blog

Love, Peace, Kalachakra

- 20 January 2012, Bodhgaya -

Joining the Buddhatrip and to experience the Kalachakra by his Holiness the Dalai Lama became a huge source of inspiration which I will try to express in this blog.There is one statement by His Holiness The Dalai Lama during the Kalachakra which I think of every day: “The ignorant ones try to proof an independent reality, the wise ones do the opposite”. Our reality including ourselves are interdependent originated. There is no way we can separate ourselves from our environment. This was just one of many deep lessons His Holiness shared with us. Despite of my limited capacities to understand the deeper meaning, I try to phrase the main message of the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, according to my perception as follows: Develop your meditation and keep concentrated on the view of interdependent origination, develop our good hart and act accordingly with skillful actions. The main result of this practice will be to benefit others and not to harm others.

What a wonderful messages! No doubt that this vision has a tremendous healing capacity for us, for our relatives and friends and for the world. It is easy to understand that if more people will act in this way more of them will benefit each other and more people will be happy. This vision transforms a ‘taking and grasping’ attitude into a ‘giving and sharing’ one. It transforms competition into compassion. Because in order for us to experience happiness we should not aim to have more as others. This is a big mistake! Instead of taking care only of our individual selves we should take care and take responsibility for the wholeness. If the whole is happy we are automatically also happy. This is so very simple that everybody can understand it.

The little town of Bodhgaya has normally a population of 30.000 however during the peak days of the Kalachakra it hosted 350.000 people, which is over 10 times its normal capacity. As a result the infrastructure like electricity, water supply and waste water discharge were far over their capacities, it was extremely crowded everywhere and all the normal comforts we are used to in our Western life were completely lacking. Yet at the same time everything happened very peacefully and smoothly.

During the 10 days of the Kalachakra I was wondering what were the main factors which made this possible. After observing, reflecting and contemplating I saw three main reasons: First of all His Holiness the Dalai Lama has a clear vision and gives clear directions without any hesitation or doubt. Secondly The Dalai Lama and all the other masters give the necessary teachings, instructions and other tools to anybody willing to receive them in order to transform their minds into the right way. Finally they give everybody complete freedom in the way they want to use these tools because every human being is unique and all of them has different needs, qualities and capacities. In that manner the Kalachakra was a great example of new and needed leadership. It proved why the teachings are so important and it showed the result of 350.000 people applying them and taking their responsibility for their own minds, speech and actions. Therefore this extraordinary auspicious event is an example for the world as healthy base for future generations.

I feel extremely grateful for having been here and to experience this lesson. Therefore I wish to express my gratitude, first of all to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for giving these precious transmissions, in a speed and with an energy which was really above normal human capacities, especially regarding his high age. Secondly I wish to thank all the male and female masters of the Buddhist lineage who kept this wisdom tradition alive over the last 25 centuries. Many of them risked their lives for it or gave their lives. Finally I wish to express my gratitude towards my root spiritual teacher lama Jigmé Namgyal. His words, his actions and his whole being are 100% according the precious vision and methods. Without him I would have never been able to improve my life, make it meaningful and find a basis for happiness and wellbeing.

With lots of gratitude to all of them,
Love, peace, Kalachakra,
~ Henco
 

 

Lining up

- 08 January 2012 -

It is busy, very busy in Bodhgaya. The Kalachakra grounds fill up hours before the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama start and queues are a common sight. Whether trying to get in at half past four in the morning, or during the day: there are queues. Restaurants at lunch time, ATM machines, the main Buddha statues, or doctor’s post: there will be queues. Yet these are quiet, respectful, almost cozy queues. People stand in orderly lines, hardly anybody tries to get in front – it would mean bad karma for that person. Many people cannot enter the Kalachakra grounds at all, so the streets and central square fill up with people too. They sit calmly through the day, in the cold or burning sun, watching the big LCD screen or listening to the speakers that broadcast the teachings and the chanting of mantras. All this very calmly and with much devotion.

Even at the Kalachakra grounds, when monks go through the crowds with flat bread and butter tea, there is not much pulling and pushing. Until today, that is. Because when the ritual reed grass was handed out, the purifying water and the blessed strings of red cord, the crowds came into action and many helpful monk was plundered of his wares before he or she could properly spread it to the people.

During the whole ceremony, monks have been working on the creation of a large sand Mandala. Now that it is finished, people are invited to take a brief look at it. New queues, disorderly ones this time, appear instantly. People stand in line for hours, to see the Mandala before the end of the ceremony, when it is destroyed.

~ Mathieu

 

 

Rooftop teaching

- 06 January 2012 -

His Holiness The Dalai Lama is a very powerful teacher. He leads the rituals and also gives extensive teachings every day. Seemingly effortless, he speaks from his heart, for up to four hours at a stretch. In his teachings, he covers both deep philosophic base principles of Buddhism, meditation instructions and practical advice on topics such as hygiene or use of alcohol. To keep up with his teachings, we need all our concentration. When the small seating spots are getting too uncomfortable for some of us, we choose to take our radios – all is translated into English and broadcasted through radio – to the rooftop of our guesthouse, or the quiet green meditation park.

~ Mathieu

 

 

Lunapark

- 06 January 2012 -

What to do apart from listening to the teachings? For most of us, the day fills with just eating, going to the teachings, and doing a little wash every now and then. But those with extra time can enjoy the festivities, such as the lunapark. There is a real merry-go-round, a haunted house, camel rides and balloon-shooting. Entertainment for hipsters and young monks alike!

~ Mathieu

 

 

By the riverside

- 05 January 2012 -

A river flows along Bodhgaya. The river bed, is very wide, sandy, and… quiet. With all the people and activities in town, the river bed is a good place to take a rest from the noise. People come there just to sit, to clean themselves, children play with kites or play cricket.
One path leads from the town to a wading place where people cross the river to the village on the other bank and further on, to a place of devotion where Buddha sat and meditated for six years before reaching enlightenment. Here, children try to sell live fish in plastic bags; one is supposed to set the fish free to receive some good karma. Here too, you can have yourself carried over the river to avoid wet feet – the rate is ten rupees, or 15 eurocent.

~ Mathieu

 

 

Vulture’s Peak

- 04 January 2012 -

A few hours driving from Bodhgaya, there is Rajgir: another place where Buddha Shakyamuni lived for a long time and the place where he gave many teachings. Among them are the famous teachings on emptiness. The spot where Buddha would teach is a hill-top called Vulture’s Peak. With so many pilgrims in the area at this moment, the place is far from empty. The atmosphere is quite special: on the small hill-top, Buddhists from many different countries are assembled, giving an impression of just how much alive Buddhism is in various parts of the world. Though the devotees practice the same rituals, the details and languages differ. A mélange of mantras echoes from the hill-top.

~ Mathieu

 

 

Flowers at the Mahabodhi temple

- 03 January 2012 -

When we arrived in Bodhgaya, the Mahabodhi temple was already a beautiful place. But this main stupa of the town, right at the spot where Budddha attained enlightenment, has since been extensively decorated with flags, banners and many, many flowers. Lotus flowers and flower guirlandes are also sold in the streets to bring to the stupa or to the Kalachakra grounds. So now the Dutch know once more; we are not the only flower-loving nation!

~ Mathieu

 

 

The railway station

- 11 January 2012 -

Thinking of the last few weeks, I feel lucky and fortunate to be here. Of course India is not only beautiful nature, centuries old ruins, tasty food or a rich history of different coexistent cultures and religions. But being here, somehow you get used to the dirt, the crowded cities, the horns blowing in traffic all the time. I find myself being with what is. Not only I get used to it, I can see the beauty in it as well.

A dog scratches his back, chasing away the fleas that live on him. A few meters further between the rails, a man with rolled up pants is sweeping all the plastic garbage out of the open sewer. A rat passes him running around looking for food.

Colorful dressed people are waiting for the train to arrive. The delay is mild: 5 hours. A cargo train passes my view slowly and stops. A Tibetan woman sits right next to me. She’s trying to sleep, her head resting on her backpack. Between the two dirty signs of platform 2 and 3 is a tiny shop, selling drinks and all variations of chips, including tasty salted dahl chips. The shed says the not to be mistaken slogan: ‘Life is boring if it ain’t juicy’. Sandy’s shoes get a turn with black shoe polish, the man cleans the Nike signs with a tooth brush.

We had lunch in Gaya in two groups, one eating, one watching all the bags. Three buddhatrippers start a Do-in session on the platform, leaving people with a huge smile on their faces. Time’s on my side, yes it is… No time to get bored here, surely there is so much to look at. Mariana, Laura and Nicolette kill time by chanting passionately the long life mantra for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. An old Tibetan man walks by, his back bent, holding a mala (a chain of beads for reciting mantras) in his left hand. Two Tibetan nuns totally dressed in burgundy red and covering the largest part of their faces with a fabric ‘Free Tibet’ dust cap. It reminds me of the head of the family we had dinner with in Sarnath. He expressed that night that the situation of Tibet is not what China appears it to be. A lot of brutal stories happen but never enter the media. It makes me sad and leaves a sense of powerlessness.

Swarming mosquitoes above the backpacks. Dusk is falling, it’s 17:21h. Two hours to go. Gaya train station is packed with people. A group of 14 travelers is reminiscing the last couple of weeks. So many impressions to digest, so many vast teachings to absorb. At least thirteen hours train ride to go before entering New Delhi’s curtain of smog. Let’s hope the railway is free of fog.

~ Ginny

 
 

The first initiation day

- 08 January 2012, 08:45h -

This morning the alarm clock went off at 03:30h and now we’re sitting here with most of us. His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived so we welcomed him by standing up and placing our hands together. Before that we sang and prayed together. Today is the first initiation day. The days before His Holiness explained many things about Buddhism, its history and the connection with India. From 12:00 o’clock he’ll be teaching about the initiations again.

Nearby little novice boys and girls (you can’t tell the difference) in red robes help us when the bread and butter tea are being served. Later on they fell asleep leaning against Sita and me. On the big LCD screen we watch the monks debating in Tibetan language. It’s fun to watch even though we cannot understand a word.

~ Elizabeth
 
 

Walking mindfully

- 05 January 2012 -

Last night I slept for almost 5 or 6 hours, so that feels good. I did some Do-In practise (thanks to Danielle’s lessons) and I feel how I miss my weekly swimming and playing the clarinet. I used to sing in a choir, now I’m singing from the red mantra book together with others of the sangha.

We are mostly walking here. Lama Jigmé gave us the tip to do this mindful, because in the dark you can hardly see where you’re walking between approximately 400.000 other people in this little place. It’s very crowded. Nevertheless, the atmosphere is okay. The food is delicious. In the morning I eat pancake with bananas, porridge or toast with eggs. We went to the holy ground of the Kalachakra and unfortunately I fell in the mud. I went back with Henco to clean it with Dettol. Luckily I had also Betadine for the scratches.

~ Elizabeth
 
 

Mahabodhi Stupa visit with Lama Jigme

- 01 January 2012 -

This is my first visit to India. I’d never met Lama Jigme before, but my friend Henco mentioned the trip, so I’d thought I’d tag along. I knew India was going to be challenging, but the first couple of days were anxious and bewildering, maybe something like the intermediate state after death is said to be. The environment in the town is one of medieval squalor. Yet in the center of this is the Mahabodhi Stupa, one of the jewels of the world’s sacred architecture, the place where the historical Buddha attained enlightenment. People have been coming here for 2,000 years to connect with this event.

On my second day in the town, Lama Jigme invited the students to sit with him before the Mahabodhi Stupa, in the very early morning before sunrise. That morning I was tired and uneasy, but I thought to myself that I’d better do something meaningful with my time, so I myself get up. The streets were wet, and already busy with monks and laypeople, with many in rickshaws. We walked together to the stupa, and sat in front of the bodhitree, a descendant of the tree the Buddha sat beneath.

I’ve been meditation for a few years, but to really actualize the heart of meditation is not so easy. But when I was sitting there with Lama Jigme, then there was no problem with meditation. My mind was totally free, without suppressing any thought or feeling. The buddhanature, the meaning of life, the universe and everything, was right there, clear to see.

So in the course of half an hour, my experience was utterly transformed, but how? The total freedom that the Buddha found in that place thousands of years ago has been passed down from master to master, from India to Tibet, and now from there, to the world over. Meditation masters like the Dalai Lama, Lama Jigme and the hundreds of others gathered here for the Kalachakra, embody that liberation, and their presence and words can demonstrate the reality of that freedom to ordinary people. For them to demonstrate meditation like this is the greatest gift one human being could give to another.

It’s been a few days since that happened, but the experience stays with me. So here in Bodhgaya, despite all the problems with the environment, it is possible for an ordinary person to practice meditation in their daily activities, in a way which is transformative and profoundly freeing.

~ Russell
 
 

The end of the Buddhatrip is near

- 10 January 2012 -

India is known for it’s IT knowledge.. unfortunately at the moment we’re not able to share our thoughts by blogging due some 3G connection problems. The USB stick is very slow and keeps falling out. Ginny’s phone had a connection before but it seems impossible to recharge… even to 2G So bare with us and know we are trying everything to put some nice blogs online in the coming days!

Some of the participants have left India. The Luxembourgers are on their way home, Peter is in a taxi to the airport, Wouter is already in Delhi, arranging the hotel rooms for some of us. We’ll be getting on the sleeping train from Gaia to Delhi around 14.30H tomorrow afternoon. The buddhatrip is coming to an end…. But, we tend to keep blogging as long as we’re full with nice stories to share with you all. We hope you are all fine! We had a wonderful dinner just now, together with Lama Jigme, Lama Jatsa and Lama Thupten and Tibetan friends on this final evening for most of us.

Tomorrow morning we’ll be all at the Stupa one more time to practice at the same place where the Buddha attained his enlightenment some 2500 years ago. How special that is, you can read hopefully tomorrow when we try to put Russels blog online. Besides that we’ll spoil you with a bunch of blogs from Mathieu! Good night for now, love from Bodhgaya.

~ Ginny
 
 

Small business

- 09 January 2012 -
In the streets behind the Mahabodhi temple, life goes on as usual. Every day is market day. Street vendors sell whatever you may need, from water, spices, vegetables and cookies to mouth caps and tobacco. The tobacco man sits on the ground, with a bunch of long leaves and a cutting device, cut after cut after cut chopping them into tobacco.

~ Mathieu

 
 

Back in time

- Travel journey entry at 20 December 2011, somewhere above Budapest -

We just took off, leaving Vienna behind. The first drink and bag of Happy Mix is being served. A Bollywood movie has started. At the gate while boarding I already felt it… a different culture, different customs, colorful clothes. My stomach is bloated, I’ve worked a lot the days before I left, had little sleep and ate food that wasn’t very healthy. All of this was necessary to be able to go to India. I feel like a fat rich tourist. I drink the last bit of western luxury away, not knowing how my body and mind will react on dirty air, water and food.

These last few months I’ve realized how auspicious this trip is. During the last 2,5 years I’ve had my first taste of Buddhism. I’ve attended 5 retreats, had teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama while he visited the RAI in Amsterdam in 2009, I was fortunate to listen to profound words of Sogyal Rinpoche. I’ve met many nice people and great teachers. The most precious experience so far? I’ve had the luck to found an extraordinary Buddhist teacher, one who is very accessible and seems to have unlimited compassion and patience: Lama Jigme Namgyal. Boy, all the good things that happened the last couple of years… And now I’m going to the highest tantric initiations, taught by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in Bodhgaya of all places. What the effect of that will be, I’ve no idea, but I am going to enjoy it, that’s for sure!

We just passed the mountains of Kabul, outer temperature at the moment is -49 degrees Celsius, we’re flying approximately 11.000 kilometers from Mother Earth. It reminds me of what Lama Jigme often says: how special it is to listen to teachings. It’s like flying. All the different circumstances you need for it to happen… The airport, good weather, a pilot, kerosene, a flight ticket, etc. etc. A lot of interdependency for me to fly above Delhi to attend the Kalachakra, together with our teacher and my sangha friends… Probably the most special trip in all of my lifetimes!
 
23:47 Local time
00:25 Estimated arrival time
 
~ Ginny
 
 

The joyfulness of rain

- 08 January 2012 -

As magic rain falls from the sky when his Holiness the Dalai Lama started with the earth rituals prayers. Magical, not only because here in Bihar during the dry period rain is a big exception, but also because this auspicious rainfall is common and maybe even an interdependent effect of these ritual prayers at the beginning of the Kalachakra.

I was actually very joyful with these 2 days of rain. It gave seeds the opportunity to grow into flowers, food and other beautiful things. It gave the locals water for their animals and land. A cause for healthy food and perhaps some money. And let’s not forget the purification from our temporary hometown Bodhgaya Everything became brighter and clearer. It even felt if this purification rain was also able to clean up our busy minds a bit.

For me for example. I bet I would not consider or think about all these benefits for both others and myself when walking the streets in Rotterdam with the same rainy circumstances. In fact, I know for sure that I would be very busy to find the quickest way back to my comfortable and warm home.

It was a true shower of blessings, with lots of benefits!

~ Nicolette
 
 

Flashback

- 24 December 2011 -

We’re invited by Lama to have a gathering at 08:00 o’clock near the stupa. A stupa is a buddhistic temple. The place of the stupa here in Sarnath, relates with the place Buddha Shakyamuni gave his first teachings to five ascetics. I find it very special to stand on the same place. Near the temple there’s a memorial place which expresses the Buddha and his first five disciples. The inscription reads: “Inside is the light and the knowledge.” I feel emotions like admiration when I reed those words. I know it’s the truth. It’s a deep, deep feeling of knowing.

In the main hall of the Mulganghi Kuti Vihar we practice as a group by reciting mantras. It was very special. A lot of people took pictures of us, we draw their attentions.

Lama Jigmé talked about the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) and the Sangha (the community of practitioners of the Dharma). It was very inspiring. Afterwards we went to a restaurant and of course we had a delicious dinner, like curries, vegetables and fried rice. It’s a good place to be!

~ Marjanne
 
 

A little patience

- 03 January 2012 -

Our lama has often told us that patience is a virtue in Buddhism. We certainly needed some when trying to get everything up and running for this blog. We hope you have had some patience too, and promise we’ll keep trying to keep you informed. As the contributions may cover different times and places, it may be good to summarize where we have been:

- Around December 21, most of us arrived in Delhi, the capital of India. We stayed in the relative calm of the Tibetan quarter, called Majnu Ka Tilla, for a few days before taking the night train.
- In Sarnath, the place where Buddha gave his first teachings, we stayed another few days. From there, we also visited Varanasi, the city by the side of the Ganges river.
- Another night train brought us to Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment and the place where the Kalachakra is hosted. A relatively small town, everything here is centered around Buddhism: the multitude of temples, the guest houses, the wares of the street vendors.
- From Bodh Gaya, we made a daytrip by bus to Vulture peak and the ruins of the Nalanda University.

I hope this helps to make sense of the various blogs to come!

~ Mathieu

 
 

Healthy diet

- 03 January 2012 -

The last two days, some rain has fallen. The dusty and polluted air is now fresh and clean. Most of us have been wearing mouth caps – like many Indians and certainly visitors from Tibet and other places with cleaner air – but that has not stopped us from coughing. The rain isn’t beneficial to the general hygiene level though, so we are happy that the sun has now returned. And we are keeping a good eye on our health, with a large supply of preventive – and some curative – medicine. Pills for breakfast!

~ Mathieu

 
 

In the Taiwanese temple

- 3 January 2012 -

Today, the Kalachakra teachings are especially for Tibetans so we are not allowed in. But Lama Jigmé Namgyal makes sure we don’t miss out on food for thought. We may use the Taiwanese temple and receive a teaching from a great master that we hadn’t expected: I am impressed by both the soft elegant tone of his speech, his humble physique and beautiful composition of his teaching, in which he combines all the essential basics of Buddhism in one flow. More teachings from other great masters are promised to us by Lama, so we are very lucky. This too is part of Kalachakra: the unity of place, time and people with masters and the Buddhist Dharma.

~ Mathieu

 
 

Animal planet

- 3 januari 2012 -

Who hasn’t heard of the holy cow, the animal that walks through the Indian streets without being bothered by people? It is true: cows can cross the street and cars, tuk-tuks and rikshas will stop. But that is not all: after a few days, we come to the conclusion that Indians live with animals quite peacefully. Dogs will sleep in busy alleys, pigs do not shy away when humans approach. Until you’re roasted – that will eventually happen to you when you are a pig – life doesn’t seem so bad for an animal here.

Next to our hotel is a waste dump and public toilet. Here, a mother pig with her siblings comes for daily breakfast. Our Lama has occasionally warned us about our habit to put our nose right where it stinks most, and this pig is a living example of this metaphor!

~ Mathieu

 
 

Laundry service

- 3 January 2012 -

With the train rides, the heat, the smoke and dust, and then the rain and mud, my clothes started to look less than festive. Our guesthouse does not have a laundry service, so I was directed towards a launderette. Unable to find it, I started to ask for it, only to notice that I was standing right beside it. Next to the road, in open air, a gentleman with a few large buckets would do my trousers and shirts, whereas his wife did the ironing with a real iron – no power cords necessary! The 24 hour service made my jeans look and smell like new. I couldn’t have expected it to be so good, and at a rate of 10 rupee per item (approximately 1,5 eurocent) he is doing good business.

~ Mathieu

 
 

The sewer pond of Bodhgaya

- 1st of January 2012 -

Our hotel is built next to a pond about 25 meters in diameters. The water is the color of green with hues of brown and black. Various drainage pipes empty out into the water. A mound of garbage mixed with dirt spills over in a black colored bank. Children can be found squatting at every moment of the day relieving themselves next to a small wall that crosses through the mound.

A mother swine walks around with her brood that makes due on the droppings. Now and then a tuft of hair goes up as a means of chasing away other swine.

The morning begins with laughing ducks who let the water roll down their backs. There are three geese walking around who are occasionally startled by a passing rickshaw who noisily find each other again at the trash heap. Two small goats walk next to the wall. A teenager and a toddler testing their strength in a playful manner. Several chickens and small round chicks peck at bits of vice amidst the plastic.

Two dogs, possibly brothers, with identical markings run dominantly past the terrain. Now and then they bark warnings at passing dogs. A woman washes her pans with sand and ash next to her house on the banks of a sewer.

~ Marijn D.
translation into English: Lila
 
 

H.H. the Dalai Lama wishes us a Happy New Year

- 1st of January 2012 -

The Kalachakra has begun! On new year’s day, the long-awaited ceremony took off. It is seen as a very good sign that this occasion was accompanied by a blessing in the form of mild rains. We managed to get a spot with a good view on one of the large LCD screens. Throughout the day, we enjoyed the ups and downs of living with 200.000 people in one spot: friendly neighbours, flooding plastic sheets for our seating, the back and forth running of monks with large kettles of tea. There are even flat breads for everyone!

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama enters the grounds, all stand up together to welcome him – and he welcomes us. A special welcome is for the people from mainland China. Though he speaks in Tibetan, even the people not using a radio to listen to the translation can hear the Dalai Lama say the words: Happy New Year!

~ Mathieu

 
 

Preparing our place

- 31 december 2011 -

News about the opening time of the ceremony site is somewhat vague, so we decide to be there early in the morning, before 7 a.m. But then, suddenly, it appears that the Gates have already opened up the evening before, so a few of us run with our special plastic seating tarp and some pens and paper to claim a spot. As darkness falls, we bring our cushions. The whole site is like a huge tent: bamboo poles reach up to a roof covered with light plastic. Many TL-lights hang from the poles. It is a beautiful sight: this will be our place to enjoy the Kalachakra teachings.

~ Mathieu

 
 

Happy New Year!

- 31 december 2011 -

As the Kalachakra is really about to begin now – tomorrow at 6.30 a.m. we will be lining up to enter the grounds and find a spot for our comfortable seating pillows – another festivity almost goes unnoticed. It’s new year’s eve, and we will be celebrating it four and half hours before you. I will be in bed by then, so a bit early I wish you a happy new year on behalf of al of us!

~ Mathieu

 
 

My first experiences during the Buddhatrip

- 31 december 2011 -

Smog, smog and again: smog!
It’s 02:00 o’clock, the mist has disappeared and we take a cab from New Delhi towards the Tibetan enclave. My suitcase is on top of the cab with no ropes attached. This is just a taste of the chaos of traffic we’ll have to endure during daytime which will overwhelm our senses for sure.

Traffic is on the left and they’re used to blow their horns the minute they pass by. In India everything appears as it is, so planning or using a schedule is difficult. In traffic everyone seems in a hurry.

Tibetans are colorful, sincere and friendly people with beautiful suntanned faces. They radiate a compassion which touches my heart. Tibetan food is delicious, you just keep eating those wonderful curries and noodles. It’s so different from our typical Dutch mashed potatoes dishes. You really have to make an effort to eat more worth than €3,50, it’s very cheap!

Indian street life shows a society of humans and animals, like cows, goats and dogs, whom together take up their own territory.

The train trip to Varanasi is quite an experience. It’s an invasion on your personal space. A unit consists of 6 seats, which are transformed into 6 beds after nine o’clock. A Hindu man who snores even when he’s awake, is keeping us from sleeping all night long. When it comes to snoring, I’ve got my experiences, but here a whole rainforest is being sawed down.

At our arrival at Varanasi I see groups of people sleeping on the ground of the platform, waiting for their train to arrive. We need to carry our suitcases up and down the stairs one more time. I feel jealous at the ones with lightweight gear. The bus to our hotel is perfectly on time, and everything is going unexpectedly smooth according to Indian standards. Finally we reach The Golden Buddha hotel, where we’ll be staying for two nights.

My feelings about my visit here are double. On one side we’re in a province of the heartbreaking poverty, on the other side we’re at the place where the Buddha gave his first teaching and where Buddhism first flourished.

~ Marjanne
 
 

Finally!

- 30 december 2011 -

Due to all sorts of different obstacles we couldn’t get online before. We seriously apologize. We like to update you all, starting by the experience of one of our participants Marjanne and a bunch of pictures and hopefully a clip.

But first: we’re alright! We managed to get to Bodhgaya in one piece. Unfortunately a lot of us got sick. From diarrhea, coughing from air pollution, to fever and weakness. Probably all purifying their karma The circumstances in India are not according to Western standards so for most of us it’s a big challenge to cope with it.

I’m blogging straight from the floor at the Tibetan doctor here. Michael and I are with three people who are sick. Hopefully all are getting well soon, we take care of each other and maybe you guys can send some positive energy to India! On behalf of Lama Jigmé Namgyal and Lama Thupten Tsultrim and the sangha over here we hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Lots of love and warm wishes!

~ Ginny
 
 

Train trip from Varanasi to Bodhgaya

- 27 December 2011 -

At first I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year, 2012 is a very special one! In fact, for me it started already very special with the first Kalachakra-day. The foreigners may enter the teaching ground at gate 4. But before that, we needed to come by train from Varanasi (formerly called Benari) to Bodhgaya. Our departure from the ‘Golden Buddha Hotel’, which had a beautiful garden with scenting flowers and little birds, was on the 26th of December at 23.30H. We went by bus to Varanasi station. There Wouter was already busy to tell us where to go and to watch the men who like to earn some money by carrying your luggage. We needed to tell them “No, we do it ourselves”. Once we stood there, we needed to wait about two hours due to the train delay, so we amused ourselves with the rats playing around. Sandy and Anette were offering them food so they could make pictures. Luckily the kiosk was open in the middle of the night, so I drank a real good cup of coffee! Mmmm…

When the train arrived at 02.30H it became a little chaotic to get on with all that luggage and all those people. Luckily after half an hour we did manage to find our place and get warm although we felt pretty exhausted. In the meantime it gave me the opportunity to have a chat with several people. Like a beautiful Tibetan woman with her daughter and an Indian man with his whole family. A lot of the travelers, aged from baby till very old, were also heading to the Kalachakra Initiations so that gave me a good feeling of course. We had sleeping places, so we could sleep a bit. I had a bit of a cough, so Fran from Ireland, gave me some herb-caps. I could feel it helped immediately!

An Indian man who sang his morning prayers, afterwards told us he was a Hindu. He shared that people from different religious background like Muslims, Buddhists and others are living beside each other without any difficulties in this part of the country. He was very proud of the food his wife had made for him and he shared some pieces with us, because we were eating food from the train catering. All the way to Varanasi there were these Chai-sellers calling “Chai, Chai!”. For only 5 Rupees you could buy a cup of this tea. Early in the morning we arrived at Bodhgaya. Lama Thupten and his colleague were there to help and take us to the platform of the bus. So within an hour we entered Bodhgaya!

For now, I feel very happy and lucky to feel at home here and to be with all the sangha members!

~ Elizabeth
 
 

Donations around the bodhi tree

- 07 december 2011 -

At the holy place where Buddha Shakyamuni attained complete liberation, the effect of positive actions is much more strong than in other places. It is then a very lucky event when several great beings work together for the benefit of many others. And this is exactly what happened in the morning of 17 November. Lama Jigme Namgyal had requested Lama Thupten Tsultrim to arrange donations for the Dharma practitioners gathered around the tree and stupa of enlightenment. Participants in the Buddhatrip 2011-2012 act as sponsor. In this way many interrelated positive connections were made when Lama Thupten gave packs of fruit
juice to the 450 present praying and prostrating monks, nuns and lay practitioners. In combination with the bodily action, Lama Thuptens vast intention in his prayers performing this action can be summarized as follows. For all Rinpoche’s: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dodrupchen Rinpoche, His Holiness the Karmapa, all, Lama Jigme Namgyal, all people in Phuntsok Cho Ling, Centre Culturel Tibetain, the group in Ireland, all in Europe, all beings living in the world, in the universe, for all:
may they live long lives.

 
 

Buddhatrip update

- 12 november 2011 -

Over de last few months a lot of work is done on different areas in order to create a very nice Buddhatrip. At this moment we have 33 participants. 28 Participants arrive in Delhi on December 21, 1 arrives in Varanassi on the 24th and 4 arrive in Gaya on the 29th. Lama Jigmé will join us in Varanassi.

Special thanks should be given to the work of Lama Thupten Tsultrim. Thanks to his limitless energy and his connections in Bodhgaya and Delhi he was able to make all the hotel and train bookings for us. This is extraordinary while during the Kalachakra 300.000 visitors are expected in Bodhgaya which has a max. capacity of appr. 10.000 people.

In Delhi none of the hotels wanted to accept any reservations. Due to the personal trustful contacts of Lama Thupten Tsultrim, he managed to convince two hotels to accept our reservations for a standard price! All of us should be aware of that, without his efforts and skills a trip like this would not have been possible. And let’s not forgot Wouter in this, since he kept us up-to-date during the entire progress!

Besides this website we are happy to introduce our twitteraccount @buddhatrip and facebook community page www.facebook.com/buddhatrip to make it even easier to stay connected with us.

Best Wishes,

~ Henco & Nicolette
 
 

Room with a view

- 25 september 2011 -

With lot’s of thanks and gratitude to Lama Thupten Tsultrim and Wouter I am very happy to be able to share with you that our rooms in Bodhgaya have been booked. This was quite a challenge. I tell you the story about it.

When we first informed about the hotels in Bodhgaya by the end of June the prices were really extremely high. So on the advice of Lama Thupten Tsultrim we decided to wait a little. Lama Thupten Tsultrim knows exactly the way of doing business of the local hotel owners in Bodhgaya. A second reason to wait was that we did not know the exact amount of participants jet.

In the middle of september Lama Thupten Tsultrim proposed to go himself to Bodhgaya to manage our rooms. He was then in Dharamsala. The trip from Dharamsala to Bodhgaya through Delhi takes in total three days. He and Wouter arrived at the beginning of last week in Bodhgaya. After arrival, despite of the heavy and long trip, they started immediately to look around for rooms. Very luckily Lama Thupten Tsultrim has many friends over there and after a couple of days we found really a great guesthouse.

It is called the Ekbal Guesthouse and it is located in Bodhgaya, 10 minutes walk from the main temple place where the ceremonies will be held. And, also very important, it is on a little bit more quiet area within Bodhgaya. However quiet India can get with approximately 250.000 fellow Buddhist friends… ‘Quiet’ is a relative and flexible term We have twin rooms for two persons and on big room for four or five people. All the rooms have attached bathrooms with shower and toilet. And we can manage the rates within the planned budget.

We think this is some great news, isn’t it? Because it means that we can sleep in a good accommodation, within walking distance from the main temple and with reasonable comfort.

I really wish to express my gratitude to Lama Thupten Tsultrim who really put so much effort in creating this. Thanks to his unlimited energy and connections he managed to give us this great help! Also many thanks to Wouter who was very precise in making notes of all the conversation and agreements and was a big help in our communication.

On September 27th Lama Thupten Tsultrim and Wouter arrived in Delhi where they managed our train reservations and hotels in Delhi. We’ll keep you updated.

warmest wishes,
~ Henco