Outside of Varanasi is Sarnath where Buddha 'preached' to his first disciples but Bodh Gaya is the pinnacle of the holies for Buddhists as it is the place where Buddha achieved enlightenment. Alas, the bodhi tree is not the original one he sat under (some say it was the jealous wife of King Ashoka who poisoned it) but an off-Spring grown from a branch of the original tree which was taken to Sri Lanka.
After noisy and chaotic Varanasi, Bodh Gaya is peaceful and almost without horn- blowing. Buddhists gather to sit in mediation or to chant: they do not push or jostle you.
Japan, China, Thailand Bhutan etc have built their own temples in their own style but the main temple is the one next to the bodhi tree.
Somehow we manage to personalise our trips to places. This time we visited a school for orphaned girls who belong to the lowest of the lower castes in Bihar. We know of this school through Jayshree and our friends in Toowoomba who donate money to this school via Jayshree. Even though it was Sunday, the whole school greeted us and Francis spoke to the girls in Hindi (with a little help from the teachers, Heena and one very bright pupil) about the importance of educating women! But the amazing event that took place was the girls' demonstration of their skills in karate. Fierce determination was in their eyes and we could only think that this discipline will see them through the tough life that lies ahead for them.
After noisy and chaotic Varanasi, Bodh Gaya is peaceful and almost without horn- blowing. Buddhists gather to sit in mediation or to chant: they do not push or jostle you.
Japan, China, Thailand Bhutan etc have built their own temples in their own style but the main temple is the one next to the bodhi tree.
Somehow we manage to personalise our trips to places. This time we visited a school for orphaned girls who belong to the lowest of the lower castes in Bihar. We know of this school through Jayshree and our friends in Toowoomba who donate money to this school via Jayshree. Even though it was Sunday, the whole school greeted us and Francis spoke to the girls in Hindi (with a little help from the teachers, Heena and one very bright pupil) about the importance of educating women! But the amazing event that took place was the girls' demonstration of their skills in karate. Fierce determination was in their eyes and we could only think that this discipline will see them through the tough life that lies ahead for them.
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