Pilgrimage to India/Nepal

MahaBodhi Maha Vihara at Bodhgaya

Just came back from a two weeks pilgrimage to India and Nepal. Visited the four holy places namely Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kusinagar as mentioned by Lord Buddha as the places that should be visited by Buddhists.

On top of that also travelled to Rajagaha, Nalanda, Vaisali, Varanasi, and Savatthi. Other than Lumbini which is part of Nepal, these places are in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, at the northern region of India, bordering Nepal.

Having travelled through small villages, towns and districts of various sizes on different types and condition of roads in India and Nepal, it is always refreshing and full of joy to reach our destinations in spiritually good shape and healthy. We followed the Lord Buddha's trail and paid respects to all the holy sites that we are able to reach. Reciting the suttas and meditates at the very site that Buddha and His Disciples used to do more that 2500 years ago was an experience that goes beyond explanation or any expression.

Meditating in front of the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Maha Vihara in Bodhgaya, trekking up the hill to the Vulture's Peak at Gijjhakuta in Rajagaha, chanting in front of the Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath and floating the flower lamp on the Ganges River in Varanasi are some of the religious acts performed by pilgrims in our group.

Our group of 85 consists of those as young as 10 and to the elderly age of 70. All of them were Thais, except me the only Malaysian. Naturally, we overnite and have most of our meals (Thai food) at Thai Buddhist Temples (Wat Thai) which are available in all the Buddhist sites that we visited.

How I ends up joining a Buddhist pilgrimage with a Thai group? Well, I was invited by some close Thai friends who organised the trip and some of them were also ordained as monks during the pilgrimage. I was there for my first pilgrimage and also to provide the spiritual support to my friends who are ordained. On top of that, it was also to transfer merits for my departed parents during this month of Cheng Beng.

More photos and details soon. Kob Koon Krub.