March 5-8, 2023
 
 
It’s quite a long way from Lauriya to Kesariya. As we passed through dirt village roads along both sides of the road were huts with thatched roofs, cattle grazing, goats nibbling on leaves, and rows of bananas along the canal bearing fruits.
 
After the dirt road, there is a better road made of asphalt. It’s called asphalt, but not much asphalt is in sight, only large and small pieces of gravel that painfully stabbed at bare feet. Adults and children gathered on both sides of the road to greet us and continuously asked us: Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you going?
 
I laughed and joked, you need a new road.
 
The young men pointed down the gravel road and laughed, saying “Diamond Road.” I was left speechless, so I responded with a smile, “Yes, yes! Diamond Road… very rich.”
 
After long, hot days, we finally reached the Great Stupa of Kesariya, where the Buddha passed through for the last time, from Rajagaha (Rajgri) to Kusinara, where he entered into nibbāna. Kesariya is the current name of the location referred to as Bhoganagara in the Mahaparinibbāna Sutta. Out of respect and to commemorate the Buddha, the people of Licchavi built the Kesariya Great Stupa with clay to honor the Buddha’s bowl (relic objects) as they were aware that the Buddha would enter nibbāna in Kusinara. However, there are many interpretations that this stupa is only to commemorate the place where the Buddha parted from his followers and that the bowl was brought back to Vaishali in accordance with his instruction.
 
The Stupa was rebuilt with bricks in the Maurya, Sunga, and Kushan eras. The Stupa was repaired and decorated with hundreds of Buddha images until the Gupta era. The Stupa’s height and circumference were similar to the Great Stupa of Lauriya.
 
Today, half of the stupa has been excavated, while the other half remains buried in pristine soil and surrounded by trees, indicating that the stupa was buried centuries ago. The Buddha statues have been damaged over time.
 
Together, we chanted the Three Refuges and bestowed blessings upon the Dragon deities who safeguard the Teachings, as well as our departed relatives and friends. Amidst the rain, we shared merits with our present-day relatives, friends, and supporters of the journey following the Buddha’s footsteps before making our way back to the resting area. Thereafter, individuals were free to engage in personal pursuits, including chanting or meditation.
 
 

#chuahuongdao #chuahuongdaotemple #sbsstupas
#buddha #buddhism #Dhutanga #dhammajourney
 
Source: Dhammacetiya