Hi Folks !
How are you and how's life ?
I did a wonderful Buddha Circuit in Sri Lanka and want to tell you about it.
A Senior Vipassana teacher, 80 years young, wanted to do it and asked me if I would be interested.
Me?!!!!!!!
Interested?!!!!!!!
:-)))))))))))))))))
I checked out a few things before going.
Some memories were from childhood lessons.
It's called an Emerald Island,.
It's shaped like a tear -drop.
Nuwara Eliya's tea plantations.
Then the elephant orphanages.
Buddhist monks going to the beaches after the tsunami, stopping every few kms and doing special prayers for the confused, wandering souls of the dead .
The civil war and IPKF and bitterness .
Cricket.
After the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, he was cremated and the ashes, hair, teeth etc were collected and sent to 10 different kingdoms.
Emperor Ashoka is said to have located them from ruins, collected all of them, divided them into 84,000 parts ( one for each Sutta or Scripture of the Buddha ) and sent them to be preserved in Stupas.
These relics are a source of very powerful vibrations and anyone who meditates close to them, can feel them.
Sri Lanka has 2.
In Colombo, we saw the Temple of the Hair Relic which also has many beautiful statues of the Buddha on steps.
There was a part of the complex where weddings take place and one such was going on.
The groom and the bride were in their lovely finery surrounded by family, cousins and siblings and friends, all in traditional dresses.
They smilingly agreed to be photographed and there was an infectious happiness .
We also went to a couple more temples which were very old but kept very well.
Kandy has the Tooth Relic in a royal palace with beautiful paintings.
One can see it in the morning or evening at 6.
The Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple has some beautiful rock paintings in the cave which has the Buddha's statue in the Parinirvana pose.
Actually, many temples have this pose.
The paintings depict stories from the Buddha's past lives and most are in good condition.
The Buddhaghosa Cave has statues of the Venerable Bhikku himself, leading the convention of monks as they conducted the 4th Buddhist Council.
Sri Lanka has these huge, huge rock formations which are are quite mind boggling.
One such is in Dambulla and has very large caves underneath with beautiful sculptures and paintings.
Then there is Sigiriya - just google it !
It's stunning and the sunrise/sunset from the top is breathtaking.
Mihintale is where Emperor Ashoka's son Venerable Mahinda met the Sinhalese King Devanampiyatissa and the meeting lay the foundation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
The Sinhalese believe that the Buddha visited their country thrice and taught Dhamma, but it had declined and it was Bhikku Mahinda who revived it.
There is the Dagoba (stupa) of Bhikku Mahinda which has his relics, as he died there after staying for 48 years and laying a strong foundation.
Anuradhapura was our last halt in the circuit and it has many, many places to visit.
I looked out for, located and prayed at the Stupa of Sanghamitta who had brought the branch from the original Bo tree in Gaya and helped spread Buddhism among the ladies of Sri Lanka on the King's personal request to Ashoka.
There is a Sacred City in Anuradhapura which has many stupas and ponds and beautiful statues.
We only did the Buddha Circuit.
Shopped a lot, visited a Spice Garden, the sea front in Colombo, drove through the awesome Peradeniya University and ate local food.
Sri Lanka is an excellent example of what life would be like if people of all walks imbibed the Buddha's teachings and lived accordingly.
What were his teachings?
Keep away from doing wrong deeds.
Like killing, stealing, adultery, lying and intoxicants.
Do good deeds.
Cleanse your mind and practice the technique of getting out of the cycle of life and death.
There was no 'religion' propagated or forced, no compulsion.
The people understood that they were benefiting right from the time they started practicing and leading happier, calmer, more contented lives.
It shows in the people's demeanor.
In public places, on roads -
Especially if you go from India, the change hits you.
All 2 - wheeler riders wear helmets, whether they are men, women, whatever their age.
Children wear smaller ones but I did not see anyone without one.
Everyone follows rules, even at 2 in the night on empty roads, drivers stop for the light to turn green.
The cities, towns, smaller villages, roads and side walks, bustling side walks, are all clean, without garbage and plastic.
The people are gentle and soft spoken, emanating such peaceful vibes that one unconsciously calms down.
Plan an unhurried visit after reading up about the history of the places you would visit, not just the hotel reviews.
There are other marvellous places to go to which we did not cover.
The elephant sanctuary/orphanage, Botaniacal Gardens, train journeys, beaches, tea - gardens - there is lots.
The Indian to Sri Lankan exchange rate is good too, and it is not an expensive country.
Do go.
Bye for now -
How are you and how's life ?
I did a wonderful Buddha Circuit in Sri Lanka and want to tell you about it.
A Senior Vipassana teacher, 80 years young, wanted to do it and asked me if I would be interested.
Me?!!!!!!!
Interested?!!!!!!!
:-)))))))))))))))))
I checked out a few things before going.
Some memories were from childhood lessons.
It's called an Emerald Island,.
It's shaped like a tear -drop.
Nuwara Eliya's tea plantations.
Then the elephant orphanages.
Buddhist monks going to the beaches after the tsunami, stopping every few kms and doing special prayers for the confused, wandering souls of the dead .
The civil war and IPKF and bitterness .
Cricket.
After the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, he was cremated and the ashes, hair, teeth etc were collected and sent to 10 different kingdoms.
Emperor Ashoka is said to have located them from ruins, collected all of them, divided them into 84,000 parts ( one for each Sutta or Scripture of the Buddha ) and sent them to be preserved in Stupas.
These relics are a source of very powerful vibrations and anyone who meditates close to them, can feel them.
Sri Lanka has 2.
In Colombo, we saw the Temple of the Hair Relic which also has many beautiful statues of the Buddha on steps.
There was a part of the complex where weddings take place and one such was going on.
The groom and the bride were in their lovely finery surrounded by family, cousins and siblings and friends, all in traditional dresses.
They smilingly agreed to be photographed and there was an infectious happiness .
We also went to a couple more temples which were very old but kept very well.
Kandy has the Tooth Relic in a royal palace with beautiful paintings.
One can see it in the morning or evening at 6.
The Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple has some beautiful rock paintings in the cave which has the Buddha's statue in the Parinirvana pose.
Actually, many temples have this pose.
The paintings depict stories from the Buddha's past lives and most are in good condition.
The Buddhaghosa Cave has statues of the Venerable Bhikku himself, leading the convention of monks as they conducted the 4th Buddhist Council.
Sri Lanka has these huge, huge rock formations which are are quite mind boggling.
One such is in Dambulla and has very large caves underneath with beautiful sculptures and paintings.
Then there is Sigiriya - just google it !
It's stunning and the sunrise/sunset from the top is breathtaking.
Mihintale is where Emperor Ashoka's son Venerable Mahinda met the Sinhalese King Devanampiyatissa and the meeting lay the foundation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
The Sinhalese believe that the Buddha visited their country thrice and taught Dhamma, but it had declined and it was Bhikku Mahinda who revived it.
There is the Dagoba (stupa) of Bhikku Mahinda which has his relics, as he died there after staying for 48 years and laying a strong foundation.
Anuradhapura was our last halt in the circuit and it has many, many places to visit.
I looked out for, located and prayed at the Stupa of Sanghamitta who had brought the branch from the original Bo tree in Gaya and helped spread Buddhism among the ladies of Sri Lanka on the King's personal request to Ashoka.
There is a Sacred City in Anuradhapura which has many stupas and ponds and beautiful statues.
We only did the Buddha Circuit.
Shopped a lot, visited a Spice Garden, the sea front in Colombo, drove through the awesome Peradeniya University and ate local food.
Sri Lanka is an excellent example of what life would be like if people of all walks imbibed the Buddha's teachings and lived accordingly.
What were his teachings?
Keep away from doing wrong deeds.
Like killing, stealing, adultery, lying and intoxicants.
Do good deeds.
Cleanse your mind and practice the technique of getting out of the cycle of life and death.
There was no 'religion' propagated or forced, no compulsion.
The people understood that they were benefiting right from the time they started practicing and leading happier, calmer, more contented lives.
It shows in the people's demeanor.
In public places, on roads -
Especially if you go from India, the change hits you.
All 2 - wheeler riders wear helmets, whether they are men, women, whatever their age.
Children wear smaller ones but I did not see anyone without one.
Everyone follows rules, even at 2 in the night on empty roads, drivers stop for the light to turn green.
The cities, towns, smaller villages, roads and side walks, bustling side walks, are all clean, without garbage and plastic.
The people are gentle and soft spoken, emanating such peaceful vibes that one unconsciously calms down.
Plan an unhurried visit after reading up about the history of the places you would visit, not just the hotel reviews.
There are other marvellous places to go to which we did not cover.
The elephant sanctuary/orphanage, Botaniacal Gardens, train journeys, beaches, tea - gardens - there is lots.
The Indian to Sri Lankan exchange rate is good too, and it is not an expensive country.
Do go.
Bye for now -
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