Dawn at the Bodhi tree

I did something this morning that I had been wanting to do for the past several days while here in Bodhgaya. I left the hotel a little after 5am, dressed in 3 layers with bug spray on, meditation cushion, water and tissues in hand, I was prepared for a dawn meditation. The streets of Bodhgaya were almost deserted, except for several locals with their rickshaws and a number of the stray dogs that are everywhere here. The air was crisp and cool and it was close to quiet. I set out walking toward the temple and as I got closer more and more people appeared...the temple never seems to be closed...even at this early hour, lights were on, chanting of many voices, and the sounds of ritual bells rang through the air. Many monks, nuns, Indians, Tibetans and westerners were meditating, doing Kora and prostrating around the temple. Incense hung heavy in the air. The best time of day to be at the temple as a pilgrim. I did many rounds of Kora and then took a seat on the cool, smooth stone floor in front of the Bodhi tree to begin practice. As the time passed, the sky melted from that deep indigo blue to a beautiful lavender, to pink and finally to a light turqoise blue. As I gazed up at the Bodhi tree in front of me it struck me that perhaps this is the first thing the Buddha saw after attaining enlightenment.

Blessings to all,
Menma