Bodh Gaya in northern India, the place of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Stone statue of the Buddha.

Pilgrimage; RitualThere are many holy places in India and in Asia that are sacred to Buddhists. The main places of pilgrimage are connected to important events in the Buddha’s life.

1. His birth.

2. Enlightenment.

3. First sermon.

4. His death.

Bodh GayaBodh Gaya in northern India is believed to be the place where the Buddha achieved Enlightenment. He sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated for a long time. Today, a Bodhi tree, believed to be a direct descendant of the original, grows in the same place. A large platform covers the ground where the Buddha meditated. The Mahabodhi temple, which stands nearby, houses a huge stone statue of the Buddha.

Buddhists perform certain rituals when they make a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya. They visit the temple and bow before the image of the Buddha. They pray, present offerings, spend time in meditation and present gifts to the monks who care for the shrine.

Making a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya and other places associated with the Buddha deepens the faith of pilgrims. It brings them closer to the spirit of the Buddha’s teaching and renews their commitment to the Buddhist way of life.

Questions

1. What is: a. a pilgrimage? b. a pilgrim?

2. What events in the Buddha’s life are connected to Buddhist places of pilgrimage in India?

3. What event in the Buddha’s life took place at Bodh Gaya?

4. What rituals do pilgrims perform at Bodh Gaya?

Section C: Foundations of Religion - Buddhism18

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