Journey Through Cancer – Chapter 19 – My Pilgrimage

Yesterday I again went on pilgrimage to the holy places of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni's life. I was able to visit the Vihara Maha Mayadevi, built in commemoration of the Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini Nepal, the Mahabodhi Temple of Bodgaya India, the Dhamekha Stupa of Sarnath India, and the Parinibbana Temple of Kusinara India. Most wondrously I did this all in less than one day, without even leaving Florida. Such a moving spiritual experience is made possible because Wat Florida Dhammaram has constructed replicas of the sacred places of pilgrimage in honor Lord Buddha as they are found in India. Therefore, by riding with friends from my home in Plant City to Kissimmee, I was able to make prostrations in the main temple of Wat Florida Dhammaram and then go to each of these shrines.
I knew my energy was limited. Therefore, I planned course which should be within my capabilities. After prostrations, mantra recitations, and a short meditation in the main temple, I first went to the Vihara Maha Mayadevi where I made prostrations, recited the mantra for one round of my mala, and spent an interval meditating while gazing at the statue of the Baby Buddha. I had next intended to circumambulate the giant statue of the Walking Buddha, but I decided that I needed to conserve my energy to be able to complete the remainder of the pilgrimage. Therefore, I went next to the Mahabodhi Temple where I first went in to make prostrations and lit incense and then circumambulated the shrine chanting the mantra for one round of my mala. Although I might have liked to make a certain specific number of circuits of the shrine, I thought it better to regard the one mala round as the minimum time spent circumambulating each shrine. After that I went into the shrine, made prostrations, chanted one mala round of the mantra, and spent a little time meditating while gazing at the Buddha statue.
Next I went to the Dhamekha Stupa where again I first went inside to make prostrations and lit incense and then circumambulated the shrine chanting the mantra for one round of my mala. After that I went into the shrine, made prostrations, chanted one mala round of the mantra, and spent a little time meditating while gazing at the Buddha statue. Although I had intended that my pilgrimage visits proceed uninterrupted, my bodily necessities forced me to make a trip to the rest room before continuing.
Finally I went to the Parinibbana Temple where yet again I first went inside to make prostrations and lit incense and then circumambulated the shrine chanting the mantra for one round of my mala. This time, however, I had to push myself to complete the circuambulations by telling myself, “Just a little longer. Just a little farther,”each time I felt like quitting. After that I went into the shrine, made prostrations, chanted one mala round of the mantra, and spent a little time meditating while gazing at the Buddha statue.
At this point I was too fatigued to go back into the main temple, but had to rest a little while before leaving. Although my body was quite tired, I was very invigorated in spirit and even found energy to go with my friends when they went into a couple of the stores nearby. While my friends, a pair of lesbian ladies young enough to be my daughters, wanted to go to an Indian restaurant, I persuaded them that we should drive on into Orlando both because I doubted that my stomach could tolerate Indian food right now (no matter how much I might want to eat it) and because I wanted to introduce them to some cool places in Orlando. Therefore, we ate lunch at Dandelion Communitea and afterward went to visit the Knowledge for Spiritual Living Wholeness Center and the Spiral Circle Bookstore. Unfortunately, Knowledge for Spiritual Living Wholeness Center was already closed for the day, I suspect, because the children's event in the afternoon had worn out the adults involved, just like these children were wearing me out in spite of my thoroughly enjoying being with them. Perhaps I should have followed one lady's lead when she was sitting at one of the picnic tables outside, because they had a water fight after the meal. Much to the credit of Dandelion's staff and clientèle, they didn't throw us out or even seem to pay any attention to us.
We then went to the Spiral Circle Bookstore which I believe impressed the ladies, especially when I told the how long the store had been there. There I bought a little incense and a bar of Ayurvedic soap like my friend Marybeth had given me. We then went looking for a store called Avalon. After much driving around and several phone calls, we found it one street over from Dandelion Communitea. Avalon is a Pagan/Wiccan store with books, crystals, herbs, oils and so much more. There I bought a little more incense, because they had one I like that I don't often see. After that we went to an art supply store called Sam Flax that one of the ladies had seen. There, inspired by the thought of getting back to drawing like I did when I was much younger, I bought a unique felt tip pen and brush combination. Hopefully, I will put it to good use. Perhaps I can make little cards with inspiring Tibetan words on them.
Finally, we started back toward Plant City where quiche and rice pudding awaited us at my sister's house, but we had one more quick stop at a store selling Chinese herbs. At this point fatigue had overwhelmed me and I waited for them in the van. By the time we got to my sister's house, we were ready for a little supper of quiche and a dish made from brown rice and quinoa, followed by rice pudding with fruit in it.
When they were leaving one of the ladies thanked me as she had done several times during the day. Again I tried to explain to her that there was nothing for which she should be thanking me, but I had so much for which I thanked them. Together they had given me such a wonderful day. Once again, it seems that this “Journey” is not for myself alone, but for the benefit of others as well.