Thailand: Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakhon Pathom

After the conclusion of the Third Buddhist Council, two monk Sona and Uttara were sent to Suvannabhumi (Land of the golden) for missionary activities.^ The massive orange-glazed stupa of Phra Pathom Chedi could be the place where Buddhism was first introduced into southeast asia.

The first glimpse of towering Phra Pathom Chedi is overpowering. It is one of the largest in the world and in Thailand, by far the most holy of all Buddhist structures. Reaching to sky for just half an inch less than 380 feet, the dome shines like pure gold in the sunlight. The highly glazed tiles covering the dome are golden brown in color and were brought from China.

At the four point of the compass in the outer courtyard are four Viharns (halls) containing image of Buddha in various postures. The Eastern Viharn shows the image of Buddha beneath a delicately painted. Pho tree which cover the entire wall behind the image and is very unusual. The inter room is a Royal Chapel containing an altar where the King pays homage. The Southern Vihara shows the images of Buddha protected by a serpent. The Western Viharn contains image of Buddha in a reclining position, just before his death, surrounded by disciples, and an inner room contains yet another reclining image. The Northern Viharn, directly in front of the entrance and across from the frame building where the guides are located, contains a standing image of Buddha. The ashes of King Vajiravudh are buried at the base of this image.

The Chedi, from the base, is a breath-taking sight. The first original structure, on this same site and now inside the Chedi, was built. It is believed by indianized Mon people and resembled the Indian Stupa of the third century era of King Asoke. During his reign, the first Buddhist Saints were sent to spread Buddhism in the Kingdom of Suwannaphum, the first capital of that Kingdom being located on the site of present-day Nakhon Pathom. Later, when the area came under Khmer control, the Stupa was repaired and over-built with a Brahmin Prang, 130 feet high. During the region of King Mongkut(Rama IV) in the middle 1800's, it was again over built in its present Chedi-style structure. A repair of the original Stupa stands south of the present Chedi.

While still a Buddhist monk, King Mongkut had made a pilgrimage to Nakhon Pathom to visit the old ruined Prang. When he came upon the old structure he was deeply impressed with the realization that this was the spot where Buddhism was first taught in Thailand. He thought undoubtedly there must be a Buddha's relic inside and he decided to have the Prang rebuilt. When he became King, he immediately ordered reparation commenced and the work started in 1853. He passed away before his dream of restoration came true but Kings following him carried on the program.

Source: ^Translated by Wilhelm Geiger, Mahavamsa : The great chronicle of Ceylon', Pali Text Society, 1912, Page 82 and 86

Book Cover Design

In the midst of researching and compiling the places to see for my book, I decided to design the cover so I can visualize the end product in order to reach my goal. Not just that, you can click and right click on the jpg and set as background (wallpaper) for your computer screen ;)

Foreword

The Buddha said*...

"There are four places, Ananda, that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence. What are the four?

Here (Lumbini) the blessed one was born.

Here (Bodhgaya) the blessed one attain enlightentment

Here (Sarnath) the blessed one turned the wheel of Dharma

Here (Kushinagara) the blessed one passed into Mahaparinirvana

"These, Ananda, are the four places that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence."

"And whoever, Ananda, should die on such a pilgrimage with his heart established in faith, at the breaking up of the body, after death, will be reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness."

*Mahaparinibbana Sutta



By no means is this book about achieving Nirvana nor is it intended as a pilgrimage guide. Rather, it is meant to help awaken you to your surroundings as well as offer a suggestion of the places that Buddhist travellers might wish to visit. To attain Nirvana, you need to achieve your own self-cultivation through mediation (Samadhi) and develop wisdom (Prajna) through the understanding of Buddha’s dharma.

Buddhism has always been an inspiration to me both spiritually and philosophically, and I feel that the teachings that existed more than 2,500 years ago are still as relevant as ever today. The tranquillity of each Buddhist site, regardless of whether they are ancient temples, monuments or cities, never fails to give me a sense of peace. If you are a follower of Buddhism, what better way to travel than to trace the footsteps of that highly transcendent and sublime being, the Buddha?

There are, of course, many fascinating places to visit but for the purposes of this book, I have chosen to focus on Nepal, India, South East Asia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. The course taken here begins in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and it traces his journey as he attained Enlightenment, gave his First Sermons and finally passed from the physical realm (Mahaparinibbana). It should be noted that the section on Nepal is not an exhaustive one as there are many things I have yet to discover about this mystical and wonderful country so please don’t assume Lumbini is the only place worth visiting in Nepal.

Like all Buddhist scriptures or teachings, this book has been divided into three volumes. Each volume will introduce 36 places, bringing the overall total up to 108. But enough of my rambling. I’ll now leave your imagination to guide you as you read about the places mentioned in this book.

Before you travel

You can visit the sites in any order you like – there is no need to follow the order given in this book. That said, to be a savvy traveller, do take note of the following:

* To reduce unnecessary waste and keep the sites clean, bring your own water bottle and a recyclable shopping bag.

* Make an effort to support local communities by buying products from local craftsmen where possible.

* When visiting Buddhist temples, do remember to dress appropriately. Avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless tops. Women should wear skirts that cover their knees.

Why 108?

Prayer bracelets, which are traditionally made up of 108 beads or smaller numbers divisible by nine, are commonly used by Buddhists to keep count as they recite, chant, or mentally repeat a mantra. According to Buddhist thought, human beings are said to have 108 afflictions or klesas. There are six senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and consciousness), multiplied by three reactions (positive, negative, or indifference), thus making 18 "feelings". Each of these feelings can either be “attached to pleasure or detached from pleasure”, making 36 “passions”. Each of these passions can in turn manifest themselves in the past, present or future. The combination of all these manifestations makes a total of 108, which is represented by the beads.

What's Nirvana?

Nirvana (Sanskrit: निर्वाण; Pali: निब्बान) is the state of being free from suffering in sramanic thought. In Pāli, "Nibbāna" means "blowing out" — that is, blowing out the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion.

SOurce: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana

Be a contributor

As you know, one pair of hands can only do so much. That’s probably why Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has one thousand arms and eyes ; ) If you’d like to share your own Dharma-inspired travel experience with other readers, please send your story to 108b4nirvana@gmail.com.

Before you write your story, here are a few questions you might want to consider:
* How did you come to know about the place and when did you visit it?
* Can you provide any memorable anecdotes about your visit?
* How would you describe your overall experience and what did you take away from the trip?

A picture speaks a thousand words – if you have any pictures of your trip, do send them together with your story. Alternatively, you can also send the links to the pictures if you have an existing blog or photo sharing account.