Searching for Enlightenment
This is a picture of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya which was built next to the Bodhi Tree where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment, it is located in the Indian state of Bihar.
According to the Jataka tale, when Buddha first came here, the Papilla, or Indian fig (Bodhi) was a massive tree.
It stood at the centre of a mandala composed of a silver white sandy ridge, encircled by creepers and a grassy woodland with all the trees inclining towards the Bo tree that stood in the middle.
Close by were the pure, glassy waters of the Neranjara river, with many pleasant bathing pools.
When he sat down in front of it facing East, a long vista opened out to through an avenue of Sale trees to the glistening beach of the crystal Neranjara.
After he left, he never looked back, and never visited again.
But he did recommend it as one of the four memorable places worth visiting for inspiration.
Buddhist believe this is the navel of the universe, the vajra seat, where past and future buddhas achieve the ultimate state.
