Bodh Gaya, Legend of the Boddhi Tree

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  Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India
Sunday, March 28, 2010

Getting a sense of India means experiencing the train. Likely the best and cheapest way to get around the country continent at a "fast pace". A 12 to 24 hours train ride is very common for a 2 or 3 days trip. Around 11,000 trains each day serve around 7,000 train station, Kolkata Howrah station being the largest in Asia. It makes finding your train a whole new game, beyond the best video games. SP Singh, Railway Union Leader, and his friend, the President of the Railway for West Bengal, welcome me in our little quarter for the train ride. I should be in good hand. SP, good looking 60 ish long white beard and hair in the white traditional costume, is a character and he likes talking...at least making a speech. After he hears my "professional credentials", in a very formal manner, SP makes his recommendations. For the trip, he lists places I should see to achieve the "purpose" of my trip (I did not know myself, so this is good to find your purpose from a man you met a few minutes ago), then he recommends that we exchange information to stay in contact and comment the situation in our respective countries...he will also accept my comments. I am flattered and suggest I take a picture of them. While I am falling asleep, SP wakes me up: he finally found the piece of paper where his email address (and password) were listed. Long live modern Indian Union.

With the sunrise, India country side wakes up with golden fields dotted by small mud villages...and saaris. The farmers seem to be on the same clock and all head along the railway to sit down for a relaxing No. 2...one every 500 m or so, seriously. The landscape is spectacular nonetheless...as the women are around walking their beautiful colors.

I thought of Boddh Gaya as the Mecca of Buddhism, until it was explained to me by a local Hindu: Buddha is in fact only an avatar of Vishnu (one of the Hindu gods), hence just another Hindu go. Same, same. So the Hindu pray Buddha, Vishnu, Ganesa, what ever, we are all cousin (Ganesa is this cool looking elephant man that appears often in groovy dancing positions...obviously my favorite so far). The other explanation is that Buddhism clearly imposes to abolish the casts system, so that was convenient (and smart) to kill it right there as an "avatar", hence the small amount of Buddhists in India...same same for the Sikhs...two tolerant religions that Hindu maintains down. Now I understand better.

The Mahabodhi temple built around the Boddhi Tree is where Buddha spent 7 weeks in meditation to become the "awakened" and end the cycle of reincarnations (an exhausting process if you start as an ant and have to go all the way to the elephant!). So when an old monk hands me a Boddhi Tree leaf as good luck I simply smile and thank him...so much that he insists my luck would be bigger if I give him money. The old monk is around the Boddhi Tree every day picking up any fresh leaf falling from the tree and playing the trick to many tourists and his book (he does not touch the bill that you place directly inside the book) must be filled with 10 rupees bills as leaves fall constantly. "Om Mani Padme Oum" (Hello Jewel in the Lotus Flower).


Mahabodi temple is a sober and elegant 52 m pyramid shape with 4 towers, quite similar to the original 7 century structure. At sunset and sunrise, mostly very dedicated Buddhist from all over the world come to meditate and pray. An inspiring spiritual ambiance. I just sit down for hours observing and enjoying the spiritual experience...still upset though with my inability to meditate despite a few attempts. Note for the future, work on it.

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Pump it up - side road	If you are in India, there is cricket	Old Monk collecting 10 rupees bills !	Buddha Hindu, same same, let's pray
Beautiful Saari and women

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