Poor internet and a busy schedule

Friends and family,

I am sorry the blog has been so inactive until this point. We have been extremely busy and engaged in the wonderful opportunities of the program, and therefore have not had much time to blog. With this said, I would like to say it has been a wonderful trip thus far. A recent highlight was an hour and a half group interview with the most venerable Sayadaw U Pandita. He just happened to be in Lumbini at the same time as the group and we were able to listen to his wisdom in a terrific, intimate setting. Just one of many wonderful opportunities that have arisen.

I would like to relay a poem that was written by a member of our group:


A Pilgrim's Chain of Dependent Origination

Studying the dhamma, curiosity about India arises-
Curious about India, Being on pilgrimage arises-
Being on pilgrimage, discomfort arises-
Experiencing discomfort, crankiness and intolerance arises-
With crankiness and intolerance, suffering arises-
With suffering, interest in a cure arises-
With interest in a cure, studying the dhamma arises!!

-Helen Rosen

Be on the look out for more updates and reflections in the coming days. Until then, wish us well.

Many blessings,

Justin

Arrivals and... departures

Friends,

All of the pilgrims have arrived safe and sound to Delhi and we are embarking on our journey this afternoon. It has been a long time for each of us, planning and organizing this adventure.

As we depart, please keep us in your hearts, as we will keep you in ours.

More to come.

Justin

Arrivals

Namaskar,

Our first few pilgrims have arrived in Delhi. Catherine Brousseau arrived yesterday, after visiting Ajanta and Ellora, and Jaylen Summers and Rich Gaito arrived today. It feels great to be welcoming these wonderful people and I look forward to the next few days when we welcome everyone else. If you haven't left yet and are reading this, please travel safely. If you are supporter of the program, thank you and please do update us with happenings from the US/reactions to posts/anything you feel moved to.

Travellin in these most special places is a profound undertaking and I am so happy that we are doing it. As the Buddha taught, we never know when opportunities like this could vanish. With this in mind, I will leave now, but please remain connected as the blog becomes more active over the next days and weeks.

Many blessings,

Justin

Bodhigaya

Pilgrims, friends and family,

I hope this post finds you all in good health.

I am in Bodhigaya now, preparing for a short course with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (www.tergar.org). He is a Tibetan master, born in Nepal, who is beginning to make his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have been traveling to study with him in Asia for the past few years.

Spending long periods at the Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi tree area over the past few days has been very inspiring. As I pull together last minute itinerary additions, the practice is allowing for a lot of ease in this process. It is truly amazing to see thousands of pilgrims come from every corner of the world to practice at this place, peacefully. Having this many people, all in one place, with such unique styles of practice, come together without disagreement is really wonderful.

Our pilgrimage begins in less then two weeks and I am so excited to experience these magnificent places with such extraordinary people like yourselves.

Many blessings and safe travels,

Justin

Maryland to Mumbai

Hello. I am Catherine Brousseau and I graduated from the first BCBS study & practice program. About 10 months ago I retired from 23 years with AARP, during which I did issue organizing, training, coaching, and staff development. My home is in Silver Spring, Maryland and I am one of the minor teachers at the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. I will be flying into Mumbai on the way to Aurangabad to see the Ajanta and Ellora caves. From there I'll take the train to Dehli and Agra. I look forward to meeting you all at the World Buddhis Center and sharing a wonderful journey together. Blessings.

snowBuddha from Maine

Namaste & Happy New Year fellow pilgrims; We are a couple from Maine who besides reading "Along the Path.." have built a snowBuddha to prepare for our trip to India. We are beginning meditators and life long spiritual seekers. Jaylene is a psychologist focusing on hypnosis & hypnotherapy and its integration with mindfulness and meditation. Rich is a former physics and science teacher who loves music, sailing, woodworking as well as exploring the world's many cultures and mysteries. We look forward with gratitude and excitement to this rich and diverse trip with everyone. We leave on Air India flt #212 on Jan 28, arriving January 28 @ 16:45pm. we're being picked up by Naigymal and driven to the WBC. May we all travel safe, much metta, Jaylene Summers & Rich Gaito

from North Carolina

Dear Fellow Pilgrims - I very much look forward to meeting us all and traveling together. My first post on this blog is a tip -

I learned that it is a good idea to give a Travel Notification to your credit card company. Apparently, in their look-out-for-fraud zeal, they have rendered cards useless after a few purchases or cash withdrawals. Might as well be skillful pilgrims.

With metta, esp. to Haiti - Jeanne van Gemert