Jamie Richards- The Bodh Gaya in Buddhism (Topic of choice #2)

Among the four major sacred destinations known Buddhists, the Bodh Gaya, as the arguable starting point of Buddhism, stands by far the most prominently. Actually a noisy and polluted urban area due to its heavy tourism, this city houses a significant monastery as well as the Bodhi tree, pipal tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. A pilgrimage to this site in the Buddhist perspective is easily comparable to the pilgrimage to Mecca that millions of Muslims undertake each year. Whether to meditate under the same tree that the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, himself once sat under or to admire the architectural diversity of the nearby UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, the Mahabodi Temple, the location attracts visits en masse throughout the year. For obvious reasons, the location is known by Buddhists to be the eventual destination of a necessary trip, and interestingly enough, an area that provides one with a sense of peace and possibly even a stage for the attainment of enlightenment. As one with several relatives immersed in the Buddhist faith, I, realizing that this attraction has remained at the heart of Buddhism for centuries, plan to visit this area in the near future and perhaps even meditate under this widely-renowned tree. I am anticipating the impact that this journey will have on the spiritual side of myself.