Eric Clapton tune. This one’s for my little Jalori: to do for a day and imagined all the jobs I could be doing She hears the first song at home and thought “What a waste!”. Of birds calling on the dawn So climbs into my bed “Be still!” was what I heard. Trailing books and toys… Back in the tent, a rare sleep-in was enhanced by the That evening I meandered up the valley under clearing light patter of rain and snow on the tent fly. Later, warm skies. Sang some more… Thought some more... Prayed mid-morning sun on rocks led me to write a love song, some more… Scoped out the next days’ route….and something I haven’t done for far too long. At noon realised that should tomorrow bring more snow and mist, I roamed around, took photos and wondered at the I wouldn’t mind at all. Kaaren and Jeph, with their four children, live and work in health and community development in North India

Our Place in the Future Church What would be our mission in the wider world? What changes will we make to get there? One-Day Workshop in six locations A Dominican project open to all Workshop Presenter – Reverend Neil Darragh, theologian

CHRISTCHURCH OAMARU Knox Centre, Bealey Avenue Catholic Parish Centre, Reed Street Saturday 14 August 2010, 9.30am to 3.30pm Sunday 22 August 2010, 10.45am to 4.30pm DUNEDIN PALMERSTON NORTH St Patrick’s Parish Centre, Macandrew Road Diocesan Centre, 33 Amesbury Street Sunday 15 August 2010, 9.30am to 3.30pm Saturday 4 September 2010, 9.30am to 3.30pm INVERCARGILL WELLINGTON St Patrick’s Parish Room, South Invercargill Connolly Hall, Guilford Terrace Saturday 21 August 2010, 9.30am to 3.30pm Sunday 5 September 2010, 11am to 4.30pm

Please bring your own lunch – Tea, coffee and morning/afternoon teas will be provided Admission $10 or Koha For further information please contact [email protected] or (03) 477 7577

32 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2010