Silence and Pilgrimage

Sam speaks with travel writer and novelist Pico Iyer. They discuss Pico's experience of sitting more than 100 silent retreats; his long-standing connection to the Dalai Lama; travel as philosophical exploration; religious longing vs. religious practice; tourism vs. pilgrimage; some of Japan’s distinct cultural qualities; the relationship between tribalism and globalism; wealth inequality; the benefits of exposure to foreign cultures; the spiritual significance of certain religious sites; and other topics.