So what is it about the sacredness of precipitously perched
dwellings that makes them so alluring - a primal longing, to seduce us to quest
for higher ground, to get closer to the clouds, the heavens, and reach for some
zenith of divinity throughout history?
What draws us to scale the highest tower, to ascend the longest stair,
to cross the highest bridge, or to risk life and limb to brave the harshest
conditions climbing the highest peeks?
Why spend the resources to excavate whole mountains to build within the
walls of cliffs abandoning all practical notions and flirt with disaster?
These castles in the air, erected by mad kings, vain
noblemen, and tyrannical emperors, seemingly sacrificing common sense, blood,
sweat, human bondage and burden, to pacify their whims and follies. In the ever cyclic war faring nature of
humans, there is the notion of the practicalities of safe haven, as
fortification to ward of the enemies and outsiders. But I think it goes beyond that – something
more enigmatic and abstract.
If not to pacify the gods, then maybe it was to defy the
gods themselves, an attempt to conquer nature – a vain attempt at immortality
and quest for divinity. Indeed, it could
very well be something to do with reaching for the heavens akin to the Tower of Babel, or conversely a sacred burial
site to entomb and preserve, and to try and achieve immortality for the Egyptian
emperors in the catacombs of the pyramids.
One can’t wholly argue against the sacredness of why monks
chose to build on monolithic granites cliffs where access is seemingly reserved
only for those capable of floating in air.
Sometimes, it’s as if accessibility is purposefully hidden, an urging
for exploration to be solved like a riddle, and a quest for which the reward is
the mere destination, and thus born of a spiritual journey of sorts.
How our heart and spirit longs for such high places wishing
to be at the highest window looking out at the vastness of the earth. It beckons us, as a child is drawn to climb a
tree, or a jungle gym, to be amongst the filigree of branches, structure, and
labyrinths. It is a matured spiritual
aspiration born of childhood longing. It
is a meditative natural tendency to climb, explore, and be alone.
