Day 3 - 11/11/2012 Sunday cloudy – Sravasti

Wake up call was at 5:30am but I woke up at 4am. Breakfast was at 6am and we left the hotel at 7am for the long drive to Sravasti. On the way to Sravasti, there were a couple of toilet runs. There was one toilet run that drove Co Xuyen crazy. It was chaotic when she smelled someone had stepped on cow dung. She had to check everyone’s shoes and discovered that Tam Chanh was the guilty one. Why was it such a big deal? I didn’t understand. It stirred up the whole bus. I was a bit worried for Co Tu Minh as she had fell on the way of her toilet run, but luckily it was not her. This is the best example of the poem on Thay TH’s monk bag.

佛心

Buddha mind

前念不生即心

Preceding thoughts are not form, it is mind

从念不灭即佛

Subsequence thoughts are not extinguished, it is Buddha

成一切相即心

All forms is mind

离一切相即佛

Away from all the forms is Buddha

There were two great supporters at Buddha’s time: Anathapindika (male) and Visakha (female)

• Anathapindika had great faith on Buddha. He and Prince Jeta offered the Jetavana Vihara Grove to Buddha.
• Visakha played an important role in Buddhism. She contributed some temple rules of discipline for the nuns. She offered 8 boons to the Sangha: that as long as she lived she might be allowed to give robes to the members of the Order for the rainy season; food for monks and nuns coming into the town of Savatthi; food for those leaving it; food for the sick; food for those that help the sick; medicines for the sick; a constant supply of rice-porridge for any needing it; and bathing robes for the nuns.

Jetavana was the place where the Buddha gave the majority of his teachings and discourses, having passed at Jetavana 24 (out of 45) rainy seasons.

We first went to Buddha’s airport where he went to the Tushita heaven. There were two reasons why Buddha went to Tushita heaven:

1.       The dispute among the Sangha

2.       Buddha wanted to repay his mother’s kindness.

Buddha’s airport

We then entered Jetavana Vihara Grove and walked passed the Ananda Bodhi tree. It was packed with people under Ananda Bodhi Tree. We went to the back of Gandhakuti (Buddh’a dwelling in Jetavana) at Jetavana Vihara Grove and chanted. When we finished chanting, we walked to Ananda Bodhi tree. We circled the tree 3 times and stopped at an old well at Jetavana Vihara Grove. At Buddha’s time, people see Bodhi tree as they see Buddha.

Note from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Tree : Buddhist recounts that while the Buddha was yet alive, in order that people might make their offerings in the name of the Buddha when he was away on pilgrimage, he sanctioned the planting of a seed from the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya in front of the gateway of Jetavana Monastery near Sravasti. For this purpose Moggallana took a fruit from the tree as it dropped from its stalk, before it reached the ground. It was planted in a golden jar by Anathapindika with great pomp and ceremony. A sapling immediately sprouted forth, fifty cubits high, and in order to consecrate it the Buddha spent one night under it, rapt in meditation. This tree, because it was planted under the direction of Ananda, came to be known as the Ananda Bodhi.

At the well, we sat in a circle. Thay TC gave a talk on as a Buddhist, we should have wisdom, not praying to any statue on the road, in front of the hotel, etc. Buddha said we should not attach to a statue. He was scared people would become superstitious. Thay TC commented how King Tran Nhan Tong had abandoned and was against any superstition. 

Jetavana Vihara Grove where Buddha preached

After Thay’s Talk, we continued our journey to Anathabindika’s stupa. Thay TC commented Anathabindika was not enlightened because of his ego. That was why Thay suggested paying gratitude to Anathabindika only because he was a great supporter during Buddha’s time and that there was no need for chanting or prostration. We also went to Angulimala – Pakki Kuti. Thay TC talked about Angulimala’s great compassion on a pregnant woman.

Angulimala Paritta: (http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/story/angulimala.html)

Sister, since the day I became an arahat
I have not consciously destroyed
The life of any living beings.
By this truth, may you be well
And may your unborn child be well.

Angulimala Paritta

Anathabindika’s stupa

We went to the Thai Temple for a short meditation inside the main shrine. This temple is very big and clean. We had to wash our feet before entering. A nun directed us to the main shrine but Thay TC insisted to walk in a different direction where it was prohibited, so a member required to guide us in. The next destination was Korean Temple. Fong and I went to invite the Abbot out. I was glad to see Master Dae In again. Master Dae In led us through a short meditation. Thay TC chanted and Master Dae In gave a very short talk which I could only catch something like: “We are a Buddhist family at the same home. We are very close.” Thay TH asked for some kimchi on Thay TC’s behalf. Master Dae In sent the kimchi to our hotel for us to use in our dinner.

We had lunch and dinner at the Lotus Nikko Hotel.

Day 2 - 10/11/2012 Saturday sunny – Lucknow

India National Museum at New Delhi

I woke up at 5am according to Fong’s alarm clock. She thought it was 6am. We had a shower and packed. I went to the reception to check for the time. They told me it was only 6am.

7am breakfast – we had beautiful buffet breakfast plus Thay TH’s noodles and corns. 

8:30am meeting in Thay TC’s room to go through the India itinerary. After the meeting Thay TC told me the two SIM cards he requested via me from Thay TH were too expensive ($60 AUD each) and now he didn’t want to have them. Lucky Hue Dung agreed to have one.

9:00am met at the lobby ready to visit India National Museum. When we got there, it seemed as though there was a force drawing me into the chamber of Buddha’s relics. I walked straight into the chamber and my emotions grew strong. Once again I faced my great teacher and yet am still behind his teachings. Buddha is like a father, looking at me with deep love. This child of his is naughty and stubborn. I couldn’t hold my tears for his love and my repentance.  Thay TC told the group that we didn’t need to bow because he was scared of the germs on the floor. How could I face Buddha’s relics and not pay respect?

Buddha’s relics at India National Museum

My Prayer to Buddha

Dear Buddha,

My great teacher

Your compassion and loving kindness for the living kind

Are the source of happiness

Your teachings are profound

That full of wisdom and compassion

Which guides us to the liberating path

Even though this is 21^st century

Many, many people got out of their misery

Because they practiced your teachings

From the depth of my heart

I take refuge to you

I deeply request

Please give me the light of your wisdom

To overcome my inner mara

To attain the state of ultimate liberation

Please give me your compassion

To reach out to people who need help

To help people reach their ultimate happiness

May there be world peace

May all beings be well, happy, and peaceful

May your teachings flourish for evermore.

After the museum, we had lunch at Ashok Country Resort for a buffet lunch. They had Milk Rice for dessert. When we finished our lunch we went to the airport to catch a flight to Lucknow. Thay TH had problems with his hand held luggage (speaker battery) so he needed to send it instead. 

We arrived at Lucknow 4pm. A bus was waiting for us. The hotel’s rooms were spectacular clean. People wanted to go shopping but Thay TC said the street was filthy so we shouldn’t go out. 

Day 1 - 09/11/2012 Friday cloudy – New Delhi

We arrived at the airport early and found two people from the group. We weighed our luggage. My suitcase was 17.x kg and Fong was 15.x kg. Half of my luggage was Thay TH’s stuff. We saw people coming close to 8 am. We checked in at 8am.

We transited at KL airport. Thay TC suggested eating noodles.  At first I didn’t feel like it but when I smelled the noodles I couldn’t resist it, as I am a fan of noodles.

Thay TC taught us the water in a bottle has the form of a bottle; the water in a cup has the form of a cup; Water is water and it doesn’t take any form. A bowl of noddle has arrived in a huge bowl. Co Tu Minh asked for a small bowl to share and it came out with a very small bowl. Thay said: “Noodle is noodle. It doesn’t matter it’s in a huge bowl or small bowl. It is still noodle.”

After having a nice bowl of hot and spicy noodles, Thay TC gave us a talk on the four emotional holy places where

1)      Buddha’s birth place

2)      Buddha’s enlightenment place

3)      Buddha gave his first teaching

4)      Buddha entered nirvana

When we visit these places, we have planted a special seed; this will grow and help to produce positive energy. Some people who visit these places would ask a monk/nun to perform a ceremony (3 cut of hairs) to plant a seed for this life and give future protection to achieve our own vow.

The ceremony involves:

1)      Purification of the three poisons – greed, hatred and ignorance

2)      Observe the three Bodhicitta vows:

I)                    Do all virtuous deeds (generosity, moral discipline, patience, diligence,      contemplation, and wisdom);

II)                  Refrain from harmful actions

III)                Benefit all sentient beings (generosity, pleasant speech, leading others to the Dharma, and remaining on the path oneself).

3)      Take refuge in Triple Gems, repentant.

This ceremony can be performing at Buddha’s birth place, the Eastern gate of Kapalivatu, Bodhgaya Maha Bodhi temple or Vultures peak. Lay people need to request this from a monk/nun for this.

We arrived at New Delhi airport at 11 pm (2:52am Adelaide time), Thay TC and I went out the airport to look for Thay TH. He was waiting right there for us. We traveled 20 minutes from the airport to our hotel. Our hotel room was unbelievably clean and beautiful. Thay TH cooked lot of noodles for us. Thay TH said if we don’t eat his noodles, he is going to faint because of the trouble he went through to cook us this noodles. Fong and I couldn’t help to have some of his noodles. Most of the members were too tired to consume it. Tam Chanh’s family, Chan Hue and Hue Dung came after us. The noodles were tasty. The chef from the hotel came to try and loved it. He asked me for the recipe and I sent him to Thay TH. After supper I was too tired and half asleep when my body touched the bed.

India and Vietnam Pilgrimage 2012

India and Vietnam Pilgrimage 2012

09/11/2012 to 04/12/2012

Four Places of Pilgrimage(http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html)

There are four places, Ananda, that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence. What are the four?
       'Here the Tathagata was born!'
       'Here the Tathagata became fully enlightened in unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment!'
       'Here the Tathagata set rolling the unexcelled Wheel of the Dhamma!'
       'Here the Tathagata passed away into the state of Nibbana in which no element of clinging remains!'

These, Ananda, are the four places that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence. And truly there will come to these places, Ananda, pious bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, laymen and laywomen, reflecting: 'Here the Tathagata was born! Here the Tathagata became fully enlightened in unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment! Here the Tathagata set rolling the unexcelled Wheel of the Dhamma! Here the Tathagata passed away into the state of Nibbana in which no element of clinging remains!' And whoever, Ananda, should die on such a pilgrimage with his heart established in faith, at the breaking up of the body, after death, will be reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness.