At the end of 2007 Rev. Tsukamoto made a trip to India. He visited four places associated with the major events of the Buddha's life: Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.

Lumbini

About 2,500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha was born on April 8 at Lumbini Garden, located in Nepal near the Indian border. His father was King Suddhodana, and his mother, Queen Maya. It is said that the Buddha stood upon birth; walked seven steps and said, raising his right hand toward the sky, “In heaven and on earth, I alone am honoured.”

Bodhgaya

At the age of 29, having been educated and trained as a prince, Siddartha left his family. He observed the unsatisfactory qualities of life and sought a solution to them. He decided to become a bhikshu (monk), and began ascetic practices. Studying under many teachers, Siddartha mastered arduous yogic practices, starving himself and enduring the elements for many years. However, this still offered no release from the suffering and he realised that despite all he had learned he still had not gained what he had sought for so long.

Having abandoned the ascetic way, much to the dismay of his peers, he sat down under a Bodhi tree near Uruvela and started meditation vowing not to leave the spot until he attained enlightenment. During his meditation under the Bodhi tree, Mara the King of Illusion confronted the prince, trying desperately to dissuade the Buddha from what he had gained. Mara tempted the prince and threatened him, but the prince remained steadfast and refused to bow to the Devil King's illusions. Siddartha achieved his goal and became the Buddha, the Awakened One.

Above: Beneath the Bodhi tree is a covered carved stone slab called the Diamond Seat making what is believed to be the spot where the Buddha sat in meditation and attained enlightenment.

Legend has it that lotus flowers sprang up in the footprints left by the Buddha as he walked around the bodhi tree during the weeks after his enlightenment. In later ages believers laid bricks in what they supposed were the Buddha's footprints, and atop the bricks they placed stones in which lotus blossoms had been engraved.

Below: The stones marking the Buddha's footprints with lotus flowers and offerings of fresh water.

The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, the place where Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment.

Below: Shrine inside the Mahabodhi Temple

Kushinagar

Shakyamuni Buddha entered into Nirvana on 15th February. The Buddha told Ananda to inform the people of Kushingar that He would pass away during the coming night. His last words were:
“After I pass away, make your own self your light, don’t rely on others. Make the Dharma your light don’t rely on others.” “All conditioned and compounded things have the nature of decay and disintegration. With steadfast mindfulness, endeavour diligently for your own liberation.”