Journey to Sacred India

My recent trip to India was an adventure, but more than that, it was a spiritual journey, one that left an imprint on my heart.

We had the opportunity to visit sacred sites along the very path where the Buddha found his awakening, and it was humbling to walk in the footsteps of such deep wisdom. But it wasn’t just the sacred sites that left an impression, it was observing how the plants, animals, and land were so closely woven into daily life. India holds an ancient reverence, a spiritual depth, where everything is honored and interconnected. This experience felt so different from my own back home, where those connections often seem distant.

The infrastructure in many of the places we visited was visibly crumbling, buildings falling into disrepair, streets littered with trash, yet life flourished. Women took great care in their dress, adorning themselves in bright saris, gold jewelry, and rich lip colors. Markets overflowed with vibrant fruits and vegetables, and people sat in community, conversation, and connection. As we walked through farm villages where financial wealth was scarce, where homes had no doors and children ran barefoot, it was evident that spiritual wealth was abundant. There were spaces within the gardens dedicated to prayer, and the animals - cows, goats, and chickens - were not separate but lived alongside people. These communities lived with simplicity, but in deep connection with the land and each other.

One of the most profound moments of our journey was visiting a family in Bakraur, also known as Senanigrama, the small village that Buddha himself passed through on his way to the Bodhi tree. The story tells of Sujata, a woman who found him emaciated and near death, and she offered him a bowl of rice pudding as an act of compassion. It was this nourishment that helped him find the middle path, the realization that enlightenment comes from balance not deprivation. This same rice pudding was prepared for us by this family, a simple dish of milk, rice, golden raisins, and cashews. They had little in material possessions, yet they welcomed us with full hearts, laying out blankets in their shared outdoor space where their connected homes met.

It was a moment of deep humility, an offering given from what little they had, yet overflowing with love.

Village of Bakraur

This experience left me reflecting on the contrast between life in India and the U.S. Here, we often have so much materially, yet we can feel so disconnected from each other, the earth, and the sacred essence of life itself. In India, offerings are made to the rivers daily. Women sit in the streets selling small bowls of flowers to float down the water as blessings. The land itself is honored, the mountains, caves, and trees hold reverence, especially along the path to Buddha’s awakening.

We visited the Bodhi tree, a sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The current tree is a direct descendant, the fourth generation of the original, carefully tended and protected with metal supports holding up its wide branches. The streets leading to it were filled with pilgrims, voices lifted in mantra, incense thick in the air. The energy was tangible, you could feel the centuries of prayer and devotion. There was so much to take in, my sense we’re flooded with the colors, sounds, the movement of the people, and yet I felt a deep stillness inside.

It was a reminder that even in the noise of the world, we can find that place of peace within ourselves.

And yet, alongside the awe I felt, I also experienced great sadness observing this beautiful ancient tree. It was a moment of realization, feeling the weight of our actions on the planet, and recognizing how disconnected we’ve become from the very source of wisdom that once supported Buddha's awakening, and can help guide our own path.

We journeyed to Vulture Peak, a sacred mountain where Buddha often retreated and delivered many of his teachings, including the Heart Sutra. The path to the peak wove through a herds of cows and past wild monkeys. Along the way, we stopped to meditate in a cave, its silence thick with the weight of history. At the summit, a statue of Buddha and space inviting prayer. It was adorned with offerings, flowers, candles, and incense left by those who visited before us. Beyond the statue, we silently gazed at the sunset, watching the bright light sink below the horizon, painting the sky in golds and pinks.

It was a moment of quiet reverence, a reminder of the vastness of this world and the fleeting nature of our place within it.

Sunset at Vulture Peak

Another unforgettable stop was Nalanda University, one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient world, where many revered teachers, including the Buddha, are said to have taught. Unlike modern education, where knowledge is often concentrated in books and lectures, the emphasis here was on direct immersion and practice. The ruins are still being unearthed, revealing a vast complex that once held thousands of scholars. As we walked through the site, massive silk cotton trees (Bombax ceiba) dropped their large, brilliant red flowers at our feet, nature weaving beauty into history, just as it always has.

Unearthed ruins, Nalanda University

Silk Cotton tree flower

As I return home, I want to carry with me the deep connection and guidance I found while meditating by the Ganga in the early morning and practicing the ritual of arti at sunset. The surge of emotions I felt as we called out to the river and Mother Earth with the sound of the conch, sending our wishes, roses and rice down the river as an offering.

It reminded me of the beauty and stillness that is always present, waiting for us to tap into. These profound moments become accessible when we nurture our state of presence.

This journey left me inspired and deeply reflective. It reminded me why this work, and our practice, is so important. We are here to reconnect, to remember that our relationship with the world around us isn’t about control, but reverence and reciprocity. To rebuild community that nourishes our soul, find stillness in the movement of life and remember that enlightenment, in whatever form it takes, is always within us, waiting to be uncovered.

Thank you for walking this path with me. Let’s continue forward with love, inspiration, and knowing that we are exactly where we are meant to be.