My Pilgrimage Tour To India - The ruin in the Nalanda University

Nalanda is known as the ancient seat of learning. World's most ancient University lies in ruins which is 62 km from Bodh Gaya and 90 km south of Patna. Emperor Asoka built many monasteries, temples and Viharas here. Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries.

Nalanda University complex covered an area of 14 hectors and its building were constructed with red bricks. When we arrived at the Nalanda University, we can witnessed the ruin of the university, and its architectural structure still can be seen but most of the complex had been plundered and destroyed by the invasion of Muslim soldiers under the Turuskas or Muhammmad Bakhtiyar Khaliji from Afghanistan dealt the fatal blow to Buddhism in India at the closer of the 1198 AD.

The Turuskas or Muhammmad Bakhtiyar Khaliji from Afghanistan, they were fanatical religion extremist or we shall called it the terrorists in today world's term, and they bent on conquest and mass destruction. By then, they had conquered the western part of Uttar Pradesh called the Doab, the region bordered by the Yamuna and the Ganges rivers.

The ruin of the university, and its architectural structure still can be seen but majority of the complex had been plundered and destroyed by the invasion of Muslim soldiers, this religion fanatical soldiers were especially hostile or ferocity was directed towards Buddhist institutions with images or statue of the holy Buddhas and Bodhisattvas which were systematically plundered ,destroyed or vandalised and massacred wholesale as idolaters.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Kapilavatthu

Entrance of the garden of Kapilavatthu and many of us were having a great time here in this beautiful garden of the early life of the Lord Buddha .

Kapilavatthu, the capital of the country of the Sakyans where the Buddha spent the first 29 years of his life before leaving home in quest of the deathless. This place has been a matter of controversy  for nearly a century.  

There are two claimants to the site of Kapilavatthu, namely Piprahwa in Basti District of Uttar Pradesh of India and Tilaurakot 25km west of Lumbini in Nepal. The Indian claim was based on seals and inscriptions over the lid of a pot from the 2nd century AD that was found during excavations of the so-called palace at Piprahwa.

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My Pilgrimage Tour to India - Angulimala

                      This is the place where Angulimala the murderer used to lived here 

This is one of the holy site that today's Buddhist is visiting here, this is the notorious historical person named Angulimala, the famous criminal and murderer of a 1,000 thumbs garlands for his neck collections, and he was very tired and near exhaustion. At the same time, he was very anxious to kill the last person to make up his full quota of 1,000 thumbs collection and so complete his task.  

Angulimala he saw a woman on the road below and he was having total of 999 thumbs as he wanted to fulfil his vow to complete the 1,000 thumbs collection, but as he approached, he saw it was his mother. but at the same time, the Buddha was approaching, and Angulimala had just enough presence of mind to decide to kill the wandering monk instead of his mother. He set out after the Blessed One with his knife raised. But the Buddha kept moving ahead of him. Angulimala just could not catch up with him. Finally, he cried out, "O Bhikkhu, stop, stop!" And the Enlightened One replied, "I have stopped. It is you who have not stopped." Angulimala did not catch the significance of these words, so he asked, "O bhikkhu! Why do you say that you have stopped while I have not?"

The Buddha replied, "I say that I have stopped because I have given up killing all beings. I have given up ill-treating all beings, and have established myself in universal love, patience, and knowledge through reflection. But you have not given up killing or ill treating others and you are not yet established in universal love and patience. Hence, you are the one who has not stopped." On hearing these words Angulimala was recalled to reality, and thought, these are the words of a wise man. This monk is so very wise and so very brave that he must be the leader of the monks. Indeed, he must be the Enlightened One himself! He must have come here specially to make me see the light. So thinking, he threw away his weapons and asked the Blessed One to admit to the Order of the bhikkhus, which the Buddha did.

When the king and his men came to capture Angulimala, they found him at the monastery of the Buddha. Finding that Angulimala had given up his evil ways and become a bhikkhu, the king and his men agreed to leave him alone. During his stay at the monastery, Angulimala ardently practiced meditation.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Sankasia Part 3

Today Sankasia is the one of the most remote and undeveloped Buddhist Holy site in India. A far cry from the Buddha's time when Sankasia was called "City of Sankasia".

In 1961 India's Prime Minister Mr Nehru  when he was asked by some of the Japanese visitors, which was the poorest holy Buddhist shrine in India ? Mr Nehru he promptly replied: "Sankasia"

This are the typical daily street vendors who are selling food to the locals for a living.  

This are the most common houses and it was built mainly by the animal waste products of cow dung. The villagers used the mud soil which is the same as cob and then cover the walls with this in 3 or 4 layers. In between the first and third layer use a sandy soil, and the last layer use cow dung and mud and compress it to seal it off.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - SanKasia Part 2

Sankasia is located in the village of Sankasia -Basantapur in district of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. From Agra, Sankasia is about 175km via the Farrukhabad-Shikohabad-Mainpuri-Bewar-Pakhna route. Sankasia is a very small in size but renowned an important Buddhist tour destination. 

According to the Dhammapada Commentary, after the Buddha mother, Maya Deva, was reborn in Thirty-Three Gods Trayastrimsa heaven after she died. To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the heaven where he preached before the divine congregation including his mother, for three months.

Nearby under a tree, is a small shrine with a standing image of Lord Buddha, flanked by Brahma and Sakka to depict the Buddha's descent from Heaven. Behind the shrine,King Asoka has raised a stone column 18 m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, placed Buddha images.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - SanKasia Part 1

Sankasia, a place when Buddha returns from heaven.  Sankasia is located in the village of Sankasia -Basantapur in district of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. From Agra, Sankasia is about 175km via the Farrukhabad-Shikohabad-Mainpuri-Bewar-Pakhna route.

Sankasia is a very small in size but renowned an important Buddhist tour destination. According to the Dhammapada Commentary, the Buddha to repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the Tavatimsa heaven where he preached before the divine congregation including his mother, for three months.

The Buddha informed Sakka Devaraja of his intention to return to earth. Thereupon, Sakka created three ladders, one of gold, one of jewels and one of silver, the tops of which  rested on the summit of Mt. Sumeru and feet of which rested against the gate of the city of Sankasia.

As the Buddha descended upon the jewelled ladder, devas and Brahmas honored the Buddha by accompanying him on each side. With this retinue the Buddha descended and set foot on the earth at the gate of the city of Sankasia, and because of this miraculous event, which was witnessed by a great multitude, Sankasia became an important Buddhist shrine and several stupas and viharas were erected there. 

Nearby under a tree, is a small shrine with a standing image of Lord Buddha, flanked by Brahma and Sakka to depict the Buddha's descent from Heaven. Behind the shrine,King Asoka has raised a stone column 18 m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, placed Buddha images.

King Asoka visited Sankasia as part of his itinerary of pilgrimage and Asoka built a shrine over the spot where the Buddha set foot on earth. Behind the shrine, he raised a stone column 18.3m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, places Buddha images.

Tourists can witness The Ashokan Elephant Pillar and a Buddha Temple that are situated here. The pillar supports on the large pavillion, surrounded by an iron fence.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 4

At the summit, one can see the huge granite rock formation resembling a vulture standing with folded wing, from which the hill derived its name. This spot offers a commanding  view of the valley below. It is a favourite place for pilgrims to perform puja while reciting the virtues of the Buddha.Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir. 

His Ven. Sherap Rinpoche (in the middle) and his elder brother are the pilgrimage planners

To reach the top, one has to climb up a long stone stairway from 6.1 m to 7.3 m wide, called the Bimbisara road, built by the King to enable him to reach the summit to see the Buddha. Recent years, a cement staircase has been constructed to facilitate the pilgrim's climb to the top, which is a flat terrance surrounded by a low retaining wall with a shrine near the precipice.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 3

Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir.  The rocky path ends near the top of the hill where one can see two natural caves, which were probably used by the Buddha and Ven . Ananda.

Near the bottom of the cement staircase are two smaller caves believed to be used by two rich brahmins, Upatissa and Kolita, popularly known as the Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggallana respectively.Both joined the sangha after their conversion by the Arahant Assaji and became followers of the Buddha.

Please take a closer look to find out  where the holy mantras was crafted onto the rocky surface. 

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 2

Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir. To reach the top, one has to climb up a long stone stairway from 6.1 m to 7.3 m wide, called the Bimbisara road, built by the King to enable him to reach the summit to see the Buddha. Recent years, a cement staircase has been constructed to facilitate the pilgrim's climb to the top, which is a flat terrance surrounded by a low retaining wall with a shrine near the precipice.

The rocky path ends near the top of the hill where one can see two natural caves, which were probably used by the Buddha and Ven . Ananda. At the summit, one can see the huge granite rock formation resembling a vulture standing with folded wing, from which the hill derived its name. This spot offers a commanding  view of the valley below. It is a favourite place for pilgrims to perform puja while reciting the virtues of the Buddha.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits
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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Bimbisara jail

This is the Bimbisara jail , about 2 1/2 km south of Veluvana beside the main road, is an area about 60 m square enclosed by the remains of a stone wall 2 m thick. This area has been identified as the prison in which Bimbisara was jailed by his son Ajatasattu, who usurped the throne. It is said that from this prison, the King could see the Buddha up in Gijjhakuta (Vulture peak) 

Ajatasattu the king's son at his instigation, usurped the throne imprisoned his father in order to starve his father to death. His mother the Queen secretly applied the sticky honey all over her body to feed the king whenever she visited the Bimbisara jail, and soon the Prince has discovered that his mother the Queen secret tactics  to save his father , and the Prince has prohibited the Queen to visit the King in order to starve him to death as quickly as possible.
The Queen was mourning in grief and was prayed to the Buddha if he could  guide her to a better realm or pure land if she could be reborn there to end the suffering.
At the Gijjhakuta (Vulture peak) where the Buddha was delivered the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.  The Buddha knew the Queen was calling upon him and the Buddha was using his spiritual power to presence there and explained to her the meritorious benefits if any sentient beings who wish to be reborn to the Amitabha Buddha Pure land. (Sukhavati in sanskrit) (Dewachen in Tibetan)

Ajatasattu, later has regretted his evil actions too late, as his father had died before he could release him. In later, Ajatasattu at the suggestion of Jivaka, sought the Buddha's advice and became a lay disciple.

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My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 1

Vulture's Peak  rises over mostly dry land, and its jagged rocks indeed resemble vultures when seen from a distance and this is one of the most important Buddhists pilgrimage holy site located Hill in India, a few kilometers south of the town of Rajgir.

Vultures Peak, One descends about 100 meters or so and there is a paved pathway on the left which leads to Vultures Peak. A small shrine and two caves identify the peak. It was here that the Buddha delivered the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra and where, according to Buddhist scripts, the Shakyamurni Buddha he twirled the flower and gave transmission to Mahakasyapa.

To reach the spot on this mountain where the Mahayana tradition text statedthat the Buddha gave the actual discourses; one must walks a fairly long path that lifts one higher and higher above one's surroundings. As one proceeds, one joins the vast community of followers of the Buddha who have visited this spot, either to hear the actual words of their teacher, or to pay homage as a pilgrim to the spot where those fortunate disciples heard those words

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Holy hand print of Guru Rinpoche at the sacred cave in Pharping Nepal Part 2

When I on a pilgrimage trip to Katmandu Nepal, Bodhgaya in India, we make an actual physical connection with a sacred place and can open ourselves to the blessings that subtlety permeate the atmosphere. It is very helpful then to make our deepest aspirations to follow in the footsteps of the realized beings who were (and are) invisibly present.  Their teachings and lives are a model or profound pattern that we can emulate. 

Holy hand print of Guru Rinpoche at the sacred cave in Pharping Nepal, Pharping lies about two hours by bus fromRatna Park outside of Kathmandu and for many Vajrayana practitioner Pharping is as holy as Bodhgaya.

Guru Rinpoche himself said that in all the caves and places he has meditated and people in the future could receive his blessing as if meeting him in person.  Furthermore Guru Rinpoche mentioned that especially in the time of degeneration and visiting those holy places would be very beneficial for one's spiritual development and purification of sicknesses and obstacles.

With your continuing support to read my blog, it helps greatly to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
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Holy hand print of Guru Rinpoche at the sacred cave in Pharping Nepal Part 1

When I on a pilgrimage trip to Katmandu Nepal and India, we make an actual physical connection with a sacred place and can open ourselves to the blessings that subtlety permeate the atmosphere. It is very helpful then to make our deepest aspirations to follow in the footsteps of the realized beings who were (and are) invisibly present.  

The sacred holy cave of Guru Rinpoche, Buddha of the three times

Their teachings and lives are a model or profound pattern that we can emulate. This is a powerful way to enhance our practice.The inner or sambhogakaya realm is accessible when we have cultivated the ability to experience all phenomena in their perfect purity as they would appear in a Buddha realm. Our way in to this realm is pure perception or pure vision.

By going on pilgrimage to one of the 25 actual places on this earth where great masters such as the Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and others have lived, practiced and gained realization, we can potentially experience their pure enlightened energy.

Holy hand print of Guru Rinpoche at the sacred cave in Pharping Nepal, Pharping lies about two hours by bus from Ratna Park outside of Kathmandu and for many Vajrayana practitioner Pharping is as holy as Bodhgaya.

Guru Rinpoche himself said that in all the caves and places he has meditated and people in the future could receive his blessing as if meeting him in person.  Furthermore Guru Rinpoche mentioned that especially in the time of degeneration and visiting those holy places would be very beneficial for one's spiritual development and purification of sicknesses and obstacles.

With your continuing support to read my blog, it helps greatly to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
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My Pilgrimage Tour To Pharping Nepal

I was traveled with His Ven Tulku Nuptul Tenpei Nyinma Rinpoche and Rinpoche brought me to his residence Dharma center in Pharping Nepal . Pharping is far away from the busy city of Katmandu and surroundings with plenty of trees and less vehicles and less polluted environment. 

When the night fall and you can have a beautiful and a spectacular view of countless of sparkling stars. I just can't help myself looking up to the sky that was completely taken my breaths away.

We happy to meet tp with Rinpoche's auntie as she was trekking down from the Kyimolung valley to Pharping. She is so happy and her smiles speaks for herself and she wore a very traditional  Kyimoung costume.

She cooked a very traditional Kyimolung vegetarian dinner for Rinpoche and for us. Frankly, I have never eaten such a delicious Kyimolung vegetarian meal. 

With your continuing support to read my blog, it helps greatly to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
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Sangchen Rabten Norbuling of Kyimolung Valley.

Sangchen Rabten Norbuling  which means the Great Secret, Absolutely Firm, and Precious Location. The Monastery is located deep in the Himalaya mountains in an incredibly beautiful valley called Kyimolung Valley near the Nepal-Tibet border in the central Himalayas. 

It is known by Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practitioners as a beyul or hidden valley of happiness. Sangchen Rabten Norbuling is a place of retreat, contemplation, and meditation, with many holy sites which are visited by Buddhists to receive blessings. Although the monastery is small, its untouched beauty and serenity provides an undisturbed environment for the practice of Dharma. 

The monastery itself is on a small and idyllic plateau, with wild flowers, rhododendrons, holy junipers and other pines. Wild animals roam around in a small meadow in front of it.  

His venerable Karma Migur Dorje Rinpiche and Tulku Nuptul Tenpei Nyinma Rinpoche one of the spiritual Rinpoche for Sangchen Rabten Nurbuling Monastery,  He is also the spiritual leader and founder of the Mahasukha Malaysia, Singapore and France, This are the Mahasukha International group of networks.

1) Tulku Nuptul Tenpei Nyinma Rinpoche

2) Karma Migur Dorje Rinpiche

3) Tulku Jigme Chophel Gyatso Rinpoche

our spiritual teachers  His venerable Karma Migur Dorje Rinpiche and Tulku Nuptul Tenpei Nyinma Rinpoche their spiritual goals and simplest noble message to the world is:-

To be happy and to bring happiness to the world through spiritual knowledge.

Sangchen Rabten Nurbuling Monastery bird view

Early spring at the Sangchen Rabten Nurbuling Monastery

His Venerable Tulku Nuptul Tenpei Nyinma Rinpoche

Dedication of merits

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Meeting with His Holiness of the 17th Karmapa in India

My Pilgrimage to India.

I am so honorable and very glad indeed for having a private audience with His Holiness of  the 17th Ogyen Trinley Dorje Karmapa at his Maha Bodhi Stupa Temple in December 2008.