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I share my reflection of a pilgrimage that I attended hosted by The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) which was their Way of Peace event for 2013. It marked the fifteenth anniversary of the first WCCM pilgrimage to India, which initiated the Way of Peace programme. Of that original pilgrimage, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently wrote: 'In 19981 joined as historic pilgrimage of practitioners of both the Christian and Buddhist traditions in prayers, meditation and dialogue in Bodhgaya... Each morning under the Bodhi tree, we all sat together and meditated, which I think was historic.'
Rather than provide a travel log of the whole pilgrimage I would like to share my reflection on three places that spoke to me especially: Samath, Boudhanath and Bodghaya. I will share my experience of each in turn.
Samath
Samath is where the Buddha gave his first teaching at a place called Deer Park. We meditated as a group at this site and the meditation and the setting was peaceful, open and relaxing. I experienced it as a much needed break from the frenetic pace of travel. I was touched by the stillness and tranquility that inhabited this place. The restfulness and the sacredness of the site acted on me as something of a salve soothing my weariness. Up to that time I hadn't had much quiet time in India. We had arrived in Saraneth via an overnight train trip from Kolkutta, and our timetable in Kolkutta and surrounds had been very busy.
Samath was billed as the highlight of the pilgrimage as we enjoyed a day of dialogue, prayer and meditation on Saturday January 12, led by the Dalai Lama and Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB. I will share a few thoughts from...