After returning to our hotel for breakfast and checking out, we caravanned to a Buddhist temple in Sarnath, where Buddha preached his very first sermon hundreds of years ago, called Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. It was amazing to see that this building was so well preserved, unlike the city of Varanasi. The temple was relatively small, with 3 large points on its top. We had to take our shoes off upon entering. In the back of the temple, there was a statue of Buddha made completely of gold, crossing his legs in meditation and holding his hands together in a symbol which means “learning.” There were vases of brightly colored flowers on either side and deep orange strands of poppies hanging from the altar. The walls were covered in pastel-colored paintings of Gods and acts of meditation.
To the right of the building, there was a small park area with plaques and thousands of brightly colored peace flags strung throughout, representing hope and harmony. After seeing these beautiful flags, not aesthetically but beautiful for what they represent, we continued to explore the rest of the area. And after about two minutes, we were approached by more beggars, old women, middle-aged women and children, all asking for money or food. It seems inescapable. And it is impossible to help all of these people equally. And is giving them money really helping them? What is more important is for them to become educated, at least in a particular field, so they can create a sustainable living for themselves. Otherwise the vicious cycle of poverty and famine will never end. We were followed all the way to the bus by hunched old, bedraggled looking women clad in tattered clothes which had collected years of the grime that also fills the air, gathering in their ears, noses and lungs as well, completely incorporating the filth into every last fiber of their being.
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