Each of the Buddhist sites we visited had something unique to teach. Each had it's own tone, it's own flavor. Our first major stop was Vulture Peak, a hill upon which the Buddha liked to teach and watch the sunset. As we slowly climbed the path, I imagined the Buddha covering the same ground, looking out at similar trees, breathing similar air. Bodh Gaya is a celebration of Buddhism, a complex, multi-faceted, huge energy center with fabulous temples from many Asian countries and practitioners from all over the world.
Great joy is radiated around that moment.
It was a valuable time for seeing what others had seen, hearing what others had heard. Another day, our group went to visit a village just outside Bodh Gaya. Shantum introduced us to a local family, and we spent a lovely afternoon having tea with them. They showed us their two room house - one room was where they slept, the outer room was where their cow slept. Pilgrimage continues for me, in my inner exploration of what I have learned from this journey.