Destination: India

Banares Silk or 'Hindu Madness'

Sat, 20 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [638]

There is a description of the lenght of time encompassed by one aeon which involves a very large rock and the rubbing of a piece of fine Banares cloth. I had not connected Banares to Varanasi before this trip but, another thing learned, found them to ... Read more >

Turning the Wheel

Sat, 20 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [622]

Sravasti was left behind after one further visit to Jetta's Grove for me to enjoy its quiet and, as mentioned yesterday, reflect on my irritability.. Also, after a good Indian breakfast, Manidhamma and I having given up on mock English breakfasts. What's ... Read more >

In Praise of the Guddu

Sat, 20 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [656]

Guddu was our driver on this pilgrimage, who I earlier criticised for his rally driving and honking instincts. In fairness to him, however, and as reckless and impervious to the life and limbs of other living beings he seemed (he was more concerned with ... Read more >

With the Buddha (Continued)

Fri, 19 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [617]

I left this story in Lumbini, specifically in the car with Manidhamma and Guddu on our way to Kapilavastu and then Sravasti. The narrative thread, however, remained in Kushinagar, the scene of the Buddha's Parinirvana, so I will pick it up from there.... Read more >

Photos: David_photogallery_Varanasi

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

Photos: David_photogallery_Sarnath

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

Photos: David_photogallery_Kapilavastu/ Sravasti

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

With the Buddha

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [462]

We are now in Lumbini, soon to depart Nepal for India once again and Kapilavastu, the home city of the Buddha. There is another Kapilavastu in Nepal, also claimed to be THE Kapilavastu but since we are not going there surely it cannot be?? Lumbini, ... Read more >

Tags: border crossings, parinirvana, pilgrimage

Photos: David_photogallery_Pilgrimage/Lumbini

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

Photos: David_photogallery_Vaishali/Kushinagar

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

Photos: David_photogallery_Pilgrimage/Nalanda

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

Shantideva's Cell

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [493]

An early rise saw us depart our lodge at Nalanda at a misty 7am, destination Vulture's Peak, the Griddhakuta Hill, where the Buddha delivered a number of tip top (official Buddhist term..) suttas, including the Lotus and Prajnaparimata. This was reached, ... Read more >

Tags: monastery come university, pilgrimage, suttas

Beneath the Bodhi Tree

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Views [342]

I had agreed to meet Manidhamma beneath the Bodhi Tree at 8am and had gotten up a bit earlier to spend some time there alone. Not for the first time I found myself in an irritable mood which I tried to shake off by circumambulations and then sitting ... Read more >

Tags: pilgrimage

Photos: David_photogallery_Pilgrimage

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 | By davidford | Photo Gallery

Photos: Trip to Lavasa

Mon, 8 Feb 2016 | By minmantraveldiaries | Photo Gallery