BODHGAYA

On our way from Varanasi to the mighty Himalayas in Nepal, we stopped briefly into Bodhgaya, high worshiping place for buddhists. The majority of people were gorgeously young and muscular tibetan monks dressed in purple and orange, head shaven. Circulating around the main stuppa, we suddenly understood the reason of their extreme fitness: the main religious activity was to lower oneself rapidly onto a plank of wood, muttering a prayer, standing up quickly and repeating the gestures "ad infinitum". Really impressive use of the body to reach the stillness of the soul... It was a touching experience to sit under the famous tree and feeling the nearly martial dedication of the believers around us.

Our main memory though is falling ill in perfect synchronisation, and staying mostly in bed under lots of covers, feverish and losing appetite. By amazing coincidence, as we managed to reach a restaurant to try to swallow some soup, we bumped into someone met 5 years ago in London.... KARMA OR WHAT?

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< da big Buddha >
Mahabhodi temple

Buddha's enlightment is said to have taken place under a bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, after a night of contemplation during which he resisted the wordly temptations set before him by the demon, Mara. Soon afterwards he gave his first sermon in Sarnath, now a major pilgrimage centre. For the rest of his life he taught, expounding Dharma, the true nature of the world, human life and spiritual attainment.

A large stupa was built at the emplacement of the dodhi tree, where hundreds of monks recite prayers and meditate.

< Mahabhodi temple >
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next stop > kathmandu