I'm just back from India, where 26
pilgrims gathered this year for the fourth annual Tricycle "In the
Footsteps of the Buddha" tour. Expert guide Shantum Seth led us through
his native India--from Bodh Gaya, the seat of the Buddha's
enlightenment, to the ancient cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora to the
noisy streets of Delhi--while writer/teacher Stephen Batchelor co-led
the tour, offering talks and, along with Shantum, guiding the group in
meditation.
After
the tour--and after a very winded group recovered--pilgrims began to
send in their thoughts in words and pictures. With his arresting
portraits and concise shots of Indian life, Texan pilgrim Craig Morton,
we all agreed, best captured the feel and tone of the nearly three
wonderful weeks we spent traveling.
Take a look--take a trip to India without leaving the ground. And consider joining us next year!
--James Shaheen
Editor & Publisher
| Craig, Austin, TX |
John, San Diego, CA |
| Paul, Hartford, CT |
Carole, Summit, NJ |
| Kambe, Tokyo, Japan |
Kathleen, New York, NY |
Craig, Austin, TX:
John, San Diego, CA:To walk
in the footsteps of the Buddha, to sense the sutras as if he might have
delivered them, and to be among other like minded pilgrims was an
incredible experience. Our teachers, Stephen Batchelor and Shantum
Seth, were inspirational in their insight. My understanding and
practice are much deeper.
Paul, Hartford, CT:
See all of Paul's Photos:
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Carole, Summit, NJ:
I have been to India
the land of Mahatma Gandhi
walked where he walked
saw the power of a simple life
built on morality
and taught to others.
I have been to India
and rode in a caravan of rickshaws
through streets exploding with color
with sounds and smells
of life being lived
See all of Carole's Photos:
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Kathleen, New York, NY:
In
thinking about what was best for me about the trip, I see first the
meticulous planning that went into the trip. That and Jagdish's
presence gave me a feeling of complete safety and comfort almost
immediately. When I'm on my own, it either requires extensive study
beforehand or several days of negotiating the new place to achieve that
state.
Having such a good teacher along was critical, but just
as critical was that Stephen made it a point to correlate his talks
with the places we were visiting. In Sarnath, he discussed the Buddha's
discourse to his five companions; in Vaishali, he discussed the
Buddha's final testimony, and so forth. That and the political and
cultural context he provided made this a truly spectacular travel and
religious experience.
See all of Kathleen's Photos:
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Kambe, Tokyo, Japan:
Waka Poems:
1Carrying a cushion each, we sit anywhere as we like.
Our thirty is a travelling sangha.
2 Sitting in the breeze coming over the field.
Ashoka stupa is the start of our travel.
3 Sitting roundly and receiving foods on a Sal-leave plate each,
as if we are Bhikkhus of ancient Vihara.
4 Walking up along the Bimbisara's slope toward the Vulture Peak.
Step by step is not different from that of Buddha.
5 On the Vulture Peak. The sinking sun.
The time of Sakyamuni is recollected just like yesterday.
6 Narrow pathways in the rice field seen from the Sujata hill
Are nothing but the way toward the Bodhi Tree Gautama once took.
7 Why I came to the home land of BodhiDharma far away.
Because his horizon is boundless.
Note:
These are originally composed with Waka style: 5-7-5-7-7 Japanese
letters, of the nickname "Three tens and one Letters", although the
English versions are of free style.
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