Chilling with the Buddhists
Trip Start
Nov 15, 2010
1
35
47
Trip End
Feb 15, 2011
Bodh Gaya, Bihār, India
Friday, January 28, 2011
Anyway, I exit the station and some rickshaw driver approaches me. It's 6 AM, I'm tired, I have no idea how much it should cost to get from the station to the institute, so when he said 200 rupees, I said fine. Now, we get outside and a whole fleet of rickshaw drivers approach me offering to take me to the same place for 100 rupees. Woah, this guy was totally going to rip me off. However, seeing as I had already said yes to him, I said "I'll go with you, but you need to give me a better price". 150, he says. I say whatever and accept to go. One of the competing rickshaw drivers was very upset, he kept yelling to me "He's a cheater! not true! Cheater!" It seems he was insulted that he had asked me for 200 rupees. Chill dude, i thought to myself, I've dealt with it my way. it's fine. I get in the tuk tuk and the driver starts to drive away. All of sudden the upset one shows up running and grabs him by the collar and slaps him accross the face in front of me. CRAP, I do NOT want to assist a fight at 6:15 in the morning, i'm exhausted, i'm freezing and i'm pissed. I start yelling at both of them that i'm in a hurry and urge my driver to go on. The whole ride was silent. We get to the institute, the jerk has the nerve to ask me for 200 dollars. Because he got slapped he says. Like it's MY FAULT. I was so pissed! I told him HE was dishonnest for charging me so much to start with and he should be thankful that I haven't gone with another driver. Anyway...too much excitement for me at that time.....
I head into the institure, the grounds are lovely. The reception doesn't open until 8:30 seeing as the place is run by volunteers. I sit on a rooftop and watch the sunrise. Freezing. Then I play with the dog. Slowly, time goes by.
I came to root institute after a friend recommended it. I signed up for 3 meditation sessions. Tibetan Buddhism meditation, I was curious to try. Of course, as my luck would have it, that day only one the sessions was being held. So I had ALL DAY to roam around Bodhgaya.
I visited the temple and the Bodhi tree under which Buddha was enlightened. It was moving to see the devotion from the people there. There were followers from all over the world. I met a monk from thailand who started the canon vs nikon debate with me, under the bodhi tree. I thought it was an interesting conversation to be having in such a holy place! hahaha!! He was really nice, total techno geek wrapped in monk robes.
I finished my exploration of the grounds and as I was on my way out with the other tons of tourists a monk grabs at my hand and pulls me to sit with him. He takes out a yellow strand of string, wraps and unwraps it around my wrist a few times while chanting. He ties it around my wrist, blesses it with a little mantra wheel and then does the same on my head (without the yellow string). He grips my hand, smiles, all the while chanting, and lets me on my way. Hmmm, I guess I stood in the crowd as someone who needed to be blessed....
After that, I walked around the city center. It's tiny and not much to see, a lot of stalls selling stuff and all. I was minding my own business, listening to music and walking along the dirt around when all of a sudden BANG. A cow, a little one thank heavens, decided to RAM INTO ME. Head first, right in the ribs. It's horns weren't too big so I wasn't in horrible pain, but mix mild pain with the surprise of being hit by a cow... i was pretty shook up. Seeing as cows are holy in India, was it maybe it's way of blessing me as well?? Hehehehe
Went for lunch at the institute, had a nap and then headed to meditation. I didn't like it. I relaxed, but I didn't like it. Kundalini is the way to go for me, definitely. Turns out my unluck of signing up for 3 classes and only getting one turned into luck, because i wouldnt have wanted to sit through 3 sessions of that...
It was getting cool again and I had a train to catch at 4:35 AM. I needed to get some warmer clothes. I headed back out into the city and found the tibetan market. It's a bunch of little stalls run by tibetan refugees, full of hand made knitted stuff and tibetan wool and all. Beautiful stuff. I got a hat and thicker shawl and made my way back to the institute.
Time to sleep a little before my train at the crazy hour of 4:35 AM.
Direction: VARANASI!
Can't deny that I'm nervous, but so excited and curious at the same time!!
I'll keep you posted!
Thanks for reading
Much love,
Tani xx
