Given its shape and proximity to the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is affectionately referred to as the ‘teardrop’ of India, though ‘gemstone’ might be more apt. A veritable treasure trove of a destination, this tropical island paradise is blessed with infinite palm trees, lush landscapes and rugged coastlines, and has long enticed travellers with its rich history, ancient temples and year-round allure.
But beneath this veneer of timeless beauty and natural wonder, lies even deeper meaning, rooted in the ancient teachings of Buddhism, which accounts for more than 70% of the island’s population. One of the three marks of existence in Buddhism—anicca, or impermanence—is a reminder that nothing is permanent. Buddhists believe that each of life’s moments and encounters are temporary; each is but a brief window to the world before it changes, as it inevitably will. Seasons change, storms pass, and sunsets fade—only to start all over again, yet never to be experienced in exactly the same way.
Travel is no different. In travel, as in life, nothing is permanent. We await each journey with anticipation and excitement, soon returning home as the experience quickly becomes a memory. This transient nature of travel echoes the teachings of anicca, reminding us to appreciate and savour each short-lived moment. Whether it’s a smile shared among strangers or new flavours being tried for the first time, there is a fleeting beauty in travel that invites us to drop our guards and to glean the lesson being offered from each experience, each encounter and each exploration.
Travel gifts us with countless lessons, should we choose to see them. My recent (first-time) travels to the surprisingly diverse and lush landscapes of Sri Lanka uncovered several. Each property and each reflective pitstop in this uplifting, two-week island journey revealed its own unique lesson.
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