Buddhism in India

An amazing fable often heard… of a wealthy prince, who leaves all the luxuries of life in search of the ultimate truth; he returns as an enlightened one and his preaching becomes one of the most widespread religions of the world. One of the many religions that evolved in India, Buddhism is supposed to be one of the most modern and widespread religions of the world. It spread instantly mainly because of its core aspect based on principals of truth and equality. An evolution of man from a normal human to an elevated soul leading the path to salvation is the primary guideline of Buddhism. The doctrine that was preached by Lord Buddha was not meant to be a religion but a path to lead the life.

On the night his son was born, the future King of Kapilavastu, Prince Siddhartha, left the house in the darkness of midnight, in search of the ultimate truth; a truth to overcome sorrow and grief in human life. The path to this truth, he never knew, neither had he known whether he would succeed. But six years later after going through severe penances and austerity and later discarding even these for meditation the Prince realized the truth. From this point of enlightenment he was proclaimed as the Tathagata; the one who knows the truth and as Buddha; the one who is awakened or enlightened. Buddha preached the four noble truths and the eight fold path to salvation and attaining nirvana. Buddha says man normally lives in extreme conditions. He either leads a life full of luxury and lust or becomes an ascetic torturing his body trying to reach to the ultimate truth. An ascetic also lusts for truth and a common man lusts for luxury, both ways they remain unsatisfied which forces them to come back on earth to search the unfound. So it is wise to walk on the middle path. This middle path is the eight fold path that can lead one to peace, insight wisdom and ultimately, Nirvana. The eight fold path comprises of: Right Views, Right Resolves, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Recollection and Right Meditation.

The four Noble truths the Lord spoke about were:

• Noble Truth of Sorrow: It means all five components of individuality are sorrow.
• Noble Truth of the Arising of Sorrow: Sorrow arises from desire of more which compels a person for rebirth.
• Noble Truth of Stopping the Sorrow: Emancipation from this desire is the only way to stop sorrow.
• Noble Truth of the Way leading to Stopping of Sorrow: The middle way of the eight fold path is the only one to stop the sorrow. The core of the words of the lord meant that sorrow or grief is inherent in ordinary life and the reason for this is craving for individual satisfaction. The grief can be overcome by checking the craving and yearning for more. This is possible only if one takes the middle course between self indulgence and severe austerity; leading a moral and a disciplined life. And all the composite things in the world have to decay, so death is matter of fact and one should mourn this fact.

The life story of Buddha gave an inspiration to young and old and many more fascinating stories were attached to it. These mythological stories and some real life stories form the part of the Buddhist art that is carved and painted throughout the world. Although the impact of Buddhism has weakened in India, these artistic forms of Buddhism never cease to fascinate the people world wide. These sites which are many in the country form a special pilgrimage to the Buddhists world wide. The four main Buddhists sites are: 1) The birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini, today in Nepal; 2) The place of his enlightenment, Bodhgaya; 3) Saranath near Varanasi is the also important as the place of the Lord’s first sermon and 4) The place where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, Kushinagar. But there are many others which are visited as most revered Buddhists sites.

It is said that the Lord was born, attained enlightenment and attained Mahaparinirvana, on the same day, which is celebrated on the Full moon day falling in the month of May, as Buddha Purnima. There are many Buddhist sites which celebrate thie reverred day. Come to India and visit those places and try to attain the wisdom, The Lord Buddha once preached.

Flavours of Hong Kong

A vacation to Hong Kong is full of surprises. Not only is the place full of attractions that are pleasing to all senses, there are various delicacies too that make the stay worthwhile. Some of the best dishes of Hong Kong that are sure to feature on your must eat list are as follows:

Dim Sum: Literally meaning ‘touch your heart’, dim sums come in a variety of flavours. iN fact, they may number to almost 150 varieties on a restaurant menu to over 2000 flavors in the entire range with new flavours being innovated every day. Since many locals tend to avoid fried foods early during the day, steamed varieties dominate the palate of most. Designed to be washed down with tea while eating with a group of people, dim sums also come in snack sized portions that may be pan fried, deep fried or even baked. You can find dim sum restaurants on every nook and corner of Hong Kong starting from mid priced eateries to high class restaurants. Just go into the one that suits your pocket and enjoy a quintessential HongKong experience.

Seafood: Served fresh, Seafood of Hongkong comes in various forms- baked, fried, steamed, sliced, grilled, and stuffed. The food is so fresh that you can see it swimming minutes before it is served on your table. For a true satisfaction of palate, head to your nearest seafood restaurant that comes complete with a dining experience ranging from cosmopolitan fusions to sampan style concoctions that are best served with beer. Do make sure to try steamed fish which is the staple of many locals.

Chinese Barbecue: Though the word barbecue conjures images of salad and steaks in backyard, when compared with the popularity of Chinese barbecue, it comes nowhere near. Popularly known as siu mei, these barbecued meals serve as a window into the traditional Chinese roasts. Hanging right in your face at popular fast food chains, high end restaurants and supermarkets, the taste of this will leave your taste buds asking for more. You can also pair your meal with noodles, rice or rice noodles.

Fusion: For a city that has seen a multitude of cultures since its inception, it is hardly a surprise to see kitchens across the city fusing flavours derived from various countries and regions. There are traditional Chinese chefs adding soya sauces to European dishes, thus creating a complete new flavour altogether. In fact, these fusion styles and flavours can be found everywhere in the city- from street vendors to five star restaurants.

Eating in Hong Kong is not just about filling your stomach with anything that is kept on your plate. There are many other factors that make the place a true hub of a vibrant eating culture. Whether its lunchtime or midnight, you will be able to get your choice of food every time. In fact, for a true experience of the truest

flavours of the city, it is best to schedule a late night excursion that brings out the best of the place for you to sample.