FREEDOM

Its been a long time since i wrote about the life through my eyes now!! owe to the demanding and complex edcuation system of our country!! exams ,exams and more exams..they never seem to end!! but luckily ended before the new year!! nobody likes to start the new year by writing exams!!:(:(...talking of new year don't you think 2011 has passes off too soon but with lots of dhamakas?? i do..i think that 2011 has been the most eventful year in recent times!! with the country rising to anna hazare's call and fall of  monarchy in other parts of the world and loss of many legends, we sure have been through a lot within a constricted window of time!! personally, i had a wonderful year or i think so.. my year is ending on the stress of a lot of exams but also on the stress relieving activities ,i got to do!! recently i had the opportunity of visiting the global vipassana pagoda in gorai,mumbai!! having read about it in the newspapers,i was really curious about it!! basically it is a dhyhan mandir  dedicated to the Buddha..it contains budhha's ashes too making the place very pious!! it stands tall at 325 feet and stands unsupported !! till now gol gumbaz in bijapur,karnataka was known for this feat!!its foundation stone was laid in october 1997 and completed in november 2008!! it has a seating capacity of 8000 persons!! all the costs were borne by grateful donators who practised vipassana!!  around 3000 truck loads of sands were utilised in 90 million man hours!! this pagoda is designed after the shwe dagon pagoda in burma!! there are two more smaller pagodas one north and the other south which acted as the prototype for the main pagoda!! to look at the pagoda merely is like washing your sins in the river ganga..because the entire ambience is so peaceful and serene!! right at the to[p of pagoda is a umbrella shaped canopy!! it is more than 40 feet high and has more than 400 bells.i flag called dhamma dhaja is made of gold and studded with genuine diamonds and rubies!! and at the top of canopy is a crystal!! it is said that the budhha practised vipassana meditation  which means to see things as they are!! then it was  reintroduced by shri.s.n.goenka! after 2000 years!!
he inturn was inspired by sayagyi u ba khin!! the pagoda has teachings of buddha inscribed all around its outer diameter!! it has no entry fee and no charge for the ever smiling tour guides too!! truly it focuses on spreading the idea of vipassana!! there is a 10 day start up course on vipassana which according to many followers is very effective!! in today's world of ever rising tensions and stress this pagoda stands as an evidence to the fact that traditions brave even through the toughest times!! i was really a better person if not changed!! its very true that our own minds can be our greatest enemy sometimes!! coming back and looking back at the scenic pagoda surrounded by the gorai beach backwaters, it felt like some part of my soul had opened up!! making a short stop at the gorai and manori beach, walking on the pristine sands washed by the frothy waves, i let go of all my tension and stress!! trust me, just a simple walk on the beach and feeling the waves wash your feet is  very therapeutic.. it was just pure heaven except for the occasional dog who kept on barking at me for no reason!! in all, am happy that having a very eventful year, i could have the opportunity of giving up all the stress at the end!! :):)   merry christmas and a very happy new year to you all!! lets begin with new hopes and aspirations and dreams!!