This has been the repeated story from dad ever since he
returned from Bodh Gaya few years ago. To catch a falling Bodhi leaf underneath
the scared tree replanted on the same spot where Buddha gained
enlightenment. He always told his story
of how he spent 8 hours under the tree watching and not moving and never once
manage to get it. Only after he gave up and decided to pick up leaf from the
ground like everyone else did people gave way for his first leaf picking
experience. Most of them had leaf in their hands already.
From the story he told so many times I did not for once
thought about season if it was autumn or summer. Dad reminded me of the
challenge the moment I checked into Facebook that I have indeed arrived Bodh
Gaya. Try he said with a snicker laugh I could clearly imagine, knowing that I
would most likely fail.
First day and I spare the rush to visit the tree or the main
Mahabodhi temple. Got food and to bed it was. Day 2 …. Time to visit the holy
ground of Buddhist pilgrims, the Bodhi tree where Buddha gained enlightenment.
No Phones or Ipod were allowed inside the garden grounds. Camera however was
allowed with a fee. 100 Rp for a Camera, 500 rupee for a Video Camera. Shoes
prohibited in temple grounds.
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| Mahabodhi Temple - Bodh Gaya |
For once I was happy to see that Bodh Gaya did
not commercialized everything other than the cameras. They provided free
lockers storage for the hand phones or other electronic and of course the shoes
as well.
The standard ply outside the entrance by peddles, trinket
sellers, ceremonial offerings sellers and of course beggars was still around
but not as bad as I thought. Only odd thing was that the ceremonial offerings
that was sold looked more like it was meant for a Hindu temple instead of a
Buddhist one. Then again what is a true Buddhist offering?
I got in the ground and marvel at the MahaBodhi temple which
was grand and majestic in its own. Walking around the temple one can see the
Bodhi tree where Buddha gained enlightenment encased in a triple cage of rock
and iron. The tree grew up and speeded wide of course so people could still sit
below the holy tree but not on the holy spot where Buddha gained enlightenment.
The spot had so many ornaments and structure offerings and trinkets or probably
pure gold by the looks of it and then to prevent anyone from even sitting with
his back leaning on the tree another cage of stone and iron was around the
tree.
It’s safe to say …. You can’t see anything especially at the
foot of the tree.
Did I mention the rain? It was raining when I got there as
well a slight trickle but enough to get you soak if you stand out too long. For
some reason I decided getting rained on was a good thing and walk around seeing
and absorbing all I could of the place Bodh Gaya. Not long after the rained
intensified while I was below the Bodhi Tree , I seek the only shelter
underneath a foot wide archway which was the 3rd wall around the
temple and the tree.
Not before long the thunderous rain chased everyone away
except me and two monks who was drench walking to and fro in front of the tree
meditating.
One of the monk looked at me while I just observed them and
smiled. He veered off his meditation walk path, picked up something from the
ground that was flooded with water and walked to me to pass me a leaf of the
Bodhi tree. This happened three times, no words spoken, while I never asked for
it he never demanded anything for it.
I decided to leave after a while … the heavy rain had soak
me though fully and I was starting to shiver unable to bare the cold. On the
way out I picked up the forth leaf that I saw on the ground. Got my phone and
slippers and checking the time it had been exactly 1 hours since I went in.
Thinking of dad and his 8 hours wait for 3 leafs I was smiling on my way back
to the guesthouse.
Out of the the wet clothes and a photo to dad …..:)
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| Bodhi Leaves from Bodh Gaya |
End of day 2 in Bodh Gaya
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