Isipathanaye (Saranath's) Migadaya (Deer Park)

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The legend says that after attaining the enlightenment the Buddha had made his way from Bodhgaya to Saranath's Deer Park, where he held his first sermon. As a Buddhist kid growing up I remember this place as the Isipathanaye Migadayeda on the story books. Overall, a very quiet place and very much a village. If I leave the guest house after breakfast I could definitely get back for lunch after walking right around the whole Saranath including those chai (tea) stops of cause, and I did that at least twice.

A person known among the villagers as Dr. Jain and his family (wife, two daughters and a grandpa) runs the guest house, but it felt rather like they are hosting me at their house - so I decided to address them as Uncle and Aunt. Aunt of cause a housewife, cooks three meals a day as much as you can eat, delicious to the bone, vegetarian of cause. Uncle, however, runs a free school for a hundred odd village kids and other community work. He gets funding through an organization he had set up: SAVE Programme (Social Awareness in Village Education), http://www.visitsarnath.com/.

I guess this is the most rewarding part for me, I thought I would share this with you also: there is a way of life outside the running society. This whole family is well educated, Dr. Jain in fact holds a PhD and once held high ranking positions. He said it was busy. Now, to me he looked busy occasionally, but he says he's happy. I am not implying a way of living for anybody, rather I say the running society is in fact within you no matter what you do. The running society: always about getting somewhere, achieve something, next thing and the thing after. It is the heavy baggage everybody is carrying, constantly - sometimes even at sleep or while on a vacation.

What if we leave past in the past and future to the future - what about the Now? Future plans are necessary, and when you plan, plan; what's the point in thinking of the plans constantly? When there is a problem there will be a solution - I mean haven't you solved problems before? So have faith in the present. In the present the baggage is light and not much need to be done. Right now things are pretty easy, until the thinking happens about the imaginary future.

Somebody once told me, "sit-back, relax, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride!!". Free as that, and free enough to enjoy the small things.

From what I remember I think this is what I wrote in Jain family guestbook: Dr. Jain, you must be a free man for doing what you do - I am glad and wish you well; and Aunt, thanks for your yummy food :)



~Dhamek Stupa built by King Ashoka, 500AD~


~Buddha preaching his first sermon~


~3hrs a day of schooling plus a lunch for free, otherwise schooling is not an option for these kids~


~Village school was interrupted by unexpected visitors~

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Mystical Varanasi

Ancient city of Varansi, also known as Baranas is truly the beating heart of Indian spiritual culture, and the oh beautiful holy river Ganges is it's main artery. They say that by taking a bath in the river, at least once in their lifetime for a Hindu would wash away their bad karma. Hence, millions of Hindu devotees from all around the world make pilgrimage to Varanasi.

Varansi had seen thousands of years of civilizations come and go, parish and reborn. It tells the stories of that it had witnessed by it's colors, the culture, arts and the music. It is this sacredness, all the mystics and the culture that caught my heart in this beautiful city of Varanasi, may be my favorite city in India.

~puja at sun rise~

~One of the many river ghats~

~Sun rise over Ganges~

~Along the river~

~Wall art~

Super Smooth

I was riding the free bicycle I have acquired from the local bookshop, with a brand new seat in fact, when glimpses of the setting sun appeared behind the trees. Despite the desire to stare at it, I knew I shouldn't, specially while riding a bicycle, on a road in India. So I decided to have a proper stare once I reached the paddy fields, across in which the road that led to where I stayed.

The sun had placed itself over the horizon over the fields, transformed in to a fat golden circle, and shining brightly in Orange. For whatever the reason, sometimes you get to see the setting or the rising sun like that in this part of the world. The local kids are playing a game of cricket in the fields, I guess they are enjoy lesser of the sun. There is even a small crowd gathered - spectators rather than supporters. Some listening to music, some are humming, occasionally singing out loud, and some just staring blindingly in to the distance. I, however, paddled on my bicycle over the little dirt road across the paddy fields.

Young rice plants rising above the muddy waters were so clean and green, and looked even brighter on the setting sun light. Cool welcoming breeze coming over the paddies carried no dust at all, and left a cool sensation on my face. Which reminded me once again of the most amazing hair cut I ever had, plus the shave.

The most amazing haircut: tiny little room on the side of the road, yet a comfy leather chair. Scissors, no electrics, but all the necessaries were there. "I need a haircut, short maybe", I said. So there was the spray, chop chop chop, blade on the sides - he took his time. Finishing off with the haircut, he asked if I wanted a shave, and "OK, what the heck" just popped out of my mouth. I had second thoughts, but I guess I was curious at the same time. So the adjustments to the chair was made, spray again, then some sorts of creams, thorougher facial wash, shaving cream, close shave with the blade, then some sort of cream, a facial massage which lasted for a good five-ten minutes, wash, and a aftershave which almost had me jumping out of the seat. Then, another massage that started from the head, down the neck, through the spine, from shoulders to tips of my fingers, and finally cracked my neck, twice!!

Needless to say, I watched all of this unfold with a somewhat funny mixed with terror at times, but in the end it was super - 'smooth' is the word :) Hope you enjoyed the commentary on the sun, the cricket, the paddies, and the wind. I guess I was pretty high from the haircut at the time.