SKS/Bodhicariya Students Re-union

A re-union event is going to take place for the first time ever. Like every body, I am so hopeful and looking forward to it. I am sure it is going to work out good. As a school, Bodhicariya is poised to celebrate its 20th foundation day this year 15th November. What could be an opportune time more than this to have a reunion event!!

There's reason more than one why we need to have a gathering like this. Most of us that have been following information about the institution and Ven Bimal Bhante are aware that a certain idea has been toying in many minds on the subject of hosting an event like a reunion. The idea is appreciated and liked by all but always slipped down the to-do list in the last couple of years. But now guys are acting animatedly how to present the idea on the real ground. Not very far from now, in just a matter of 3 months, we will meet on a venue for a two-day gather. A working committee has formed and we have final draft of a letter of invitation. Do I really look like a level headed bloke? I am pleasantly surprised that guys out there do! They felt that I am a level headed bloke who can be a part of the committee and now I am direct part of the commitee with a position as the Secretary of Information and Publication. I am not alone as I have the best partner in Mr Dilip from National Law School, Bangalore. I trust that the committee will create the best event we have had in a long time. It will be a memorable one. For alumni from everywhere making available to the re-union will be like returning to the roots, like a walk down the memory lane. A chance to start bridging the widening gap between SKS and its alumini. A time to rekindle old friendships. I am sure the sight of the Bodhicariya hostels and to live in its environs for 2 days will arouse enormous joy. So many old school days memories will trickle and flood one's mind - memories of the playful times, the classroom experience, the childhood spent in the airy dormitories of Ametie, Karuna, Metta, Chetana and Paramita Bhavan....

There are hundred things that I am interested to do during the stay at Bodhicariya. I am curious to find out the boy that occupies the same hostel bed that I had. I want to go to the spot where I planted a sapling and see how leafy it has grown. I would like to stand in the central park under full moon and while away time enjoying the night breeze. I would like to have a seat in the middle row, third seat from the front that was my favorite desk in the classroom. I would like to go up the terrace in the chill of the night, porch on top of a pillar at the roof the hostel and gaze at the stars. I would get up early and walk into the morning mist, pluck fresh flowers to prepare a nice decoration and offer on the Buddha pedestal. When the community sits down to observe quitetude and practice anapanasatti and I want to be a part of the session. Assuming that I have learned a handsome deal since I left school 15 years ago, next I could plan volunteering in the school when the classes are in progress. I am sure our teachers would appreciate and encourgage me. i am sure focussing on lower class topics that I learned long ago, interacting with young minds will make one of the most productive experience of the trip.

Hey try think alike and more like the way that I am now. What are your wishes? What will be your interests as you reach Bodhicariya in mid November? Please open up and start shareing.....!
I truly hope to be present there and see you in person. Take good care of yourself wherever you are!

Thinking about travelling beyond this country to meet far away dhamma friends

When the Indian monsoon is over, I will have prepared myself with a decent travel-budget ready to board the first international flight of my life. Out of New Delhi over to Vienna or Bucharest. At least this is a something I've targeted in this year....
Many honorable, dhamma friends live in Austria, Romania and Hungary. They said their invitations still exist. Where did I befriend all these East Europeans? Well, the holy place of Bodhgaya fetched me all these dhamma friends!!

I love to frequent the holy place of Bodhgaya to serve monastics monks and service the monasteries. I am thankful that monasteries like WatPa, Vien Giac, Wat Nilanjana, Wat Magadh etc extend a place to seat, dine and sleep during my brief stays. Making all of my time and positive energy available towards the monastaries aside I like to travel the surroundings of Bodhgaya, climb the Dungeshwari hill, visit the premises of Vishnupad temple, watch the rituals at the burning ghats of Gaya, etc. In this way, I have met some of the finest human beings in the form of buddhist monks, siladharas, anagarikas, upasaks and upasikas and even children and every assortment of spiritual travellers. Bodhgaya has sacred power to draw people of all walks of life from all corners of the globe.

Every minute in Bodhgaya is a fortunate minute. I faithfully believe so because I've always received precious lessons and gifts of life during every visits I made, a deeper insight into meaning of life, the dhamma, the natural order of world and world beings, the 'suchness' of all things around me. Alongwith all kinds of balms for the mind, I will not forget the good, honorable, dhamma friends that I've crossed path. When I look back to each of my trips to Bodhgaya in the past, I see faces of the dhamma friends - smiley faces, happy faces, gentle and compassionate, active and conscious, soft and simple. If I get my way, I would like to sneak out of my work cubicle and go the direction of Bodhgaya again at the peak of this current Vassa season where serious practice is on at this moment of time. There are serious solitary pracitioners as well as group practitioners, training their mind, revisiting the Tripitaka texts and mindfully observing the Vinaya rules with greater emphasis.

One of the closest that I have known is Mr Zoltan Kovacs from Hungary. The evening rush of diners at Om restaurant next to Tathagat hotel led me to the seat where Mr Zoltan was seated, enjoying a herbal, ginger tea to cool away the evening. I got my orders of green mixed-salad and steam rice with small potion of different vegetables in front of him. I introduced myself and thanked him for sharing table-space with me, Zoltan smilingly responded that it was not a problem. I am young but he is quite aged. I offered a plate of green salad with all my heart and he accepted after sometime.

We had a nice conversation over a nice dinner peppered with a silent prayer as I fed myself spoonfuls.

Wisely reflecting on this plate of food,I use it not to distract my mind,
Nor to make my form impressive,
Or to make it beautiful,

Simply to be sustained and nourished,
And to maintain what health I have,
To help fulfill the Holy life,

With this attitude in mind,
I will allay hunger without overeating,
So that I may continue to live blamelessly and at ease.
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(This english translation is a very clear one. It comes from Ajahn Sumedho, Amravati Buddhist Monastery, outside the village of Great Graddesden near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, England)