Genre: biography, travel

I was lounging around the house without much to do, and certainly feeling a deep sense of ennui when I discovered this treasure…

‘A Fortune-Teller Told Me’ by Tiziano Terzani is a true story about Terzani’s ‘earthbound travels in the Far East’ in a period of slightly more than a year. This biography is beautifully written with such vivid and appealing descriptions that one can almost feel oneself immersed in the surroundings described. Tinged with mystic and the horrors of war as well as modernization, the novel is a very enlightening read.
The main theme is mystic. Terzani visited scores of fortune-tellers, seers, witches, monks, lamas, palmists, astrologists… some seem genuinely able to see into his past and future while others were out and out charlatans. It gave me a new outlook towards these people. Personally, I do NOT believe in them and I do NOT encourage visits to the fortune-teller for fear that my life would be governed by taboos and prophecies (as it has for Terzani). I feel that the thrill of living is the unknown, the challenge faced when one is up against the unveiled. That, is the essence of life.

On the other hand, for people steeped in such superstitions and practices, these soothsayers and shamans can change their lives. I have no respect for ‘seers’ who practice their craft so as to earn money and those who do so in the hope of striking it rich. Undeniably, this is a profession, a means of livelihood, however, I feel that those who practice with the intention to deceive, are no ‘seers’ but blinded by greed and covered in the filth of money. There are others who do ‘spin’ tales to survive as a fortune-teller but they also have a goal – to bring some light and hope into the lives of their customers. Even though their prophecies may be mere guesswork and quick-thinking, the customer gets his money worth of guidance, understanding and hope, all which could play an important role in giving him confidence. Such confidence could drive the shadows away from him!
A recurrent theme in almost all the Asian countries is poverty and a war-torn people. Despite the ugliness of the reality war and strife has created, Terzani manages to bring a nostalgic beauty to it through his writing. In fact, it makes me want to share in his unique experiences. The tragic stories of China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia… stresses once more that in strife, the people are the ones who suffer. They are the pawns of a relentless game. War is like cancer, ravaging the flesh and bones, leaving only death and destruction.

The third and saddest theme of all is modernization and Westernization - the corrosion of Asian culture and history in the embracing of Western society, values and customs. Terzani finds it a horrifying experience. As for me, I cannot fully comprehend and feel with him as I have not seen enough in my life to know what has been lost. I am definitely a product of modernization, character moulded to embrace the West. It is possible to embrace Western culture and yet retain our roots and values, but extremely difficult to do so. In all this hustle and bustle in the city centre and the concrete jungle, there are times when I wish to be able to escape from all this, to be totally enveloped by nature. Sadly, this is quite impossible in Singapore.

I especially enjoyed Terzani’s chapter on Singapore – ‘The Air-Conditioned Island’. How true it is! In fact, that is the first and probably only really frank write-up about Singapore and her leaders. Never have I heard LKY described as arrogant, without scruples… it is a fresh read from what we always see in the newspapers and books. Truly, the political climate in Singapore is stifling, of course not like in china with the Kuomintang or the years of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, but restrictive enough in a place with democratic elections. Terzani talks about the unnaturalness of the people and places in Singapore and I think that it could be true, to an extent. I find myself highly tense and nervous at times, under lots of pressure and stress. Sometimes I’d really like a rest-cure and be away from everyone else.

I feel that there is really a laughable irony between the East and West today. The East seeks to copy the West in fashion, decoration, mannerisms and society, at the same time, abandoning their own culture and traditions. The West, on the other hand, is looking to the East for spiritual enlightenment and culture richness. Each thinks that ‘the grass is greener on the other side’.

Overall, this book writes of change and searching. The changes in society and people’s thinking as well as the unending search by countries for economic prosperity; the people’s cravings for wealth and success; the curiosity about the future that drives many to visit fortune-tellers and also, Terzani’s search for his identity, for enlightenment and truth in life.

I feel that the message delivered by the book is epitomized by this prayer, recited by John Coleman, ex-CIA agent, before starting his meditation (in one of Terzani’s encounters):

May all beings be peaceful and happy.
May all beings be free of all ignorance,
all cravings and all aversions.
May all beings be free of all suffering,
all sorrows and all conflicts.
May all beings be filled with infinite loving kindness,
compassion and equanimity.
May all beings be fully enlightened.