Day 13

18 Nov 2009 (Varanasi, Sarnath)

6am in the morning, we went to the Ganges river. I will post this one later. Let’s talk about pilgrimage first.

After the breakfast, we went to Sarnath, Isipatana or Deer Park. Firstly, we visited Mulagandha Kuty Vihara where the 5 ascestics met the Buddha. Then we took the 8 precepts here.

Not far away, there is statue where the Buddha preached the first sermon to the five ascetics.

After that, we visited Dharmarajika Stupa where the Buddha preached the first sermon – Dhammacakkapavathana Sutta! Which after this discourse, Venerable Kondanna attained the first fruition.

Then we arrived at the Dhamek Stupa where Buddha preached the second sermon, Anattalakkjana Sutta, hearing which all the 5 Ascetics attained Arahantship. We meditated here for a while and do some walking meditation. I also chanted Dhammacakkapavathana Sutta here. Chanted the Buddha first sermon at this place... Felt so good...

We also visited Mulagandhakuti, where Buddha spent the first rain retreat.

Pancayatana Temple, this site is the place where Buddha preached to the rich man Yasa.

The broken Asokan pillar with the lion capital on top of it.

Next, we visited the Sarnath Archeological Museum. In the museum, enshrine the Asoka Pillar with the Lion Capital on top of it. The four lion’s statues are standing back to back with each other and opening their mouth in a roaring posture. It represented the Buddha’s Dhamma is spreading to the four directions. The teaching of the deathless, for those who have listened, practiced it diligently, shall attain the deathless state of nibanna!

Basically, that’s all about my pilgrimage trip. The next 2 days will be my way back home to Malaysia…

Day 12

17 Nov 2009 (Bodhgaya)

In the morning, I went to Maha Bodhi Temple to pay my last respect to the Buddha. We are leaving to Sarnath in the afternoon. It was a rainy day. I try to take as many photographs as I want. And I also collected some Bodhi leaves. I have to wait under the rain for the leaves to fall down. There are other who was waiting for the Bodhi leaves as well…

In the afternoon, we departed to Varanasi.

Day 11

16 Nov 2009 (Bodhgaya)

About 4am in the morning, a few of us went to meditate in Maha Bodhi Temple. That’s a nice experience.

After breakfast, we prepared lunch dana for 70 monks from Magadha University.

In the afternoon we visited the temples around. There are Bhutanese Temple.

Japanese Temple.

Hugh Buddha Statue built by the Japanese.

Thai Temple.

Maha Bodhi Society

Tibetan Temple

At night, we meditated in the Maha Bodhi Temple. That was such a blissful and blessed sitting.

Day 10

15 Nov 2009 (Bodhgaya)

This morning, we took a van and went to the cave where the Boddhisatta practiced austerities for 6 years. The cave was known as Dungeswari and it was very small. Outside the cave is a Tibetan Temple. We needed to walk up the small hill to reach that cave.

Then we visited Sujata Village. We went to Sujata Stupa and pay respect there. This was the place where Sujata offered the meal before the Boddhisatta attain enlightenment.



Next we stopped over at the place where a layman, Sotthiya offered a few bundles of Kusa grass to the Bodhisatta. Then Buddha placed the grass on his seat and made a strong resolution to attain the enlightenment.


We arrived at Maha Bodhi Temple. Buddha had spent 7 weeks in Bodhgaya after the supreme enlightenment.


The first week, Buddha attained enlightenment on the diamond throne, under the Bodhi Tree. Then Buddha reflect on the dependent origination, Paticca Samuppada.



The second week, Buddha stood grazing at the Bodhi Tree with unblinking eyes as a mark of gratitude to the Bodhi Tree which protect shelter for him during this period. This place is called Animisilocana Cetiya.


The third week, Buddha spent on walking meditation between the diamond throne and the Animisilocana Cetiya.

The fourth week, Buddha reflected on Abhidhamma and his body emitted rays of 6 colors after that.

The fifth week, Buddha sat under a Banyan tree and absorb in the bliss of Phalasamapatti (fruition of Arahantship). Then Buddha answered a question from a Brahmin.



The sixth week, Buddha was protected by Mucalinda, the serpent king of the lake. Mucanlinda used its coils to encircle Buddha’s body and covered the Buddha’s head with its hood. Because there was an untimely rainstorm and gloomed for seven days.


At the seventh week, Buddha moved to the Rajayatana tree. Buddha also absorbed into Arahantship bliss. And the two merchant brothers met the Buddha’s discourse, took the Two refuge in the Buddha and the Dhamma. Then they asked for object of worship, Buddha then gave them eight hairs and they returned to their native in Myanmar. The hair relics were later enshrine in the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

At night, Jason and I went to Maha Bodhi Temple. This time, I offered a light to the Buddha. This has been my wish for a long time, to offer a light to the Buddha, at the place of his enlightenment. Finally, my wish fulfilled. May I attain enlightenment too.

Day 9

14 Nov 2009 (Rajgir – Bodhgaya)

This morning, we visited the Vaibhara Giri Hill in Rajgir, Sattapanni caves, where the first Sangha Council was held. On the way up to the hill, there was a cave which was previously stayed by Bhante Maha Kasappa and it was known as Pipphali House.

It took us almost half and hour to reach the Sattapanni caves where the first Sangha Council was held. Inside the cave, it was very narrow, and we can’t go further inside, it was blocked by stones. There is a Buddha statue and candles lighted.

We visited the Ajatasattu Stupa, which erected by King Ajasattu.

Next we went to Bamboo Grove, Veluvana Vihara which was presented by the King Bimbisara to the Buddha. It was the first Buddhist Monastry. We took the 8 precepts here.

Then we stopped by the Stupa where Buddha tamed the drunken elephant which released by Devadatta. It’s the battle between the elephants. And Buddha won with the power of loving kindness and the elephant bowed to the Buddha.

After that, we went to Bimbisara Jail where the King Bimbisara was jailed by his son, King Ajatasattu. Eventually King Bimbisara died in that prison.

Then we stopped by at the Mango Groved, Veluvana which was presented to the Buddha by the physician, Jivaka.

After lunch we visited the Vulture Peak, where the Buddha and his disciples often stayed there and meditated. The view on top of the mountain was just magnificent, great and peaceful. It gave a full view of the forest in Rajgir.

We arrived at Bodhgaya about 5pm. Then at night around 7.30pm, we walked to the Maha Bodhi Temple and took the 8 precepts inside the temple. That is the most beautiful temple that I have ever seen in my life. There were a lot of people chanting in this area. The Bodhi tree is situated behind the Maha Bodhi Temple, and the Diamond Throne is situated under the Bodhi Tree. I chanted the Buddha’s virtue, and then followed by ‘Anekajati’ verse. I was so happy. Finally I can chant it in the place where the Buddha attained the supreme enlightenment.

Day 8

13 Nov 2009 (Patna – Rajgir)

This morning, we went to Hajipur and visited Ananda Stupa. We had to ride on a Tutut and it took us about 15 minutes to reach the site, because the road to the site is too narrow and unreachable by coach. Initially, there were 2 Ananda Stupa, but as the times goes by the river had changed it course and washed away one of the Stupa.

The Hindu temple was built on top of the Ananda Stupa. As we arrived, there were a lot of local people surrounded us and made us quite uncomfortable. Then we went into the Hindu temple and chanted the triple gem’s virtue. This is the place where the treasurer of Dhamma – Bhante Ananda, passed into nibanna.

After that, we stopped aside at Asokarama, where the 3rd Sangha was held. There is an Asoka Pillar in the garden.

In the afternoon, we went to visit the ruins of Nalanda. Nala means lotus or wisdom, da means knowledge. It was founded by Kumara Gupta at the 5th century, and it was renovated and upgraded in the 7th century and finally destroy at the 12th Century.

The Sariputta Stupa.

Later that, we went to Nava Nalanda and do dana.

Evening, we arrived at Rajgir and we stayed there overnight.

Day 7

12 Nov 2009 (Kusinara – Patna)

Left Kusinara early in the morning, we passed by the river where Buddha took his last bath before he went to Kusinara. His body turned gold in color again after the bath.

Then we arrived at the Stupa where Cunda offered the last meal to the Buddha.

Next, we had lunch at the Zen restaurant. Then we arrived at Vesali. There were 5 incidents happened at Vesali, namely, the monkeys offered food to the Buddha and dug a pond for Buddha to take bath, The recitation of Ratana Sutta, the renunciation of Bhikkhuni, the announcement of Buddha’s Maha Parinibanna, and the 2nd Sangha Council.

After that, we visited the ancient Stupa of Vesali, where the Licchavis had a portion of Buddha’s relic and built a clay stupa. Then King Asoka was here and built another bigger stupa on top of it. Then the Stupa was enlarged again by the Gupta.

Finally, we crossed the Ganges river and arrived at Patna. It’s a very crowded and busy city with 10 million populations.

Day 6

11 Nov 2009 (Lumbini – Kusinara)

Departed as early as 6.15am, we left Nepal and headed to Kusinara. There were hugh traffic jam at the border because there were lot’s of trucks coming in and out at the border.

We arrived at Kusinara about 11am, had lunch and proceeded to the memorial park where Buddha passed into Maha Parinibanna. At first, we do sitting meditation beside the Maha Parinibanna Temple. While I sat there, I reflected on the Buddha’s quality, Sugato, means well gone. As Buddha had passed into Parinibanna. I thought of Buddha, while he was still a Bodhisatta, he had worked so hard to accumulate all the 10 paramis, he had even scarified countless of lives, body, organs, and even his wife and children, just for the sake of Buddhahood. He had done so much for the living beings. And now, Buddha had reached his final destination, Parinibanna, the ever lasting peace. I felt so happy for the Buddha, and thank him for all he had done for us.

At the same time, I knew that my job hasn’t done yet. I still have to strive diligently for my own nibanna. Buddha’s last word came into my mind, ‘vayadhammā saṅkhārā appamādena sampādetha.’ Which means all things are subject to decay; strive on with diligent!

After meditating for half an hour, we went into the temple and paid respect to the Buddha by went round the reclining Buddha statue 3 times. Then we took some photographs.

Next we went to the Mahaparinibanna Stupa which marked the exact spot where the Buddha passed away, just behind the temple. Again, we went round the stupa 3 times. I reflected on the Buddha’s virtue.

After that, we did the offering at the Burmese Temple.

Then we visited Matha Kuar Shrine.

Lastly, we arrived at the cremation Stupa, where the citizen in Kusinara cremated Buddha’s body.

At the side of the Stupa is the Tiranawati river, where they washed Buddha’s body before they wrapped and cremated. We also walked round the Stupa 3 times. There were also Thai monks and lay people chanting the Buddha’s virtue. I found that I understand Pali, and we shared the same faith.

Day 5

10 Nov 2009 (Lumbini)

Initially this morning we were going to Ramagama, but unfortunately we were stopped by the local military officer on the way. This was because there was a demonstration by the Maoist Terrorist and they had captured 19 buses yesterday. We were not willing to risk ourselves to be hijacked by the terrorist; therefore we decided to return to the hotel. In Ramagama, there is a Stupa guarded by the Naga. While Devadaha was the home for the Koliyans, the hometown for the Buddha’s mother. And we can’t visit Kapilavatthu as well because of the incident.

After an early lunch, we went to Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha. We stopped at the entrance and we had to walk about 10 minutes to reach the site. In the Lumbini Garden, there is a Nepalese Temple, build by the Japanese. Inside the temple, there is a marker stone craved by King Asoka when he paid visit to this site. We lined up, knell down and paid respect in front of the marker stone. In my mind, I paid respect wholeheartedly.

And behind the temple, erected an Asoka Pillar, the word engraved on the pillar stated that this was the spot where the Buddha was born.

There is also a pond, a Bodhi tree. The air in the garden is fresh and it came with a cooling breeze. That’s really ceased all the discomfort, the pain and suffering in life… We had a photo session after that.

Then we went to another Nepalese Temple nearby and do the offering. Then I met up with Bhante Sagararama. Bhante is a friend of Bhante U Agganna. I must let Bhante U Agganna know as well.

At the end of the day, we visited Pandita Meditation Centre. That’s a nice place. Bhante in the centre taught us how to resolve conflict. How we can talk according to the Buddhism way. We must refrain from telling lies. No harsh speech. We can talk rightfully too.

At night, I got to know better a Nepalese friend, Pratik.

Day 4

9 Nov 2009 (Savatthi – Lumbini)

As usual, we woke up about 5am, ate breakfast at 6am and departed to Jetavana Monastry at 7am. Firstly, we visited the Gandha Kuti, Buddha’s Perfumed Chamber. We bowed down and pay respect to the Buddha, took the three refuge, then we started to meditate about half an hour.

At the side of the Gandha Kuti is a well for Buddha use.

Near by is a Dhamma hall where Buddha met his disciples. All these were built again during Kusana Period (1st - 2nd century AD).

The park was so serene and beautiful after 2500 years. The weather is cooling too. I just want to say to the Buddha, “I am finally here.” But I think I am 2500 years too late. Buddha had passed in Maha Parinibanna. After that, we passed a pond where the monks used to take bath.

Then we visited Bhante Sivali Stupa, Bhante Maha Moggallana Stupa and Bhante Sariputta Stupa.

Next, we paid respect to Ananda Bodhi Tree by walking around the tree 3 rounds clockwise.

We also visited Sri Langkan Monastry and dana there, In that monastry, we took 3 refuge and 5 precepts. Beside us, was a group of Sri Lankan Pilgrims. They also chanted in Pali together with us. We chant in the same languague. How wonderful is that. We have never met before, but we shared the same faith and paid respect to the same teacher – the Buddha.

We arrived at the Sudatta Stupa, which was Anathapindika’s old resident. Sudatta is Anathapindika’s real name. And opposite is Angulimala Stupa.

After that, we went to a place it’s believed that Devadatta was swollen by the earth, just behind the swamp.

Then we went up to a hill where Buddha performed the twin miracle, and ascended up to the Tavatimsa Heaven and preached Arbhidhamma to his mother and all the other deities.

After that, we went to Lumbini. Crossed the border into Nepal and spent the night there.