Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits

Didn't finish the book. The premise of the book is strange to begin with. "Are there hermits in China?" wonders Bill Porter. They discover to their delight that there are, and so, two Western men set out to encounter "hermits" in the Zhongnan mountains of China.I mean, why shouldn't there be any hermits in China? Did he think the Communists killed them all or re-educated them all to be less anti-social? Did he think that there were no places in China that hermits could escape to that were untouched by Communists, Japanese, Kuomingtang-yuans, and other political irritants?And why did he think that hermits would be glad to be found and disturbed by two Western blokes with naive notions of reclusion, asceticism and anti-socialism? And did he honestly believe that those they managed to waylay were actually hermits as in people who consciously refuse to talk to and socialize with others and prefer to keep to themselves? Please.Like the first person he interviewed right, was the recently-retired head of the Daoist Order in China. I mean you know, the Daoist Order as in Organization, like Catholic Church? Like the Pope? Can you imagine the Pope as a hermit? No. But he begun with a pope-like person, or at least, a person who eventually later became like a pope-like person, as far as a person can be sort of like the shadow of the shadow of a pope in Communist controlled China. So much for hermit-ship.Anyway, one must credit this book with the recent invasion of the Zhongnan Mountains by yuppie Chinese looking for a retreat-space. This book was a flop when it was published, but the later translation and publication of this book into Chinese became very popular with the newly-minted Chinese Middle Class. So thanks to Bill Porter, we now have more and more pseudo-hermits flooding the Zhongnan Mountains. Recently, a Daoist person posted admiring pictures on Facebook of one of these pseudo-hermits complete with handphone, glass-fronted hermitage, designer tea service, and all the paraphernalia of Chinese literary enjoyment. He was, of course, in his former city avatar a well-heeled professional who got sick of city life.We can also credit Bill Porter with inspiring a new generation of Western hermit-seekers (or maybe I should say hermit-hunters). I encountered one of these on Facebook, he posted many posts of his hermit-hunting adventures in various mountain abodes in China, with the hopes of publishing them one day as a Porter-esque book. I unfriended him after reading a post of his that described him blatantly and unhesitatingly breaking into a hermit's locked hut, poking around the hermit's belongings to make an inventory of what a hermit possessed, reading his diary, and other such unbelievably rude, unethical and unlawful behavior. I mean, this is house-breaking and is a legal offense punishable by law. This person called himself a student of Chinese language and culture, but he obviously doesn't know jack about Chinese culture. Does he not know the famous story of Liu Bei's three visits to the thatched cottage of the reclusive Zhuge Liang in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"? First and second visits, in winter, Zhuge Liang was out, so he politely left. Third visit in spring, Zhuge Liang was home but sleeping so Liu Bei, a monarch, awaited outside quietly, patiently and humbly until he awoke. THIS is Chinese culture.Respect and sensitivity might be too much to ask of a Western hermit-hunter, but why is it that Chinese hermits have become, to unconscionable Western wanna-be writers, public property and non-persons who, unlike the rest of us, are not entitled to some basic PRIVACY? I mean, is a hermit not a HERMIT for goodness sake?????!!!!! LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!!!! If you want a spiritual experience, go to Church or something, or go for one of those New Age meet-ups (e.g. American Indian sweat-lodge led by white man - careful you don't sweat to death like those poor people did under the Great White Leadership of James Arthur Ray, or one of those ever-popular Yoga retreats in the Bahamas or wherever pretty beaches can be found, also led by white men (often with nubile white women) - careful you don't come back covered in tree-nuts (I meant Rudraksha, not coconuts) and saying Namaste to everyone you meet, or one of those Tibetan retreats led by serial incarnates (some of whom are also now miraculously incarnated in the form of white men) - but careful you don't end up with permanent back-ache from prostrating and bowing....). These people will welcome you (and your money, so make sure you bring enough). Whereas hermits you know, just want to be left alone, and the last person they want to encounter is a penniless, intrusive, inquisitive fool without enough social sense to decipher or respect the clear signal of someone who chooses to live alone, and that too in the most remote and inaccessible of mountain abodes.I mean, what does the beleaguered hermit have to do to get away from Bill Porter and his ilk plus their nosy readership? Fly to the moon? Jeez. And if you want to visit a socially-reclusive person who would actually welcome your visit, why not drop in on your Great-Aunt Helen or your poor ol' Grandma who is dying for lack of attention, and who hasn't seen you for ever so long? I think that would be more merit-worthy than disturbing the austere practices of mountain hermits surely, and just as likely to yield some home-spun gem of wisdom to help you along in your sad, confused, uninspired life? You can surely earn some merit points that will ease your road to heaven by visiting Grandma, whereas disturbing REAL hermits in their meditation will likely earn you a curse that could send you straight to hell. So take my advice, just take a bus and go see your grandma before its too late, and leave them hermits alone!

The book, 'Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese hermits' by Bill Porter was a fascinating look, part travelogue, part Chinese history, and part religiousexploration of people living in the Ching Ling mountains of China who have survived, pursued, and lived being hermits (whether religious, intellectual, or personal).Mr. Porter, who has learned the Chinese language and lived in Taiwan, and has explored the Chinese mainland with collaborating friends over many years knows his way around the countryside, the politics, the language, and religious history of Taoism and Buddhism in relation to the current Chinese regime.I am glad I stumbled upon this book in my own personal pursuit of hermits and hermit life. I would highly recommend this book to any reader in learning about modern China and the pursuit of religion in today's Chinese culture.Probably the most fascinating interview by Mr. Porter (who interviewed and questioned a number of Chinese hermits on their beliefs and lifestyles besides actually traveling to where they lived or did at one time) was one who lived on a mountain and when during the interview references were being made to Chairman Mao, asked, "Who is this Mao you keep referring to?"A great read!

This is a great book about Taoist and Buddhist hermits living in the mountains of China after the Cultural Revolution. In 1989, the author trudged the mountains of China searching for hermits, and he found many monks and nuns living a solitary contemplative life. Most of them lived in austere living conditions that would be unbearable for Western culture people to tolerate. But, as long as the hermits could do their daily Taoist or Buddhist practices, then they tolerated the harsh living conditions that they encountered living in the mountains of China. The author interviewed several of the monks and nuns, and the spiritual depth of these devote individuals is profound. After reading this book about the hermit monks and nuns that live on so little, with almost no material conveniences, but yet are so dedicated to the spiritual life; I gained a new understanding of --- SPIRITUAL DEDICATION.--- Also, I am very grateful to the Divine for letting me be born and live in the USA, with all the modern comforts and conveniences that we have in this country.

Only real hermit in book is Master Su, who Bill sought but could not find. Path to Master Su: hand and footholes carved in sheer cliff. Falling off Huashan was not road to heaven Bill had in mind.Months later, under more favorable conditions, Bill bowed and introduced himself, "Without pausing Su said I had the wrong man, that his name was Hua, as in Huashan."First time climbed Huashan, years back, sitting, resting, eating gorp, man sat down on rock facing me. He appeared so quietly I scarely noticed. He smiled, I smiled. He laughed, I laughed, we laughed together. I extended bag of raisins and nuts. He shook his head and offered bag of plants. I shook head. We parted friends.Didn't need to ask name, for knew my new friend was Hua, as in Huashan, for as Bill knows, but in his search for hermits forgot;"The only way to find what you are looking for is by not looking for what you want to find."

Delightful book about the author's quest for hermits living in the mountains in China still practicing Buddhism or Taoism after the Cultural Revolution and intrusions of the modern Chinese State into all areas of life in China. Lot's of history and background on Buddhism and Taoism and the pressures on monks, nuns, temples and hermits in modern China. The author, Bill Porter, has also translated collections of ancient Buddhist/Taoist poems by hermits under the name Red Pine. This is a wonderful companion book to those collections. Many wonderful asides about history, travel, tourism and ancient and modern efforts to live as a simple wise man (or woman) in the mountains.

wonderful book

Superb

Red Pine's journey provided this armchair traveller with much enjoyment. China, the land of a billion stories.

Excellent for deep exploration of Chinese society and people, best choice for travelling, you won't regret. But you need to know some history of it before.