Diamond Throne

In the outer world, I suppose the most holy place in Buddhism is the Diamond Throne. Lord Buddha Shakyamuni sat to the east of the Bodhi tree (actually the Pipal tree - now known as Bodhi tree) and there he attained enlightenment. I have read that the current Bodhi tree is a 4th descendant of the original bodhi tree. They track this carefully, I understand. The trunk of the tree is protected by an enclosure, surrounded by stone walls with holes that allow you to look inside. Under the branches to the east of the trunk is a protective golden colored canopy covering the "diamond throne" - this is reputed to be the spot where Lord Buddha Shakyamuni sat. The diamond throne sits between the trunk of the tree and the Mahabodhi temple, which is situated immediately to the east. According to several traditions, the next Buddha of this world system, Maitreya will also attain enlightenment at the same spot.

A couple of days ago, Drichab and I were doing kora around the Mahabodhi temple. I really enjoy kora at this place. There is a very sweet energy to it. As we circled the temple and passed under the branches of the tree again and again, a man in a very nice business suit kept smiling and nodding at me. Then, during one kora as we rounded the corner of the temple and saw the south side of the tree, there was a group of people with monks wearing brown robes near the wall that surrounded the trunk of the tree and the diamond throne. A narrow gate in the wall was being opened and they were being allowed inside in small groups. This same man walked right up to me and said that it was a group visiting with a minister from Singapore, and that he was bringing them here to the Bodhi tree. He looked straight at me and said, "Do you want to go inside?" (How many languages can you say "YES" in?) So he shuttled me up front with the brown-robed monks. When a man who was guarding the gate moved to stop me, the man who invited me to go in said something in another language, and I was allowed to pass. I had to squeeze through the gate sideways - and right there beside me was the trunk of the Bodhi tree; and right before me was the diamond throne. I was able to do prostrations, make prayers and touch my forehead to the golden enclosure. I took a couple of pictures, but I do not have the connections to upload them. So that will have to wait until I return home. I was so fortunate to be right there at "ground zero." However, let me put this in perspective.



Yesterday as Rinpoche was giving a brief teaching to some pilgrims from Boston who heard her bestow lay vows under the Bodhi tree, and requested an appointment with her, a scholar of Buddhism who was among the group (a retired minister of tourism in India) asked about Maitreya. (Reputedly, Maitreya will also attain full enlightnment in Bodhgaya at the same spot under the Bodhi tree. You can see how this sets up every Maitreya-wanna-be to arrange to come to Bodhgaya and try to become conspicuous. I saw one such person when I was doing kora one day.)

In her response, Rinpoche asked him if the prophesy referred to Bodhgaya - this Bodhgaya - and to this tree. Then she said something like, "I say it like an American. I swear to God, it is not about the bodhi tree. The seat is on the interior," as she points to her heart center. They say that for a week Lord Buddha Shakyamuni sat and gazed at the bodhi tree with his eyes unblinking. He was not looking at the bodhi tree. He was looking at the interior. She waved her hands in front of her eyes to demonstrate. You could have done this and he would not have seen. He was not looking outwardly.

May everyone find the diamond throne in their own inner heart
and may there be a rain of dharma.