Buddhapath
In 2018 Jeremy and I traveled on a pilgrimage in India & Nepal “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” through Buddhapath, with Dharmacharya Shantum Seth and the Buddhist monks and nuns from Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition. We visited sites where the Buddha was born, where he grew up, where he was enlightened, his favorite meditation places, and where he passed away. We also visited the Ghandi Smriti in Delhi, went temple hopping in Bodh Gaya, and took a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges river in Varanasi. It was a life-changing immersive study abroad experience in Buddhism.
Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
Kapilavastu was the childhood home of the Buddha, where he spent 29 years of his life. Interestingly the location of Kapilavastu is disputed - some archaeologists argue that the ancient city was located in present-day Tilaurakot Nepal, while others say it was here in Piprahwa, India.
Sujata's Village, near Bodh Gaya, India. Sujata, a 13-year old girl, offered Buddha some rice-milk when we was starving, saving his life after six years of asceticism. The Buddha then developed "The Middle Way" - a spiritual path that avoids the extremes of asceticism or sensual indulgence.
The Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India. The Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment while sitting under the bodhi tree.
Dhamekh Stupa at Sarnath, India. Where the Buddha gave his first significant sermons on the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to his five fellow seekers who became the first monks of the order.
Bamboo Grove, Rajgir, India. This was where the Mauryan King, Bimbisara, became disciple of the Buddha and offered him the Bamboo Grove (Venuvana) as a place for the first Buddhist monastery. This was a peaceful place for meditation during the rainy season.
The Ananda Bodhi Tree (the 2nd holiest bodhi tree in Buddhism) in Sravasti, India. Sravasti was the ancient capital of the Koshala kingdom, where the Buddha spent 24 rain retreats and taught meditation on the full awareness of breathing. This sacred tree was brought as a cutting from the Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka, which was a sapling of the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
Sunset on top of Vulture Peak in Rajgir, India. The Buddha gave his wordless flower sermon here - he simply held up a flower, a lesson in the enlightenment of seeing “suchness” and inherent beauty with the Dharma eye. My fellow pilgrim pictured here lives life in a wheelchair, but this did not stop him from this journey up a mountain in the footsteps of the Buddha.
Nalanda University Ruins in Rajgir, India. This is one of the oldest centers of learning in India, and in the world. It was predominately a place of Buddhist scholarship and training and flourished from the fifth century CE to c. 1200 CE.
Relic stupa of the Buddha in Vaishali, India. Vaishahali is the place where the Buddha first accepted women into the order and ordained his stepmother as the first nun.
Kesariya Stupa in Kesariya, India. The largest Buddhist Stupa in the world with a circumference of 400ft and height of 104 ft.. One of the sites where the Buddha gave sermons to his disciples before his death.
Parinirvana Stupa or Mahaparinirvana Temple ("Nirvana Temple"), built over the spot where the Buddha died. In Kushinagar, India.
The Makutabandhana Stupa, commemorating the Buddha's cremation, in Kushinagar, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India. Since the Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, many different cultures have created their own temples at this important pilgrimage site, each with their own unique character.
Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple in Bodh Gaya, India.
Thai Monastery, Bodh Gaya, India.
The Great Buddha Statue in Bodh Gaya, India.
The Royal Bhutanese Monastery, Bodh Gaya, India
Some temples are more humble than others. Buddha Kusa Grass Temple in Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India.
Mahatma Gandhi's Prayer Spot, Gandhi Smriti (Gandhi Remembrance), Delhi, India. Where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
Temple in Varanasi, India.
Bathing in the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.
Boat ride at sunrise on the Ganges river in Varanasi, India.