Gallery: India Pilgrimage 2023

To retrace Buddha’s footsteps, Venerable K. Rathanasara led an 11-day pilgrimage in Nov 2023 to India, visiting eight famous sites where significant events of Buddha’s life occurred.

(1) Lumbini – the place where Buddha was born
(2) Bodh Gaya – the site of Buddha’s enlightenment
(3) Sarnath – where Buddha pronounced his first teachings; turning of the Wheel of Dhamma
(4) Rajgir – where the first Buddhist council was convened, and the passing on of Buddha’s teachings in oral tradition was created.
(5) Sravasti – where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons teaching in Jetavana Vihar
(6) Kapilvastu – capital of the Shakya Kingdom where the Bodhisattva was brought up
(7) Vaishali – where the Buddha initiated the Bhikkhuni order and announced his final passing away 3 months prior
(8) Kushinagara – where Buddha passed on and attained nirvana.

The trip filled the Dhamma followers with awe, leaving many deeply touched and reflective. Their commitment to practise was further affirmed.

Offering of lights at the Ganges River, Varanasi.

Venerable K. Rathanasara delivering a dhamma talk at the Dhamekh Stupa where the Buddha delivered his first sermon.

Venerable K. Rathanasara and Dhammakami pilgrimage members at Mahabodhi Temple for their early morning meditation session.

Undergraduates’ rooms in Nalanda University.

Entrance to Venerable Master Xuan Zang’s room at Nalanda University, one of the oldest universities of the World and International Centre for Buddhist Studies.

Venuvan Park at Rajgir

A beautiful sunrise at Rajgir.

Climbing a hill to reach Sattapanni Cave where the first Buddhist council was held after the Buddha’s great passing.

Venerable K. Rathanasara explaining the layout of Venuvan Park.

Venerable K. Rathanasara and Dhammakami pilgrimage members at Gridhakuta Hill, the seat from where the Buddha delivered many of his sermons.

Venerable K. Rathanasara giving a short dhamma talk to Dhammakami pilgrimage members after paying respect to the Buddha statue at Venuvan, Rajgir.

Road sign to the ruins of Vaishali and Ashokan Pillar.

Ruins of Vaishali and the Ashokan Pillar.

Venerable K. Rathanasara and Dhammakami pilgrimage members in front of the Buddha relic stupa at Vaishali.

The road sign pointing to Mahaparinibanna temple.

Venerable K. Rathanasara delivering a Dhamma talk at the Mahaparinibbana Temple.

Venerable K. Rathanasara leading Dhammakami pilgrimage members inside the temple to cover the reclining Buddha with a robe.

Dhammakami pilgrimage members inside the Mahaparinibbana temple to cover the reclining Buddha with a robe.

Venerable K. Rathanasara and Dhammakami pilgrimage members in front of the Mahaparinibbana Temple, a place to commemorate the great passing of the Buddha.

Venerable K. Rathanasara and Dhammakami pilgrimage members at Jetavana Vihar where the Buddha spent twenty-four rainy seasons.

Five Precepts stone plaque at Lumbini.

Dhammakami pilgrimage members paying their respect at the Ramabhar Stupa where the Lord Buddha was cremated and relics divided into eight parts.

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