Varanasi and Sarnath

Well, as our time comes to and end, here in India, I am left a little sentimental. We've had such a great time and we will take with us many great memories!
I am very happy to spend some of our last days here in Varanasi. Varanasi has proven to be one of the most interesting places we've visited, and one of the most emotional...
Watching the bodies burn at the burning ghats was quite intense for me. It brought up many thoughts about my own mortality and brought to the surface many suppressed feelings about loved ones who have passed away in the last few years. Death is an interesting notion and how every culture and religion comes to terms with it is even more interesting!
The other day Ashby and I took a side trip to a tiny town called Sarnath. Sarnath is where the Buddha came to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana, after he reached enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Now Ashby and I can say that we have been to two out of the four important sites on the Buddhist circuit! Bodhgaya was better in my opinion, but I am happy to have stood at the site where Buddha's first sermon was preached!
Tonight I leave you with the Buddha's last words, "All things must pass. Work on your own salvation with diligence."
-Cara

Our hotel in Varanasi

A holy man-Sadhu



Ganga Aarti ceremony held at the Dasaswamedh Ghat

Sarnath-Dhanekh Stupa (this marks the spot where Buddha preached his first sermon)

The modern temple in Sarnath

Buddhist Ruins

Buddhist Ruins

A Bodhi tree in Sarnath-transplanted from the derect descendant of the original Bodhi tree