In The Buddha's Footsteps (8)

Sabba papassa akaranam,

kusalassa upasampada

Sacitta pariyodapanam,

etam buddhana sasanam.

Not to do any evil,

to cultivate good,

to purify one's mind,

-this is the Teachings of the Buddhas.

-Dhammapada verse 183-

Sunday, March 29th 2009, Kusinara - Sarnath

Wat Thai Kusinara is the most well maintained Thai temple that I had stayed in India so far. It it just like a resort in the outskirts. The air in the morning is so refreshing and the surrounding sound is like music when wind breezes through the trees and birds chirping outside our rooms. I woke early about 4am in the morning to have my meditation at the verandah. We left the temple at 7.30am for our next destination - Sarnath.

By 9.00am we reached Gorakhpur, which is consider large in comparison with other towns or villages that we had been for the last few days. There is a huge lake beside the town. Not too far after leaving the town, the bus stops beside a plantation with trees which looks like rubber trees. It's loo break. As usual those having their businesses have to locate their own spot!

When I noticed the large amount of leaves on the ground, I was tempted to grab a fistful and says as what the Buddha said 2500 years. "The knowledge we have is just like a fistful of leaves in our hand compared to those in the forest."

Lunch was at a tourist bungalow in Duharighat at about 11.00am. We only utilized the place to have our packed lunch which was prepared from the Wat Thai earlier. Some ordered hot tea and also Coke to go with their lunch.

In front of the government-run tourist bungalow where we had our packed lunch. I was informed there are limited places in the surrounding districts which are clean and decent that is suitable for tourist to have there meals.

Life is full of contradiction. While the temperature outside reches between 35-37 degree Celcius, the bus air-conditioner gets cooler the longer distance we travelled. All of us were shivering to the bones and I have to cover the air-cond vent with my hat as it was getting too cold for me. We can't switch-off the air-cond and open the bus windows as it is too dusty and hot outside!

After travelling for about 9 hours, we finally arrived at the Wat Thai Sarnath, where we will be putting up for the next two nights. Sarnath is within the Varanasi district, which is considered a holy place for the Hindus where the Ganges River passes through the city.

The facade of the main shrine of Wat Thai Sarnath are not the same as other Thai temples. The wall are built with red stones and the interior are from marbles. Sarnath and the surrounding areas are famous with its stones and many sculpture of Buddha are found in Sarnath and nearby sites.

Since it is still some time before dinner, some of us took the opportunity to go for a walk. Most of the important holy places are just walking distance from the Wat Thai Sarnath.

I ends up buying some stones handicraft from a stall within the Jains Temple (above) compound. Prices are reasonable and the stall owner even gave me a free piece.

After a simple dinner we had the evening puja before calling it a day since we will be rising very early the next morning to visit the Ganges River at Varanasi. Most of us were very tired anyway after the long distance bus ride....zzzzz

To be continued....