The most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site is Bodhgaya where the Bodhi tree is found. The Bodhi tree is the tree under which the Buddha sat down to meditate and attained enlightenment. Actually the tree that we saw is maybe the 4th generation of the original from 2,500 years ago. We arrived and met up with Tulku Loday again who took us around the site and helped us organise the prostration boards so that we could do the prostrations that Geshela had set for us. Prostrations is the thing to do at Bodhgaya! So many monks and lay people are there prostrating away, others circumambulating the Bodhi tree and temple saying mantras, whilst others sit amongst the stupas meditating. Despite all the people, the place had such a peaceful atmosphere. Everyone had told me about the peaceful atmosphere but I had dismissed it thinking that's just what you say about Bodhgaya, but it truly was so nice that we both enjoyed staying here for over a week. The highlight of the week was a surprise teaching from the Dalai Lama beneath the Bodhi tree - truly amazing! Just as the Dalai Lama started to teach the Muslim evening prayers rang out from the nearby mosque. The Dalai Lama chuckled in the way that he does saying, "First before Buddhist teaching we pay our respects to Allah!"
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