Part 6. Camino de Santiago: It Is a Spiritual Journey (最终，这是一次精神之旅)

Our group photo in a historical church on the Camino

“Miracles do happen, but only when we least expect them and are most observant.” – Author, Cheng Wang.

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Walking the Camino — the one thing everyone agrees on — is the best healing process for almost any physical or mental issue, from building muscle to toughening joints to strengthening hearts, and even tackling social isolation and loneliness. The most obvious benefit: I slept through the night without waking at midnight (something that never happened at home), and I enjoyed all kinds of exotic foods without calorie concerns.

On the Camino, life proves to be fair again: you get what you give. Putting effort into the process guarantees that the reward will follow. The more you give, the more you'll receive. Money plays no role in the entire process.

Along the way, we were captivated by diverse landscapes, historic towns, and symbols of faith, and we found personal fulfillment through reflection and a sense of community that few other experiences can offer.

Along the way, we were captivated by diverse landscapes, historic towns, and symbols of faith.

At one point, I was searching for a bathroom (a hint: there were almost none along the trail). I went to a bakery and bought a chocolate cake, but I asked to use the bathroom first. Then the lady didn’t want to charge me for the cake, just waved me on. I then thought she must have seen countless pilgrims daily, so why was she so special to me? And then, why did those travelers I met spend hours sharing their personal stories with me? I had no idea -- that's the mystery of the spiritual realm. However, those moments, however small, were truly uplifting.

It was only six days on the Camino, but it was no less a transcendental experience. Still, I could feel that walking over 14 miles for 6-7 hours each day was more than just a physical challenge — it was a collision of souls, involving emotional connections, spiritual encounters, belief conflicts, intellectual and artistic expression, transformative experiences, and more — a deeply spiritual and meditative journey.

Above all, this is a sacred journey. 

Historically, as I have heard, the Camino de Santiago was a Catholic pilgrimage, and only Catholics participated—often as a form of penance or punishment. At that time, people lacked the modern conveniences we have today—such as clearly marked trails, handheld GPS, climate-controlled lodging, hot showers, and hearty meals. Additionally, human minds are much more open now than in the past. Regardless of faith, everyone now walks the same historical religious path and reaps significant benefits from it. 

I was born and raised in China, with Eastern influences shaping my first 27 years.

Over the past four decades in America, I've remained open to new, intriguing ideas, including faiths. The six days walking the Camino became a journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning—all at once—bringing buried thoughts from my past to the surface alongside new ones. I didn’t see them as contradictory but as a mosaic in the forming, like Spanish ceramic art, with its vibrant colors.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” – Confucius.

And then, “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates.

So similar and profound, from ancient times in the East and the West. Given the inherent flaws of human desires, the Western school of thought would attribute them to original sin, while the Eastern school would regard them as the source of suffering. The Taoists refer to our human flaws as an internal imbalance. Consensus among different faiths on how to mitigate them is to get close to nature – the Camino style — with the Taoist core concept of “Heaven and man are one.”

The shared foundation and common ground between East and West, evident in people's inner pursuits, faiths, and spiritual healing, is clear.

Camino de Santiago is recognized as one of the world's most important and historic Christian pilgrimages. It seemed to me like a Taoist nature-centered way to address all our innate flaws, regardless of where we come from or what, if any, religious beliefs we hold. I don’t have a name for what I believe—or not yet. But I can feel there is a Greater Being, a Supreme Self, inside me that’s like an invisible hand guiding me all along—though in the most mysterious way. Perhaps divine intervention involves using life’s circumstances to send messages and offer guidance. Here is how it has happened to me over the past few years.

I believe the saying, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Although it is only the beginning of my long journey ahead, it feels incredibly wonderful.

“Nothingness” is the highest state of nature-centered Taoism. On this path, every step brings me closer to the tranquility that Eastern wisdom brings. I possess nothing, so I have nothing to lose — even most worldly pursuits like fame, wealth, and power have lost their appeal to me — yet I am gaining the richness of everything, physically, emotionally, and above all, spiritually.

“无为”是以自然为中心的道教的最高境界。“无为” 乃道家最高境界。而在圣地雅各这西方宗教的路上，我感觉到，每一步都让我更接近东方智慧所带来的那份安宁。走在这条路上，我们一无所有，因此更无所失。名利与权势的诱惑顿然失色，我们却获得了另一种丰盈——身体的、情感的，更是心灵上的丰盈。

Fr. Kevin and Cheng met in front of the Santiago Cathedral

“Miracles do happen, but only when we least expect them and are most observant.” – Author, Cheng Wang.

Kevin Sandberg • Commented:

To any passerby (pilgrim in life) who reads Cheng's posts, this one or others: this photograph with Cheng in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was a bit of a catching a swinging star (compostela means field of stars). We are not depicted here at a finish line, as if it were a race. There are no medals hanging around our necks. The "mettle" was formed inside, calmed and made peaceable, as Cheng notes, by the rhythm of foot to pathway, the conversation from pilgrim to pilgrim, and the joining of mind to heart. Thank you, Cheng!