FeaturesBC Pires8 Hrs Ago Frederick Dharmbodh Westmaas recently published his memoirs, Glimpses of a Mystical Misfit. - Mark Lyndersay
AS TOLD TO BC PIRES
My name is Frederick Dharmbodh Westmaas and I recently published my memoirs, Glimpses of a Mystical Misfit.
I will turn 76 in March.
Ive worked for six years as a psychiatric nurse in England. But spent the better part of my working life as a sculptor in Trinidad.
I spent two years in my gurus ashram in India.
I was born in a nursing home on a street in the capital city which bears my official name, Frederick.
People do sometimes wonder where I come from but, despite my varied (Dutch, Afghan, African, French Creole and Venezuelan) ancestry, I am Trini, without a doubt.
The boxer Ralph Peterkin said the high point of his career was his victory over Westmust (sic) the Venezuelan in the amateur championships flyweight final in the late 60s.
I now live in DAbadie, the home my father built and left for his children.
From age six to 16 (1950s and early 60s), when the government acquired our property to expand the airport, I lived literally on the banks of the Caroni River, as my father worked as a (control tower) aeradio operator at the airport.
I learnt to swim and mastered the art of river fishing.
From 16 to 28, when I left for England, I moved between Tumpuna Road, Arima, and my maternal grandparents, uncles and aunts in Success Village, Laventille.
My first primary school was St Helena Presbyterian, just across the iconic bridge separating Piarco and St Helena Villages.
In 1962, I was expelled from Hillview College (described in chapter seven of my memoirs).
We were six children, four boys and two girls.
Frederick Dharmbodh Westmaas worked for six years as a psychiatric nurse in England, but spent the better part of his working life as a sculptor in Trinidad. - Mark Lyndersay
Unfortunately, my youngest sibling died last September at 64.
Only my younger brother Jan lives in Trinidad. He was the only Westmaas to see me fight in the ring. And to join in storming Carnival fetes.
Both parents died in my arms, my father at 97 and my mother at 86.
One day my father looked at me lovingly and said, You turned out to be a good boy, after all.
Although I had intense relationships with women in England and India, my love for freedom shaped my destiny to remain single.
Being engaged in a personal search for truth does not constitute belonging to any religion.
As a youngster, I was an atheist. Today I try not to get caught up in beliefs or doubts.
Nevertheless, I believe there are degrees of believing and doubting. To a great degree, I believe in Eternity, which postulates that there is no beginning and no end.
People say they go to the beach, listen to music or even have a drink to relax. I see all this as external relaxation. Real or conscious relaxation is your inward journey to find the source of your tension.
I am inspired to compose a little verse: Let go and let God be/Is a quote I always see/But theres another way/You can be free/Just let go/Of what you dont want to be.
Besides Oshos many books, Hemingways The Old Man and the Sea captured my imagination as a teenager. It mirrored my adventurous life and my love for fishing. The hero Santiagos courage had a great impact on me.
You can say I cut my dancing teeth as an adolescent in the 60s jumping up to the music of steel and brass bands at Carnival fetes I stormed in Trinidad.
As I matured and got into yoga and meditation, the raw, sensuous movements of the Carnival transformed into a more meditative, spontaneous and even ecstatic dance. Like a Sufi dervish in a trance.
With my visual impairment, watching movies is now a thing of the past.
Going back to childhood, the movies Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn still resonate with me. The song Moon River, about the Mississippi, where Tom and Huck had their adventures, still brings back a feeling of nostalgia.
Perhaps I was on the Mississippi in a past life. Or maybe its just a sentimental reflection of my own adventures at a similar age on our own Caroni.
Apart from the deceased Mighty Shadow, whose down-to-earth spirituality I was able to relate to, I like Mungal Patasar. Who blends beautifully the music of the sitar with the national instrument, the steelpan.
With the good and bad experiences and the lessons I had learnt, I felt inspired to write my memoirs, which I could share with others.
Despite my failing eyesight, I dismissed the idea of using a recorder. Writing by hand was essential. Using an erasable felt pen on large arborite sheets would work. I couldnt type on a computer keyboard anyway.
My brother Jan typed and edited my work bit by bit.
The entire process lasted more than two years.
Developing cataracts has slowed me down a bit but I have become even more conscious of my inner feelings. And more alert and aware of my surroundings as I move about. Mind you, I am not blind.
I think the average Trinidadian is fairly interested in reading, including autobiographies. I cant see how else we could produce such eminent prize-winning authors and lyrically rich calypsoes as we have.
As I reflect upon BC Pires question about why the wider world would be interested in reading about my life, I am inspired to write these lines: There would be readers in the wider world who would fit in/Eager to find out how the life of a Mystical Misfit has been/A Trini to de Bone, to drama he was prone/Learning to love life, dance and sing/And trusting in the truth of a life within.
For me, the real draw of the book is the search for enlightenment.
A rebellious youngster, I used my fists to fight in and out of the ring. And then used my hand to sculpt as a career, and finally, to write my memoirs.
Add working with psychiatric-ward patients while seeking to unlock the key to my inner self with the aid of an enlightened eastern master and this sounds more like fiction than real life.
My adventures in Trinidad, England and India have the potential to attract a wide audience, I believe.
The best part of writing my memoirs was going within and experiencing past events and feelings in a detached way, viewing everything objectively as a divine play.
The worst part was realising I had forgotten to include some important events and happenings. But I am planning a second edition.
What is a Trini?
I believe names reflect the essence of things. The frequency of the number three is positivity, equality and divine will according to numerology, the science of numbers. The frequency of the number three governs the natural, overall consciousness of Trinidad. Our creativity, fun-loving and forgiving nature reflects the positive side of three.
A Trini (also) loves to spread joy.
The question What does Trinidad and Tobago mean to me? inspires me to respond in verse: My country is that piece of Mother Earth/That nurtured and raised me from birth/ Guiding and protecting me as I went astray/And showing me a different way/With the clay of her body, I expressed my art/In ways that opened up my heart/Helping me to follow a path that made me free to fly/Inwardly in the mystic union of Mother Earth and Father Sky.
Read the full version of this feature on Friday evening at http://www.BCPires.com
See the original post here:
Where the misfit fits in - TT Newsday
- Judge tells atheist father to bring son 'in good order and not upset' to mother for first communion ceremony - Irish Independent - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Iowa town removes Nativity scene after out-of-town atheist steps in - Yahoo News - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- I'm an atheist, but Israel-Hamas war has pulled me closer to my Jewish roots - USA TODAY - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Universalism and Nonresistant Nonbelief - Word on Fire - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Proof God, Prayer Transforms Public Schools? How Atheists' Antics Could Inadvertently Fuel Spread of the Gospel - Faithwire - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers to run holiday billboard AnneLandmanBlog.com - AnneLandmanBlog.com - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Why this atheist celebrates Christmas - The Spectator Australia - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Against the Tide: John Lennox and Stephen Meyer - Discovery Institute - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Higher Ground: Atheists outraged over 'In God We Trust' - Washington Times - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Atheists rip Utah city for 'In God We Trust' motto, demand removal - Washington Times - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Can Anyone Give An Actual Argument For Atheism? - The Federalist - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Mori atheism on the rise: the legacy of colonisation is driving a decline in traditional Christian beliefs - The Conversation - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- 3 Science-Related Arguments for God's Existence - Reasons to Believe - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- God and Nature: What is the difference - The Bubble - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Critiquing Hazony - On Religion and Rationalism - Econlib - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Macbeth Revisited: The Decline & Fall of Friedrich Nietzsche - The Imaginative Conservative - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Occam's Razor: There is a Creator | In Focus | Courier-Herald - Enumclaw Courier-Herald - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- We've officially entered the Miracle Zone - The Oxford Eagle - Oxford Eagle - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Album Review: Muse - Absolution XX Anniversary - Soundsphere magazine - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Atheism's obsession with God: Is it 'cultural theism'? - The Christian Post - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- McCaul, Smith, Mast Demand Answers From State on Grants ... - House GOP Foreign Affairs Committee - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- TILL THE DIRT (ATHEIST) Streams New Single "Starring Role" - Metal Injection - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Dostoevsky the Prophet - The Imaginative Conservative - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- 'Sex Really Is Binary': Even Atheist Biologist Richard Dawkins Is ... - CBN.com - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Sombreros, baseball caps and new friendships: Vignettes from ... - National Catholic Reporter - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Watch: ATHEIST Performs Special 30th-Anniversary Set In San ... - BLABBERMOUTH.NET - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- July 2023 Hard Rock And Metal New Releases - XS ROCK - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Legal abortion widely supported globally, especially in Europe - Pew Research Center - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- United Nations Takes U.K. Bishop's Advice on Persecution - The Living Church - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Part 2The First of the 7 C's of History: Creation - Answers In Genesis - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Stephen Colbert And Elon Musk Had Opposite Views About Life On ... - TheThings - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Hope for living: Anger against Gods word, people has a spiritual ... - Greenfield Daily Reporter - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Whanganui actor Russell Penton enjoying rehearsals for The Lion in ... - New Zealand Herald - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Three Jewish leaders named to US heritage government agency - JNS.org - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- CS Lewis' magnificent journey from atheist to transformational ... - The Christian Post - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Atheism and Dreaming - Psychology Today - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Atheism, spiritual experiences, and ESP | Dan Peterson - Patheos - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rainn Wilson says our world needs a spiritual revolution - CBC.ca - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Harvard's humanist chaplain speaks on finding meaning and purpose without a religious faith - ABC News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Minnesota humanists take out billboards to spread the secular word - Star Tribune - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Even atheists need the beauty of churches - Daily Mail - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Islamic group PA 212 rejects Coldplay's Jakarta concert over band's ... - Coconuts - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- As I See It: The absence of spirituality - Pine and Lakes Echo Journal - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 47 percent globally say religion does more harm than good in Ipsos ... - Kentucky Today - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Dawkins Test Returns an Answer: Intelligent Design - Discovery Institute - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Advocacy group: Bible must be banned if other books stripped from ... - cnhinews.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Putin gave Orthodox Church famed icon because of its importance ... - Reuters - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Siddaramaiah, the Congress's southern satrap - Deccan Herald - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Kirk Cameron, aka right-wing Raffi, has a new kids' book for Pride ... - Literary Hub - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- I am proud to be a Christian, Sanghis will burn after learning this, says atheist DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at a Christmas event - OpIndia - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- God Help Me: Surfing Millionaire Shared About Converting From an Atheist to a Believer Back in 2016 - EssentiallySports - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Im an atheist, but I fell in love with the spirituality and magic of Quito, Ecuadors capital - Toronto Star - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Atheist Doctor Becomes a Believer After Near-Death Experiencer ... - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Atheist Drug Addict Gets Saved While On The Verge Of Suicide, Now Preaches The Gospel On Streets | God TV News - GOD TV - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- FFRF and FACT erect four 'I'm an atheist and I vote' billboards in San Antonio - Freedom From Religion Foundation - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Amber Roses Ideal Man Is An Atheist, And This Is What Social Media Has To Say About It - MadameNoire - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Most Americans believe in heaven or hell, but their ideas aren't always biblical - Baptist News Global - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Do You Need to Believe in God to Convert to Judaism? - Jewish Journal - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Readers reply: when I die which religion will offer the best deal? - The Guardian - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- We Don't Have to Let the Dead Die Twice - Sojourners - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Why the Phillies and Eagles successes might have you feeling happier, even if youre not a fan - The Philadelphia Inquirer - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- A Socratic Response to Revelation - The Imaginative Conservative - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- FFRF: Nationwide cop event this weekend should be secular and inclusive - Freedom From Religion Foundation - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Atheist Keir Starmer avoids reference to God in pledge of loyalty to King Charles III - The Telegraph - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Sunday 11th September 2022 - ConservativeHome - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Former cocaine addict and atheist shares about her powerful conversion - Aleteia - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- How can one explain to an atheist that everyone will eventually enter Paradise? - The Weekly Al Hakam - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Engaging With The Teenage Atheist - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- From Nietzsche to John Lennon: Death and Resurrection of Western Religiosity - Patheos - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- God, the Gipper, and Gorbachev | WORLD - WORLD News Group - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Where is heaven? Ancient believers have answers for modern question - Times Record News - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Five business lessons from Lord Ganesha - Times of India - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Stephen Meyer, Charlie Kirk: Return of WHAT God Hypothesis? - Discovery Institute - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Teaching theology to teens? Be open to unexpected answers - U.S. Catholic magazine - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- All humans are believers - Big Think - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Adam Driver likes what he sees as he gets plump for Venice film - Reuters.com - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- A top neurosurgeon looks to the future as he confronts questions of life and death - The Tablet - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- For anyone with Palestinian roots like me, Netflixs sitcom Mo is groundbreaking TV - The Guardian - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- A Decade After the First Reason Rally, What Happened to Americas Atheist Revolution? - Religion & Politics - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- It Only Takes One Generation - Answers In Genesis - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]