OK so more on the wedding thing. Astrologically, as it turns out, it is the best time for weddings and the nite we were pulled into one was the last nite of this auspicious period. When Suzanna and Puran looked into booking a room in Delhi, they soon found it difficult due to the 20,000 weddings booked in Delhi that nite. As we made our way to the train station that nite we encountered about 10 more. There was even one that passed by our bus outside the station itself. With so many delays unrelated, we got on our train around 4:30 am!!! Got to our hotel rooms in Varanasi around 5 pm finally. We hung on for dear life until after dinner and crashed for one of the best nite's sleep thus far.
This a.m. went for a boat ride to the location where Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment under the Bodhi tree not far from there. Our tour guide, Sharif, read the sermon itself in the same location. It was out of this world. Then we meditated for some time after. Prior to that I should mention that we visited the Buddhist temple near there where currently the 17th Karmapa (sp) is actually visiting tho we did not see him. He is next in line after the Dali Lama. It is the only Buddhist themed site visited other than the Jain temples which have relationship to Buddhists. Our tour's focus here other than meditation, has been more on the Sufi traditions, temples and history. As we rode back on boat, we went past some cremations in process on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi. Much more could be said about that but...little time
Tonite is our last supper together as a group before hanging out one more day in Varanasi then departing on many fronts. I will be joining most on the return overnite train ride to Delhi where we will get a room for just the day and catch our various flights homeward.
Just came from our group's private concert by 'Uma' who played her sitar and taught us songs. Off to dinner. Will be stateside soon and this chapter will soon close as well. c'est la vie. Love to all, wendy
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As excited as I will be to see you when you get home, I am quite sad that this particular journey is ending, and I will not get to read your little stories anymore. But life goes on, and there are always more stories to live and share. I hope someday we will share a very exciting experience in India! Glad you had fun, can't wait to hear about all the inbetweens! Lots of love, Michelle
ReplyDeleteIf you can pick up one nut or pod from the Bodhi tree ( and if legal to do so)...could you bring it back for me? That would be so cool...
ReplyDeleteLOVE your posts...