Buddha at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

22 Responses to Buddha at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

1. 

   Beng Kooi on Jul 3, 2010 at 7:10 am

   Neat photo taken during a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in 2005. Rinpoche also granted refuge to the pilgrims – check out the 12-part video on http://youtube.com/tsemtulku
   Or you can also read about the pilgrimage to Bodhgaya with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche here
   http://www.kechara.com/travel/travel-with-us/past-pilgrimages/bodhgaya-2005/
   Bodhgaya is one of the four great Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Shakyamuni Buddha himself recommended that all Buddhists should visit these places in their life time, mainly comprising the locations of Buddha’s birth (Lumbini), Enlightenment (Bodhgaya), Turning the Wheel of Dharma (Sarnath) and Parinirvana (Kushinagar). Rinpoche has expounded on the benefits of pilgrimage so many times, to the extent of setting up a department called Kechara Discovery to lead people on REAL pilgrimages to all the holy sites around the world. I can’t wait for the next pilgrimage!!

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2. 

   Elena on Jul 3, 2010 at 5:26 pm

   Hehehe that original article was A LOT longer (true to Jean Ai form lah)…it got cut down by the editors for its original appearance in our quarterly newsletter, no more caves. I remember one of the happiest times in my life being in Bodhgaya. The amount of peace I felt waking up at 5am everyday to do prostrations at the stupa is incomparable. It was cool, quiet, calm and peaceful…I know that many people spend months there doing retreats and completing their preliminary practices. I think it would be lovely if one day Kechara Discovery could plan for the same…and I can’t wait until KWPC comes up when we’ll have our own retreat huts to do the same!

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3. 

   SK Yap on Jul 4, 2010 at 1:36 am

   All the Buddha images in Bodhgaya is just simple breath taking. I still remember the Pilgrimage tour led by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche in 2005 to Bodhgaya with a group of 30 plus student and the experience was such an eye-opener.
   My favorite is of course Mahabodhi Temple that houses the Buddha image created directly by Buddha Shakyamuni’s disciple. This image is said to resemble Buddha Shakyamuni the most.
   Under Rinpoche’s guidance, each of us had the fortune to offer butter lamps and a set of new robes to the Buddha during that trip.
   I still remember we did circumambulations and chanted mantras around the stupa for hours during our trip. However, it was winter so it was so cold but nothing could stop us from our devotions. They are also many monks doing prostration retreats around the stupa. They were prostrating non-stop except to sleep and eat.
   I hope I have the merits to visit the Great Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya again!
   Paul

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4. 

   Justin Ripley on Jul 4, 2010 at 6:41 am

   I agree with you Paul, this was my first ever pilgrimage, and also with a Rinpoche some more. I still remember the obstacles I had to go through to even make it. I had to drive 24hrs thanks to the very organized Indian embassy who hadn’t processed my visa in time, then straight from car I jumped into a plane to fly for 11hrs to Malaysia, then stop over for 4hrs before getting into another plane to fly to sri lanka before could get a nights rest.
   Well I’m glad I decided to say no to meeting up with everyone after the pilgrimage. I can imagine it would be like going to Gaden http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/04/i-visited-gaden-with-an-oxygen-tank.html the same feelings. There are so many different schools of Buddhism making pilgrimage to the place of Buddha’s enlightenment. That seeing so many in one place chanting and praying, doing their own rituals you can gain faith that the Buddha’s teachings have real results, you just have to look around you.

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5. 

   Thierry on Jul 4, 2010 at 4:31 pm

   The statue is very beautiful, and very precious. Not only for it representing the enlightened body of the Buddha, but also because it was created only a few years after his passing into paranirvana and is considered to be ressembling the Buddha closely.
   I find that watching at the experession of peace on his face is very soothing, it makes me want to reach that level of peace too, may I reach that level of peace myself too!
   I was not “lucky” enough to be part of the group of Rinpoche’s students that went to Bodghaya with him, but I rejoyce to the fact that many were actually there with him, and that many of those who were there are still studying with him and inspiring newbies by their care, attention and nurturing to open wide their arms and their hearts to Dharma.

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6. 

   Wasukamol on Jul 6, 2010 at 3:48 am

   Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage place in the world. It’s the place where Buddha meditation and attended enlightenment. There are Buddhists and tourists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya, some come for study Buddhism and some for meditation, or simply absorb the positive energy that surrounds the place. It is a quiet and peaceful place.
   This impressive statue is indeed great but not only in physical form but in spiritual aspects too. It embodies the greatness of Lord Buddha through his serenity and meditative pose.
   A group of 30 plus of us are very fortunate to be there and made an offering of a set of robe to Buddha statue with Rinpoche in end of year 2005. Rinpoche also very kind to give us the refuge vows to Lord Buddha under his guidance at one of the bodhi tree in this holy place. It was a great experience and stuck in my mind

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7. 

   ckliew-KC on Jul 7, 2010 at 11:32 pm

   Lord Buddha Sakyamuni…. The Buddha of our time , the Buddha that teaches every living sentient being in this lifetime. Sakyamuni teachings will be essential to protect all living being to not fall in to the pit degeneration ! It is said HE gave 84,000 teachings during His time in this world. I hold Lord Sakyamuni very dearly close to my heart.
   I grow up in Klang and stay there for 21 years. During those time Wesak Day was once a year event. My family and i specifically will take time to visit this Buddhist Temple. The Sakyamuni statue that i like the most and feel most close to http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8976/wesak6.jpg. ( the picture not to clear ) But this Sakyamuni are made from full white marble. Very beautiful. Enjoy !

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8. 

   ckliew-KC on Jul 7, 2010 at 11:45 pm

   the address : http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8976/wesak6.jpg

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9. 

   Angel SH Ooi on Jul 8, 2010 at 4:48 am

   Henry and I were very blessed to see, so so beautiful of Buddha Image inside the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya. It has been one of the UNFORGETTABLE TRIP for us.
   Year 2005, under the blessing and guidance of our KIND LAMA, H. E. TSEM TULKU RINPOCHE, a group of us were led by HIM for A PILGRIMAGE TOUR TO THE HOLY PLACE WHERE BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI ENLIGHTENED. It was a VERY MEANINGFUL TRIP!!
   THE IMAGE OF BUDDHA IS VERY BIG AND HE LOOKED SURREAL. I remembered before we arrived the temple, Rinpoche has kindly arranged offering for each one of us individually, to make offerings to BUDDHA. WE HAVE OUR REFUGE CEREMONY UNDER THE HOLY TREE WHERE BUDDHA ACHIEVED HIS ENLIGHTENMENT. All of us have offered up a list a set of monk’s rope. We were there for three nites. Everyday, Rinpoche led us there, give us DHARMA TALKED AND CIRCUMABULATE. During that time, the weather there was really cool but nice. I PRAY, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AGAIN, LEAD BY RINPOCHE TO BE THERE WITH MY HUSBAND AND KIDS.
   THANK YOU RINPOCHE FOR THE WONDERFUL AND MEANINGFUL TRIP…!!
   Love, angel

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10. 

    Wendy on Jul 9, 2010 at 4:52 am

    I have heard so much about Bodhgaya, the place where Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment and will be very place future Buddhas who come to this world attain enlightenment. Many Buddhist go to Bodhgaya for pilgrimage as it is one of the 4 places that Buddha Sakyamuni recommends that one must visit within one’s lifetime. It is believe that Bodhgya is a power place where any virtuous actions performed at this place will purify tremendous amount of negative karma and accumulate tremendous amount merits. It is also said that if you make an aspiration or a wish in Bodhgaya, it will definitely come true. One of my friends who went there on a pilgrimage attested to that. He told me that the wish he made at Bodhgaya came true almost immediately. I believe him totally as I can see the evidence of his “wish come true” even up to today. I hope one day I will have the chance to go to Bodhgaya to feel the energy of such a power place.

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11. 

    Sean on Jul 9, 2010 at 5:19 pm

    The image of the Buddha in MahaBodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, looks so beautiful. The details make the Buddha image look more like a person. I guess it should be like that any ways as the person who made this beautiful image had the great fortune of seeing the great holy saint, Buddha Shakyamuni with her own eyes! One day, I would like to visit the temple to witness its beauty up close. May I have a link to a website to provide me with more information on the Buddha image and the Stupa-like structure of the temple. I think it would be quite cool if Kechara World Peace Centre will have a Stupa-like structure as a building or chapel for aesthetic reasons. The Buddha attained nirvana in Bodhgaya. That is why that place is a sacred area. I wish Rinpoche a long life so he can benefit everyone by teaching every single soul in this vast, wide world till everyone can achieve enlightenment just like Buddha Shakyamuni!

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12. 

    Huck on Jul 9, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    No doubt Bodhgaya is a very, very special place with great spiritual significance for all Buddhists. And I have heard so much about it being empowered with so much energy and spirituality. So before I went there in March 2010, I was like looking forward to being automatically “zapped” with some of its energy and spirituality to return home with great stories and glimpses of enlightenment! But how wrong was I, because I realised after my trip that more than just a place, Bodhgaya required the correct frame of mind to really benefit from the experience. Mine was unfortunately not, as I was there part like a tourist, part like an adventurer, part like a form of escapism and only incidentally, a Buddhist. My loss really, though am glad was able to do some prayers and offer some incense there. Guess nothing beats going with an inspiring spiritual guide like some of you have had the merit of doing so.

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13. 

    henry ooi on Jul 9, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Oh yes Justin R, I remember your obstacles in getting from NZ to KL and onward to Bodhgaya in the cold winter of 2005 there.
    The surroundings of Mahabodhi Temple were really surreal. As Angel wrote, we made many offerings during our stay. I recall Elena getting up early in the morning to do prostrations and trying to collect fallen leaves from the Bodhi tree. I managed to collect some and they are being placed on my Buddha Shakyamuni altar at home.
    The village where Mahabodhi Temple stands was dirty and the majority of the villagers were poor. Many beggars hanged around the temple chasing after visitors to the temple. We were advised by some Gaden monks, led by Venerable Kating Rinpoche, not to give alms to the beggars or else we would be swarmed.
    We also visited other beautiful temples, sometimes we walked, at times by rickshaws. That was how Rinpoche met a rickshaw man he used to know on his visit there many years ago. We visited his house where he and his family lived poorly. We made offerings of lentils, flour, salt, sugar, detergent etc to them.
    Rinpoche said that Bodhgaya is a must for Buddhists to visit in this lifetime. If you have not been, save up now and await the next trip there.

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14. 

    Sharon Saw on Jul 9, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    Sean, you can read more about the Mahabodhi temple at these sites
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabodhi_Temple
    http://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/bodhgaya-mahabodhi-temple
    http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/bodh-gaya.htm

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15. 

    Uncle Eddie on Sep 23, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    As far as i can still remember, a lucky group of 54 people, many have come from as far as Phillipines, Singapore, tne Netherlands, Switzerland, and New Zealand set off on a journey in 2004 that had been eagerly anticipated by many in the preceeding months. All were going to Bodhgaya, led by our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche to make a connection with the place where Lord Buddha gained Enlightenment. For some, it was the beginning of a new journey to the most holy place on earth. For those new to Dharma, they were to formally take refuge in the 3 jewels, and for the “older” ones, to renew their refuge comitments.
    From the describtions given, the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya was built in the shape of a Stupa, where all offerings of incenses, robes,fruits,and flowers can be made to the statue of Lord Buddha whose face was said to be the closest resemblence of the real lord Buddha’s face – 60 years after his death, a woman who had seen lord Buddha in person during Buddha’s lifetime, asked and commissioned her 4 sons to build an exact image of him in accordance to her detailed describtions!
    Well-lit up by fabulous spotlights, the stupa itself also offered a magnificient Architectural Marvel to behold – a glowing “Beacon of hope” to inspire those who are going on to the path to enlightenment. A trip out there it seems is worth an lifetime of travel, at least to the assualt of your senses on “smells, sounds, sights and taste”!

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16. 

    Anila on Oct 7, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    I did not know that Bodhgaya is one of the places that a confirmed Buddhist must visit at least once in their lifetime. I nearly missed my chance. I visited Tsem Rinpoche in Ganden many times where Rinpoche was staying after he went back to India in 1992. Everytime I was there I will stay for at least one month the shortest period. One day Rinpoche ask me to go with Ms Lim, his assistant to visit Bodhgaya when I was in Ganden with him. I freaked out and refuse to go. I just don’t like travelling. But Rinpoche say I must go and hauled me up to Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe to request me to go. Anyway I went. But never regret going as I will not be able to go now as I have a mobility problem with my legs.

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17. 

    Wan on Jun 18, 2012 at 12:27 am

    In our life time we must go to visit Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, the place that Buddha attended enlightenment. This is the holy place that can purify our negative karma and trigger a Dharma seed in us so that we can start in our spiritual path.

    There are lot of monks, nuns and lay people from over the world visit Bodhgaya, some come to do meditation, some for do prostration, some reading a book, some have a dharma session and some do prayer etc.

    There are also many temple near by Dodhgaya which you can visit when you go there.

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18. 

    DR on Jun 18, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Reading this article again brings back alot of fond memories of my first trip to Bodhgaya in Dec 2004. It was also the first time I met Rinpoche. I also took my refuge vows inside this stupa from Rinpoche. I did not understand the full significance of it then as I went as a tourist, but came back an official Buddhist and student of a Tibetan Lama! Now, 18 years on, and looking back, I can not comprehend how can a resistant, spoilt ex-socialite like me can be that fortunate. It must be strong aspirational prayers I made in many past live times for it to manifest.

    Since that trip, I have gone for pilgrimage to Bodhgaya several more times. Each time was together with Rinpoche except for last October when I was able to assist Sharon when she brought her parents along. Do read http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/entering-sharons-blog-space.html for more accounts of our trip.

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19. 

    JP on Jun 21, 2012 at 4:13 am

    I have never been to Bodhgaya before but would definitely love to go there for a pilgrimage. The Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has great importance in history as it is one of the earliest surviving Buddhist temples built entirely in brick.

    The following is an excerpt from UNESCO’s website regarding the Mahabodhi Temple.

    [Criterion (i): The grand 50m high Mahabodhi Temple of the 5th-6th centuries is of immense importance, being one of the earliest temple constructions existing in the Indian sub-continent. It is one of the few representations of the architectural genius of the Indian people in constructing fully developed brick temples in that era.

    Criterion (ii): The Mahabodhi Temple, one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India, has had significant influence in the development of architecture over the centuries.

    Criterion (iii): The site of the Mahabodhi Temple provides exceptional records for the events associated with the life of Buddha and subsequent worship, particularly since Emperor Asoka built the first temple, the balustrades, and the memorial column.

    Criterion (iv): The present Temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the late Gupta period. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone.

    Criterion (vi): The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya has direct association with the life of the Lord Buddha, being the place where He attained the supreme and perfect insight.]

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20. 

    tfreon on Jul 1, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    Wish i have chances to view this statue

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21. 

    Sheryl KH (JB) on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    This buddha looks both grand and serene. I am at lost as to what other words I can use to describe him.

    May I have the merits to go Bodhgaya and make offerings to this lord Buddha.

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22. 

    Wan Wai Meng on Aug 28, 2012 at 2:06 am

    This was the perfect form that buddha chose to become enlightened with, it has a lot of significance that is for sure.

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