2014 - Buddhist Pilgrimage to India/Nepal - day 10 in Varanasi, India

BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA AND NEPAL
“In the Master’s Footsteps” 24 Nov - 5 Dec 2014 (12D/11N)

At Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.

Day 10 (3.12.2014) - Sravasti to Varanasi (270km 11hrs)

The morning call at 4am and breakfast was at 5am. At 6am we visited the Jetavana Garden, which was donated by Anathapindika, where the Buddha spent twenty-four rainy seasons. At Sravasti, Buddha confounded His critics with a million-fold manifestation of Himself seated on a thousand petaled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body. We did chanting here and later visited the Ananda Bodhi tree and again we did chanting and meditation here.

At 8.15am we proceed to Varanasi one of the holiest and fascinating cities in the East. Had our packed lunch at about 12.30pm at a restaurant garden. We arrived at the hotel at 7.10pm after 11 long hours on the road. We had our dinner straight away and at 8.30 we went out for some shopping.

Dinner & overnight at Varanasi: Hotel Rivitas


Saheth (Jetavana) - It was one of the most famous of the Buddhist monasteries or viharas in India. It was the second vihara donated to Gautama Buddha after the Venuvana in Rajgir. The monastery was given to him by his chief male patron, Anathapindika. Jetavana is located just outside the old city of Savatthi. 


Saheth (Jetavana) - Sravasti was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Kosala ruled by King Pasenadi, a lay disciple and great admirer of the Buddha. It owes its fame to its long and close association with the Buddha’s ministry. Of the 45 years of his ministry, the Buddha spent as many as 25 rains-retreats, 24 of them continuously (21st- 44th) at Sravasti.


Saheth (Jetavana) - It was here that the millionaire Sudatta, popularly known as Anathapindika or “Feeder of the Poor”, donated the famous Jetavana or Jeta’s Grove to the Buddha after he had bought it at an exorbitant price, which was “as many gold coins as would cover it”.


Saheth (Jetavana) - Since the Buddha spent a major part of his missionary life in Sravasti, the majority of sermons in the scriptures were delivered while staying in Jetavana. Another important monastery at Sravasti was the Pubbarama, donated by Lady Visakha, chief benefactress of the Buddha.


Chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


The remains of Jetavana and Savatthi were locally known as Saheth-Mahet. Alexander Cunningham used the ancient (6th century AD) accounts of Chinese pilgrim-monks to determine that Sahet-Mahet actually referred to Jetavana and Savatthi.


Jetavana is currently a historical park, with remains of many ancient buildings such as monasteries, huts (such as the Gandhakuti and the Kosambakuti) and stupas. In Jetavana is also located the second-holiest tree of Buddhism: the Anandabodhi Tree. A visit to Savatthi and Jetavana is part of the Buddhist pilgrim route in North-India.


Chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Chanting and meditation by Myanmar Buddhist pilgrims at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Chanting and meditation by Myanmar Buddhist pilgrims and monks at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana.


Temple 2 at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Temple 2 at Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Monks chanting and meditating at Temple 2 in Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Monks chanting and meditating at Temple 2 in Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Jetavana, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh.


Annie Watt Lai Seong on the bicycle at Jetavana, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh.


Chong Voon Siong on the bicycle at Jetavana, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh.


Jenny Teng Swee Lin and Tan Faye Shien at Jetavana, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh.


Temple 3 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Temple 3 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


The double Stupa and Bodhi-tree in Jetavana, Shravasti.


At Jetavana Ananda Bodhi tree for chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee.


At Jetavana Ananda Bodhi tree for chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee.


At Jetavana Ananda Bodhi tree for chanting and meditation led by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee.


Ching Neng Bin in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Stupa 18 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Stupa 18 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Stupa 18 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Stupa 18 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


There is a lake beside Stupa 18 in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Temple 1 and monastery in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Temple 1 and monastery in Jetavana, Shravasti.


Temple 1 and monastery in Jetavana, Shravasti.


A farm house along the main road to Varanasi.


A monkey at a farm house along the main road to Varanasi.


A farmer with his cattle along the main road towards Varanasi.


Our packed lunch was held around 12:30 in a restaurant garden along the main road towards Varanasi.


Our packed lunch was held around 12:30 in a restaurant garden along the main road towards Varanasi.


Our packed lunch was held around 12:30 in a restaurant garden along the main road towards Varanasi.


Our packed lunch was held around 12:30 in a restaurant garden along the main road towards Varanasi.


Our packed lunch was held around 12:30 in a restaurant garden along the main road towards Varanasi.


Our packed lunch was held around 12:30 in a restaurant garden along the main road towards Varanasi.


An open barber shop by a fire along the main road towards Varanasi.


We stopped at this petrol station for toilet along the main road towards Varanasi.

Five tractors in a lorry along the main road towards Varanasi - 'Incredible India".


Ching Neng Bin had a looked inside the driver's seat and said that it was so basic.


We arrived at Varanasi Rivitas hotel at 7.10pm after a 11 long hours on the road. We had our dinner straight away and at 8.30 we went out for some shopping.


Dinner & overnight at Hotel Rivitas in Varanasi.


A Buddha image at Hotel Rivitas in Varanasi.

Pilgrimage Itinerary:
Day 01 (24.11.2014) Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok to Bodhgaya, India
Day 02 (25.11.2014) Bodhgaya to Dungeswari Cave - Sujata Stupa - Bodhgaya
Day 03 (26.11.2014) Bodhgaya to Rajgir by coach (80km, 3 hrs drive)
Day 04 (27.11.2014) Rajgir to Gijjhakuta Hill (Vulture Peak) - Nalanda - Rajgir
Day 05 (28.11.2014) Rajgir to Vaishali by coach (130km, 5 hrs drive)

Day 06 (29.11.2014) Vaishali to Kushinagar by coach (180km, 6hrs drive)
Day 07 (30.11.2014) Kushinagar to Lumbini by coach (160km, 7hrs drive)
Day 08 (01.12.2014) Lumbini in, Nepal
Day 09 (02.12.2014) Lumbini to Sravasti by coach (250Km, 8hrs drive)
Day 10 (03.12.2014) Sravasti to Varanasi by coach (270Km, 11 hrs. drive)

Day 11 (04.12.2014) Varanasi to Sarnath. Varanasi to Bangkok TG328 16:30hrs 21:15hrs
Day 12 (05.12.2014) Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur

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6 comments:

  1. Baidu M31 December, 2014

    Thank you for sharing Bro Ching --- an adventurous pilgrimage trip! Stay well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KH Choo31 December, 2014

    Hi Neng Bin, Good to see that you are traveling around happily. Looks like your group is really enjoying themselves. Wish I could find time to do such adventures. At this moment we are in Perth with my children who have migrated to Australia leaving 2 old fellas in Penang. Hopefully we can meet up when you come to Penang. However, I am leaving in Jawi now. KH Choo Mobile: 019-4783522

    ReplyDelete
  3. Baby Cheah01 January, 2015

    Bless you bro. Ching, very memorable pictures and write up thank you, sadhu sadhu sadhu.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tan Chooi Kee03 January, 2015

    Hi Bro Ching, I am so happy to see those memorable pictures and your detailed write up about our adventurous Buddhist Pilgrimage. Thank you and may you be blessed with good merit. Sadhu sadhu sadhu.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown03 January, 2015

    Bro. Ching,
    Such nice write up and good pictures. The write up brings back the wonderful moments we had during the pilgrimage. Thank you so much for all the effort in putting them up as a way of documenting our trip. It is a real joy reading them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown03 January, 2015

    Bro. Ching,
    Such nice write up and good pictures. The write up brings back the wonderful moments we had during the pilgrimage. Thank you so much for all the effort in putting them up as a way of documenting our trip. It is a real joy reading them.

    ReplyDelete

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