Saturday, March 14, 2015

Dhamma Yatra 2014-2015 Final Part

Start Again;

Nalanda


At Nalanda we reached in night and stayed at Vipassana center which is under the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara University. Robson made it possible through contacts. The facilities in the centers are very nice. Its just next to Xuan Zang Memorial (Hieun Tsang). Next morning we visited the Xuan Zang memorial which is good to see. You can play the big Gong. Xuan Zang(Hieun Tsang) was the Chinese traveler because of him many Buddhist sites in india discovered, if he won’t mentioned the places in his travel diary then world will might have lost this places in dust. His contribution to this is unforgettable.  Buddhist world and India will always be grateful to him
Vipssana Center




Xuan Zang Memorial, The statue is of Xuan Zang

From Inside, Painting Depicts the travel of Xuan Zang


Feet Of Buddha, From Feet length it unthinkable how Tall Buddha was ;)


Dalton Ring Bell


. After Memorial visit, we went to Ruins of Nalanda University. One should hire the guide to understand the structure to know how architectural designed was advanced in that period, otherwise it will be just ruins of bricks. Whether you will believe or not in history they told. Because as I already said Indian history is drastically changed by mixing this and that or partial history propagated as whole history.
Description


Inside Monastery checking Rooms ;)

Inside Monastery checking Rooms ;)

Sariputta Stupa



Meditation

Map of Monastry

NavNalanda University

Nalanda University was one of the first and largest university in the world taught many subject started by Buddhist monk and got patronage in some dynasty(Gupta, Harshvardhan and Pala). Student came from across the world to learn. It was spread in 8-10SqKm area, you can imagine how big it was and its glory.  

Next Day We headed to Rajgir

Rajgir
Rajgir is the place where budhha spent his monsoon retreat at Veluvan(Bamboo Forest) donated by King Bimbisara, and there are some important places to visit in Rajgir like Veluvan, Saptarni Caves etc. We left Nalanda early morning its 30min distance. We stayed at Bengali temple. There was heritage walk from Jetiha to Veluvan (13km) organized by NavNalanda University, So all group went to participate in walk just after we reached Rajgir 
Jetiha


Heritage Walk Begins


I preferred to Meditate in Veluvan, I found the very quite place inside Bamboo trees, It was very nice to meditate for few hrs felt like meditating in forest. About Jetiha, It’s the place where Buddha met Bimbisara. When Buddha was ascetic and in search of truth he met Bimbisara, knowing the aim of Buddha, Bimbisara took promised from Buddha that after Buddha became enlightenment he will visit Rajgir and teach him the Dhamma. So when he heard the news  that some ascetic got enlightenment in Uruvela(present Bodhgaya)  he approached towards bodhagaya and Buddha also walk towards Rajgir and they met place which is now known as Jetiha, and its said that Buddha travelled the same path when he travel from Uruvela to Rajgir. So NavNalanda University organized this heritage walk every year to attract people so that they can spend more time in Rajgir. When all were walking 13km I was meditating inside Bamboo trees J. Later Dalton joined me for an hour. In evening all came to veluvan then after group sit we went to relax at Bengali temple. 


Venu Van


Next Morning we went to Vulture Peak(Grudhkut Pabbat) where Buddha stayed. Next to Vulture peak there is Shanti Stupa built by Japnese. There is one facility you can go to that Stupa by Mechanical Lift and to go to vulture peak you have to go by walk there are staircases. We went by staircases to Vulture peak. We climb silently with walking meditation ;). There are chariot available to go up for elder persons. At Vulture peak there were crowed so we meditated at some corner. It was very cold when breeze touched. The view from vulture peak is marvelous. The beauty of nature is incomparable in front of man made things. Down Side to Buddha’s residing place; there are 2 cave structures where his disciple stayed like Ananda and Sariputta. 


Way to Vulture Peak.
On the way to Vulture peak, Walking Meditation


Meditating @ Vulture Peak

Praying with Koreans ;)



Ananda Cave


After couple of hours at Vulture peak we walked towards the Shanti stupa. At Shanti Stupa we meditate inside one tree, After some time one female monkey joined meditation with her children. Fabio got scared and he stand, I said sit down she not going to hurt; With opened eyes might be robson was giving metta, and she sat silently with her child covering him in arm. The scene was so nice felt like some teacher giving metta to us impostor in monkey form. To go down we used that lift, which was nice to enjoy the beauty of mountains. After lunch we were tired so some took rest, some went to that path of saptarni caves but not saptarni cave and I preferred to meditate at veluvan.
Way to Shantistupa, 

Teacher Monkey, Meditating with us



Teacher Monkey, Meditating with us


Infront of Shantistupa

Rope Way


We missed saptarni caves. As all went to heritage walk on 1st day. 2nd day we had vulture peak. The Importance of Saptarni caves is, 1st Buddhist council “1st Sanghayana” held there by 500Arahant Monks under the leadership of Mahakassapa. As someone; volunteer from Navnalanda create  the doubt that “it cant be place because its looks so small for 500monks and that cave could be somewhere else”. But I don’t believe that because In Dec2013, I went inside that cave with some monks from Bengal; they chanted and meditate. It used to be big but as the time passed it might collapsed from inside. There are many small tunnels inside the cave you can see the collapsed part.  Might be I am also wrong, but the point he put were not acceptable.
Saptarni cave Inside, Collapsed structure.

Saptarni cave Inside, Collapsed structure with small tunnel

Saptarni Caves from Outside




Next Morning We headed to Bodhagaya. The place of Enlightenment

BodhGaya/ Uruvella

In Bodhgaya we supposed to have lunch at Vietnamese temple as Robson got invitation from head monk of Vietnamese temple.  They met during heritage walk from jetiha to Veluvan. Before to go at Vietnamese temple we went to Dungeshwari Hill/Pragbodhi Mountain where Buddha oractice sever austerities for 6years until his body became a skeleton.  Its in on the way to Bodhgaya from Gaya. On the base of the hill there is schools etc. This cave is small has the idol of ascetic Buddha with long beard and skeleton in meditating posture. 5-7people can sit and meditate there. Its slightly congested due to Brahmin priest who sit inside for money asking peoples to donate money and after some time they put in their money bag. Next to Cave there is small Vihara one can sit and meditate there also. On the below side of it there is small cafĂ© might be Tibetan where you can have tea etc. I had green tea there but didn’t pay ;) I thought it’s free and might be its free ;).
Inside Cave
Outside Cave ;)


 After Dungeshwari hill we went to have lunch at Vietnamese temple. This monastery is nice, I dident see many people there only some nuns and head monk who invited us, so this monastery might be not allowed guest/pilgrimagers to stay.  Before lunch we meditate for sometime at prayer hall/temple. The food was awesome, Indian food like Rice, Dal, Chapati, Chees Veggi salad etc. I wanted to eat with hands but considering the situation I feel its better with spoons, but others said “Be yourself eat with your hand and do which u like, don’t change yourself” Its strange for Brazilian to eat with hands might be dirty thing like we Indians feel dirty if anybody eat with left hand. But after 15days they accept Indian way. For me I cant feel full and food also tasteless if I eat with spoons but these all are just my Sangya which make me to think like that. There I learn how to eat with Japanese sticks ;).   Its difficult to eat with sticks but I tried and succeed ;).
Japanes Sticks

During Lunch everybody was silent nobody talks only voice of spoons and plate. Might be Its due to Head monk when he left all things were normal. During lunch we met one Vietnamese lady “Yeshe” who is now in settled in US. She is victim of Vietnamese War. She Told the horrifying story of War. She was lucky to escape from Vietnam to US but without single dollar. Lastly three things matter most “Understanding Tolerance and Compassion” which prevails PEACE.
Old Lady Yeshe sharing her story.




In Afternoon we went to DhammaBodhi Vipassana center. There also course finished on 12th and we got permission to stay there till next course start till 14th. This center is also nice with pagoda, meditation cell etc. After couple of hours rest we went to visit Sujata’s Place, where mother Sujata offered pudding/Kheer (Rice mixed with dry fruits) to Buddha. This place 1-5km from DhammaBodhi. We stopped at the place where there is stupa of Sujata also known as Sujata Garh. From that stupa the place where sujata offered pudding is 500meter we had to cross through vegetable fields.



 
Walking through farm

 On that place there is Bodhi tree and statues of Buddha etc next to that place there is river. According to history Buddha leave ascetic life and choose middle path. The plate in which the pudding was offered, he threw it into river and said “I will get enlightenment if this plate flow in the opposite direction of water flow” and it happenedJ. There are schools on the entrance of that place, the people associated with these schools showed the work which they doing for schools and ask for donation. I wonder whether its real school or fake, when we reached that place children started reciting the paradigms. When I asked some student, some said they teach and some said they don’t. It’s hard to believe what’s the truth. Like all other places children started begging or asking money. It’s better not to give them money and ask them whether they go to school, If yes then whether they taught to beg in school whether their parents ask them to beg them. The answer is No. If they go to school offered them chocolates and encouraged them to go to school. Giving money make them beggar.
Sujata Offering Rice Pudding Kheer

Meditation

After that place we went to Mahabodhi Temple. The Place where Mara was defeated by Sidhartha and became Samyak Sambuddha. The Place has very strong vibration, one can easily concentrate, and start observing anicca sankharas. I cant explain; you Go and See. Buddhist follower around world come here, perform their rituals, chanting, meditating etc. Very strong environment. the Magnificient Bodhi Tree serve its shed to follower, very powerful vibration. One can experience buddha's presence, and Mara is away from that place, very peaceful. Its well said In lifetime one can visit the places of Enlighten, where he born, where get Enlighten, where he turned the wheel of Dhamma and where he attain Mahaparinibbana. Its very inspiring to practice Dhamma. Sadly these places are under acquisition of Hindus.      
Idol Of Buddha Inside Temple.
Group of Monk chanting some suttas

Performing kind of Rituals/meditation

Magnificient Bodhi Tree.

Next morning we again went to meditate inside Bodhi Tree for few hours. there are different places in the temple premises such as the places where buddha spent 7weeks after get enlighten, 1 week at each place, those places are marked now with explanation. As this place was suffered through man made calamities, the Ashokan pillar now; was found somewhere in Gaya brought back there. we visited 80feet statue of Buddha which is one of the biggest statue in India. Origional railings of temple are in archaeology museum and some monasteries one can visit. In center we met Bhikku Mahapanna, along with him we went to Brahmyoni hill where buddha recite Fire sutta for the ascetics who were practicing fire kind of meditation. and those 1000 monks attain arahantship. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.028.than.html

80feet Buddha Statue

Meditation Inside tree

Travelers on Path

Faith(Infront of Vajrasana/dimond throne where Buddha sat with Addhithana n get enlightenment )


Muchlinda Lake(sixt week of meditation) king of snake named Muchlinda covered Buddha against violent wind and rain




DhammSisiter


After nice stay at DhammaBodhi and Bodhgaya we headed to Sarnath the place of Dhamma CakkaPavattan 


SARNATH/Turning Wheel of Dhamma

After Nice stay at Bodhgaya we headed to Sarnath in afternoon. On the way we stopped at Dhaba(a kind of restaurant found on highway only) where we had hot chapatis ;).  
Dhaba

Dhaba
                  
                                                        





In Sarnath my younger brother was waiting for us, I called him to get some stuff from home to eat and to give gift. We reached sarnath at night and there was chanting going on Dhammacakka pavattana sutta at temple(everyday since 3years) so we went for chanting after my last nice dinner with these Pesso we rest at Mahabodhi society vihara. Its just infront of main temple. In morning we had nice breakfast of Aloo paratha. In the morning it was very foggy till noon no Sun, In afternoon we went to Stupa where Dhammacakka pavattan sutta was recited. we meditated there with that sutta. There are five Ashokan Pillars. After checking the places  like monasteries etc in the premises we had dinner and I left my pesso. I had train in that evening and next morning they left for bodhgaya.  The 20days of journey is finished here. It was one the memorable part of life. I was affectionate to met such Dhamma family from brazil, while leaving all gave Big Dhamma hug, first time I had in my life. sometimes its good to release emotions by crying. my pesso made me cry. tears of happines & Anicca!!!!  


Last Dinner





Ashokan Pillar








Pankaj, my younger brother



   

Big Dhamma Hug




The Memorable things of this Yatra.
1)All these years I called Robson as Robson but in portugese it pronounced as Hobson ;) thank god I finally knew it.
2)When Fernanda called oh Hobson and hobson said Oi, it sound funny and I liked most.
3)I like to called Vommos Pesso and Sinku Sinku its nothing just come people and sinku is Five but I liked to call it.
4)Fabio and Silvia gesture of calling each other with whistle ;)
5)The way of calling some words by Silvio - Agora, and Fernanda- Aki
6)When Mauro tried to explain something and i dident understand, I said, I understand your feelings no need of language. but I should have learn some portugese
7) Dalva tried to explain something slowly slowly when she stuck she smile, I felt Oh grandma you are so nice
last 
8) Now I have Dhamma Mother Mama Paulete. In Lumbini I missed my mom and some voice came from withing look she is your dhamma-mother in front of you. she needs you and you need her.  
:
:
:
Before End this Journey I would like to Thanks to some people who contribute to Help in this tour to make it successful. This Yatra was successful due to selfless service otherwise it might be impossible
1)S.Gaikawad(mumbai) who help to get Vehicle in good price even though he related to tourism.
2)Sameer :- Help to get some contacts of monasteries.
3) Tatya
And all those who directly indirectly help to make this South Amercan DhammaYatra 2015 successful.

Organizers

OBRIGADO




 


           

No comments:

Post a Comment