On Buddha's Trail PILGRIMAGE
Buddhsist Fellowship: 5-Precepts
29 November - 9 December 2003


PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

2003 was a great year and it ended with Pilgrimage trips to India. The large group of 115 pilgrims with 3 monks embarked on their journey on Silk Air direct to Bodhgaya. Greeted by 4 buses, they toured the holy Buddhist sites in the state of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. The experience was exhilarating and spiritual enriching.

Standing below the Bodhi tree where Prince Siddhartha became a Buddha was a joyous moment. The feeling and emotions felt cannot be described in words. You have to experience it yourself.

The accommodation at most of the places surpassed our expectations, after having heard so much about poor conditions. Vegetarian diet throughout contributed to our good health in our at times arduous journey (many hours on the bus).  Only 3 people suffered from mild diarrhea, otherwise, a perfectly healthy group. Our pilgrimage doctor was impressed by this.

Although there were 4 bus loads of us, we spent very little time waiting for each other. The planning and the organization were commendable. Thanks to the tour operator and Buddhist Fellowship’s experience in this sort of thing.

Every morning, the group commenced the day’s journey with Homage to The Triple Gem and precept chanting. Being a spiritual trip, there were no flaring of tempers, not even when a journey that was suppose to take only 6 hours eventualized into  a 12 hour bus journey due to a massive traffic jam on the Calcultta trucking  route. The drivers did incredibly well, to get us all to the destination safely by night fall. 

The group also brought along 100 tins of biscuits and 40 big boxes of clothes, stationeries, toys and other give-aways to be donated to schools, medical facilities and street children along the journey.

A boat ride on the famous Ganges was part of the trip. We were amazed by the people dipping themselves completely into this polluted river with great faith. Froth along the river banks was a common sight. We were advised by our doctor to keep our limbs within the boat. We abided despite prodding by our Hindu tour guides to dip our hand or just a finger to purify our bad karma.

“If our bad karma could be purified simply by dipping our body into this river, all the fishes in it would be going to heaven”, a Buddhist monk teased.

There was a second group of pilgrims, led by Bro (Dr) Ng Yee Kong, who endeavoured an even more spiritual journey, staying at temples throughout and observing 8 precepts on most days.

Whichever you choose, a pilgrimage to the Buddhist holy sites is a must in one’s life as the inspiration from walking on the paths that the Buddha actually took is simply incomparable.

Another pilgrimage will be organized by BF in 2005. It will once again be the BEST deal in town. For the whole 11-day package complete with room, board, local and air transport and taxes, it cost less than $2,000 for the early birds and $200 more for the late sign-ups.