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| AHYMSIN NEWSLETTER, ISSUE - June 2015 | ||||||||
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Pilgrimageby Anna StrommaAfter a three week yoga pilgrimage to India and Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, four of us continued to Kathmandu, Nepal. We visited three holy sites: Boudhanath and Swayambhunath (Buddhist stupas) and Pashupatinath (Hindu temple).   Then continued to Bhutan. Our main goal was Taktsang Lhakhang (Paro) "Tiger’s Nest "at 10,000 feet. It's one of the most venerated pilgrim sites, clinging to a rockface, overhanging the valley below by 3,000 feet. Our climb up lasted 4-5 hours, very exhausting and steep, especially towards the top. From a teahouse below the view of the monastery is stunning with prayer flags in the foreground. At the monastery we visited with a monk, who told us the story about Tiger’s Nest. We received blessings, and lighted butter lamps for our prayers. A very spiritual experience, well worth the effort of the climb. Other beautiful sights we visited were the Phunaka Dzong. It happened to be the day of the Dromchoe Festival with processions and dances. The Golden Buddha, Paro, was spectacular. Supposedly the largest Buddha in the world which may become a world heritage site when finished.   It does not matter which religion. In the different religions, their devotion is so strong and genuine. They're living their religion in Asia. My Tibetan Buddhist friends in Nepal, for instance, take a long walk to the stupas early in the morning, then walk around it 20-30 times, spinning the prayer wheels, lighting the butter lamps, etc. - every day. These are not young people, and it's exhausting. They also have a prayer room in their house, where they pray daily. Having travelled to three countries and many pilgrim sites, seeing Swami Veda and getting his blessing was the highlight of the pilgrimage. There's such peace and warmth radiating from him that I always feel renewed. It was the most powerful blessing of them all.
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