Being silent under theBodhi tree, is being silent inside and from the outside. Even if there is noise on the outside, silence on the inside makes sitting and being very beautiful. Every morning around 7 am I go to the Mahobodhi temple to sit under the Bodhi tree and meditate for an hour or so. It is a very peacefull way to begin the day.
Everybody enjoys the tree differently, some meditate, others chant the lotus sutras, Tibetans prostrate, some read. Some are chatting on there mobile phones, read a newspaper, speaking loudly etc... there are many ways.
About 13 days ago I arrived in the early morning in Bodhgaya, it rained a lot. Checked into Rahul guesthouse, i believe this is one of the cleanest guesthouses in India. My first impression of Bodhgaya was a busy town with many Pilgrims.. not so nice. In the next few days Bodhgaya becomes really nice it is not the town that was changed but i became more relaxed on the inside. When i arrived the were many Indian Pilgrims for some kind of festival in Gaya, so they also visit the Buddha sides. In the Bodhi temple they do some kind of ritual with ghee and ? and with that they make a prasad (gift) for the shiva Lingam. The shiva lingam is within the Bodhi temple complex. Now most Indian Pilgrims have left Bodhgaya and one again Bodhgaya is very peaceful till the Tibetan influx... somewhere around December.
A few days ago they cleared all the stalls around the Bodhi temple complex, also long standing restaurants with the nicest food are gone like Mohamed Rest. with yummy spinach cheese momo's. Also the chapati man was gone the 10 rupee breakfast my favourite place to eat a very good and simple meal with choka (potato with mung Dal and spices) and he cooks with very less oil. With that some 1000 people lost their income.
Last night we said goodbye to Rob and Jennifer a very nice couple from the US. They went on a elephant safari.
I nearly forgot but my evening meditation is in the Japanese Temple, zazen, just sitting with walking meditation for about one hour this was a very good experience. They also correct someones sitting position. Now i can sit with my back very straight and still comfortable.
During my stay in Bodhgaya i read the following books:
