Winter Issue February 2011 Vol. 1 Issue 3 A Quarterly E-Magazine of the Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County Three disciplines for progress on the Buddhist path are The Pilgrimage’s Itinerary - continued study, reflection and meditation. (from day eight onward) by Chris Higgins Introduction TABLE OF CONTENTS: In one of his last utterances before his Mahaparinirvana, the Buddha said to The Pilgramage’s Itinerary Ananda, his favorite attendant: (from Day 8 Onward)............... 1 There are these four places, Ananda, which the believing man should visit The Silence of Buddha & His with feeling of reverence and awe. Contemplation of the Truth .... 2 Which are the four? The Four Healing Powers “The place, Ananda, at which the believing man can say, Here the Tathagata was born–Lumbini of Mind .................................... 10 The place, Ananda, at which the believing man can say, Here the Tathagata Contact Us! ............................ 15 attained to the supreme and perfect insight–Bodhgaya The place, Ananda, at which the believing man can say, Here was the king- dom of righteousness set on foot by the Tathagata--Sarnath The place, Ananda, at which the believing man can say, Here the Tathagata Editor’s Comments: passed finally away in that utter passing away which leaves nothing whatever We are back! After a too long to remain behind”–Kushinagar Lumbini, Bodhgaya, hiatus, this e-mag is back in The four places mentioned by Gautama Buddha: Sarnath and Kushinagar, constitute the Dharma Yatra. (Source: www. action. In this issue, we continue IncredibleIndia.org) with part 2 of the pilgrimage to India Our March 2010 pilgrimage In the Footsteps of the Buddha, conducted taken by our members under the by Drikung Kagyu monks, Lama Gursam and Lama Jamdor included all direction Lama Gursam. You will four of these sites!! also find a great article on the Buddha’s contemplation of truth March 8 – Day 8 – Varanasi and Sarnath and the Four Healing Powers of Sarnath – is only 10 kms from Varanasi, the holy city of the Hindus. After the frenetic volatility of Varanasi, also called Benaras and Kashi, Sarnath the Mind...Enjoy!. welcomes you with a serene smile. – Dan Lee– In search of the abandoned ascetics. After Sakyamuni gained En- lightenment under the Bodhi tree on the banks of the Nairanjana river, he Note: Pictures are palced randomly walked for over 250 kms from Bodh Gaya, crossed the Ganga by ferry to and do not relate to the surrounding reach the ghats of Kashi. He was searching for the five companions who had copy conetent . abandoned him at Rajgir. The five ascetics deserted him when Gautama for- sook the path of self-mortification because they felt that spiritual salvation was not possible through any other means. The Buddha found the five ascetics at ad eer park in the outskirts of the 1 continued on next page city. The park was called Rishipattana or Issipattana after the rishis of sages The Silence of who come to meditate under its shady trees. Its other name was Mrigadaya Buddha and his or deer sanctuary, because a king of Varanasi had gifted the land as a safe haven for deer. The modern name of Sarnath is derived from the name of Contemplation the Bodhisattva, Saranganatha. The blessed one met his old companions who were the first to hear him of the Truth unfold his path to Enlightenment and the Middle Way. This first sermon is A. J. V. Chandrakanthan earned called Dharmachakrapravartana, or Turning of the Wheel of Law. his doctorate in theology at St. The Sangha At Sarnath the Buddha founded the Sangha with his five Paul University, Ottawa, where he old companions as his first disciples. It was also here that Yasa, the son of a also teaches Eastern Religions. This article is based on a talk he gave in July, 1986, at the Christian Medita- tion Centre, London. SPIRITUALITY TODAY Summer 1988, Vol.40 No. 2, pp. 145-156. A. J. V. Chandrakanthan: The Silence of Buddha and his Con- templation of the Truth...despite the doctrinal differences that separate the various schools of Buddhism, a remarkable unity exists among them in recognizing the indispens- ability of silence as a powerful cata- lyst for dhyan or meditation. BUDDHA: THE SILENT SAGE Buddha was born in or around 563 B.C. into a religious milieu which had in its tradition two distinct approaches to the pursuit and rich merchant of Kashi, renounced his life of worldly pleasures to become personal discovery of the Truth. Sakyamuni’s disciple. Kondanna, leader of the first convents, described The first approach was that of the moment of his realization: Lo! he hath passed with vigour out and on; sharpening one’s intellect through Sloughed off hath he the dryings and the births, Wholly accomplishing the active engagement in philosophi- life sublime. cal inquiries. Truth was sought Thereafter for 45 years the Lord walked the dusty plains of northern through metaphysical debates India, touching the lives of millions with his teachings. However he did and discussions.(3) This approach not forget Sarnath. He came back to the deer park to meditate during the placed strong emphasis on the months of the next monsoon and for many other such retreats. Invasion brings its downfall. However in the 12th century both Vara- power of rational knowledge. The nasi and Sarnath faced the first onslaught or Muslim invasion. After Qut- second way was to enter into se- buddin Aibak’s attack in 1194, the thriving monastery in the Sarnath lay clusion and solitude and to search in ruins, and the few monks who survived, fled. Sarnath never rose again. for the Truth in personal silence.(4) The faith survived in other countries but Sarnath no longer echoed to the Here the emphasis was placed on chants of the monks. Seven hundred years later, in 1834, a British archaeo- renunciation, detachment, and an logical team led by Alexander Cunningham rediscovered Sarnath, opening ascetical way of life. Eschewing a window to a forgotten period of India’s ancient history. Today the ruined the first approach, Buddha delib- stupas, broken walls of monastery cells and statues within the niches of the erately and decisively chose the 2 2 continued on next page second. Mauna, rendered in Eng- walls, lie within stretches of emerald lawns. Dharmarajika Stupa Dharma- lish as “silence,” was the chief rajika Stupa marks the site where the Buddha gave his first sermon. It was characteristic trait of this path. broken down in the 18th century by an officer of the Maharaja of Benaras who was looking for building material for constructing a bazaar. Alexander The word mauna is one of the Cunningham found a marble casket beneath the stupa during excavations in few terms used commonly by all the late 19th century. language and religious groups in India. In religious treatises and traditions, this word has a history of its own. Mauna, from which the noun muni, meaning “sage” or “hermit” is derived, has a mean- ing exorbitantly wealthier than its English counterpart “silence.” Mauna means blissful calmness, joyous recollection, tranquil qui- etude, and peaceful stillness. In many of the legends and stories ascribed to Gautama Buddha,(5) he is referred to as Sakyamuni. Just behind the Dharmarajika Stupa are the remains of the massive Literally this means, “the silent Ashoka Pillar, one of the many that Emperor Ashoka set up at Buddhist one of the Sakya clan.” But the sites. It is placed at the spot where the Buddha gave his first sermon and es- popular use of this name for the tablished the Sangha. The monolithic Ashoka Pillar was once crowned with Buddha also contains a dual the magnificent Lion Capital, which is now kept in the Sarnath Museum. significance. For besides referring The four roaring lions face the four cardinal directions. to Buddha’s clan, in certain Indian Mulgandhakuti Vihara marks the site where the Buddha meditated dur- languages the word sakya also ing his monsoon retreats at Sarnath. Excavations have unearthed a statue of refers to something “graceful” or a Bodhisattva from the 1st century AD, and a tablet on which the name of “pleasing.” Thus Sakyamuni can the shrine was carved. also mean “one who is gracefully In 1922, Anagarika Dharmapala laid the foundation of a temple named silent.” Mulgandhakuti Vihara at the site. It enshrines relics of the Buddha which were discovered at Taxila. The interior has frescoes painted by a Japanese art- Buddha began his search for the ist in 1932-35. Outside is the Bodhi tree and its spreading branches symbol- Truth as a muni walking on this ize the return of Buddhism to India. graceful path of mauna, … TRUTH AND SILENCE In the stories and discourses attributed to Buddha, one can clearly see a close link between Truth and Silence. Wherever Truth is mentioned in reference to Buddha it is always said in rela- Chaukhandi. The first landmark that visitors see on their way to Sar- tion to Silence. In fact, popular nath from Varanasi is a high mound with the remains of a brick stupa built Buddhist religious tradition attests in the Gupta period. Today the site is called Chaukhandi. It marks the spot that whenever someone asked where the Buddha first met his five companions on arriving in Sarnath. A Buddha to explain the Truth, he Mughal style octagonal tower was added by Govardhan, son of Raja Todar invariably answered by Silence. Mal, in 1588, to celebrate a visit by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to the city. Thus he gave a new and deep (Source: www. IncredibleIndia.org) 3 3 continued on next page A short bus ride from Varanasi brought us to the following sites in Sarnath, which we toured with Lama Gursam’s teacher: Chaukhandi Stupa, the Sarnath Deer Park, which included the ruined Dharmarajika stupa, and the Mulagandhakuti Vihara and temple.