The Farmer's Daughter - A Pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya

Pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya

I listened to the Buddha's teachings as a child, like a story. When I grew up, I could hear the Buddha's teachings preached by the monks, like a story.

I was deeply impressed when actors like Shwe Mann Tin Maung and Sein Aung Min presented the vision and character of Pudhawin. I also enjoyed listening to the CDs and cassettes when they were released.

As I grew up and studied the Buddhist scriptures myself, I became more and more devoted to the Buddha. I also remembered the places and events of the Buddha. However, those places were not in my own country, but far away from me. I could only imagine the events in stories, the stories in novels, the cities, villages, palaces, and temples in literature.

Later, when the pilgrimage routes to the Mizzima region of India were opened, the pilgrims who went there brought with them films, videos, and DVDs. When I saw these films, I felt a desire to visit them myself and pay homage to them. I also read the travelogues written by some pilgrims. I felt a great desire to visit them myself along with my reverence. I had a great desire to visit the four places where the Buddha was born, where he became a Buddha, where he preached the Dhamma, where he passed away

To the four departments of the Sanvajaniya

Although I was happy that others went on pilgrimages to the four temples in the Mizzima region and Thanvajaniya, I was not able to send my staff to go. I decided that if the staff retired, I would go. However, when I retired, my health was not good. It took me more than two years. I did not think that I would recover. I could not even travel domestically, let alone go abroad like Bodh Gaya. My health was not good until I was sixty. I used to say that I would not even bring my amulet with me when I traveled. In my sixties, I was not only old but also sick.

As soon as I had prepared for death and my health had somewhat recovered, I entered the Vipassana meditation center at No. (1) in the Shwemyinmo Moekot area of ​​Taung Ukkalapa. I practiced Vipassana meditation and developed my concentration. In developing Vipassana, the first thing I did was to meditate on the Buddha, the Buddha, who was free from defilements and impurities. . . . Because he was free from defilements and impurities, he tried to clearly see the Buddha, who was pure and beautiful. As I practiced my concentration and developed my concentration, I saw the Buddha, who was free from defilements and impurities, pure and beautiful, and reverent. The stronger the concentration, the more reverent the Buddha can be.

Next, the second attribute, the True Buddha, is the Buddha who has consciously and consciously understood all the dhammas by himself with the help of the Buddha's wisdom....At the golden throne at the foot of the Bodhi tree, one focuses on the Buddha who has realized all the dhammas and attained Buddhahood. The more one focuses on and sees them with great concentration, the clearer one's mind becomes. One must focus on the remaining attributes one by one with reverence and respect, and cultivate the Buddha's state of mind.

After concentrating on the Buddha, the cessation of death, one should reflect on the cessation of death.

"People my age and younger are dying so many times, and I am getting old all the time. I am also getting closer to death, and before I die, I will be perfect."

Ill health, near death. Contemplating the impermanence of death, brings about concentration. Old age and ill health are good aids in the practice of Vipassana meditation.

"I must die. I just need some time. I will try to gain wisdom before I die."

If you are mindful of the fact that death is approaching, your concentration is strong. If your concentration is strong, your insight into the nature of insight is strong.

There is no need to be afraid of being weak because of ill health. Developing Vipassana is the best way to live. It is also the way that the Buddha loves.

The greatest virtue of Theravada Buddhism is the ability to attain the Dhamma even in this present life.

Through meditation, we come to respect the Buddha more. The more often we practice Vipassana, the more we come to respect the Buddha.

After the first (10) day meditation retreat, my back pain, which I had been suffering from for more than (3) months, was completely cured. Although I did not meditate to cure the disease, I personally experienced that the power of the Dhamma and the healing of the disease were relieved by meditation. I have been to the meditation retreats many times. Since I had to leave the (10) day meditation retreats when my concentration was strong and when it was good for meditation, I took the monastic vows and spent the three months of Lent at Chan Myaing Vipassana Retreat, where I developed my Dhamma and meditation.

Through meditation, one becomes convinced that the Dhamma alone is the source of liberation from all suffering and the truth of suffering. Because of one's devotion to the Dhamma, one has more respect for the Buddha. One understands that he is the true object of worship. One has more respect for the Sangha. One also understands the merits of the Sangha.

My health has improved, and I have a renewed desire to go on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, as I had originally intended. If I were to go, I would not go alone, but I would like to take my wife with me, who has been supporting me in my efforts to cultivate the Dhamma. My wife has never been abroad. If I were to travel abroad to Bodh Gaya, I would not only be able to do one thing but also gain a lot of merit.

Pilgrimage guide groups

There are now many Bodh Gaya pilgrimage guide groups, which are very popular. Pilgrimage groups can arrange everything conveniently. You can inquire about which group to go with, the date you want to go, and the time you can go.

There are various groups such as the Shwe Myintin U Nyo Group, the Maha Toe Group, the Shwe Maha Group, the Yangon Pilgrimage Group, the Aung Chantha Group, etc., as well as separate groups led by monks.

Pilgrimage groups take care of everything from passport and visa issues. In the past, this journey was not easy to go on with just money. Now, thanks to the arrangements of tour groups, you can go to all the places you want to go in a few days. You will have a plan for where to go, eat, rest, donate, and buy food. You will be calm and peaceful and do good deeds. You will return with a complete video and photo record. U Myat Kaung Le Su also gave you all the information you need to know along the way. First, I contacted my acquaintance, Daw Hla Hla Sein, and the Shwe Myint U Tin Nyo group. It was convenient. However, when I went to the passport office to take a photo and fill out the form to get a stamp, the couple went to the office and got the application form. I went to the office and filled it out. I went there and did it myself and got the passport. On the day of taking the photo, I filled in my personal information and submitted it step by step. I got a slip. It took about a month for the passport to be inspected, but I didn't know it. It was very busy. I had to fill out applications with young people. It was tiring.

I would like to advise and warn those who are going to go on pilgrimage. It would be better if the group did it. Even if we do it without knowing, we will be worried.

When I got my passport, it came out for my wife, but my passport still hasn't arrived and I'm still waiting. I had to cancel it because I couldn't make it to the original date with U Nyo's group.

After about two weeks, both of them were sent their passports. When the Ministry of Religious Affairs inquired, they got in touch with U Aye Thein and contacted the Yangon Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage Group. When they sent their passports and registered, they said that they could go on a 12-day trip for 15, 10, 200 baht, but they were told that they could go if they wanted to. They happily agreed.

Pay the money to the Yangon Buddhist Pilgrimage Group. Each person pays 500,000 (20,000) Myanmar kyats. We have a passport, so we have a discount of 10,000. However, if we do it ourselves, including travel expenses, food, application fees, and the cost of paying the assistant, it will cost more than 50,000 for two people. It is also tiring. The people who do it in the group are more convenient and comfortable.