Finding Spirituality in Indonesia - Stop 1: Borobudur (Day 1) - Reverse Nirvana

Aunt,"Want to go to Borobudur?". Me, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple dating back to the 8th/ 9th century. The venerable temple is located in central Java (an hour from Yogyakarta) and is an ancient site for pilgrimage and education in Mahayana Buddhism.

I have always been intrigued by the Buddhist teachings and Eastern philosophy. I feel it goes back to the basics of nature and it makes a lot of sense, even scientifically. Also, I felt I needed to re-align my cosmic energy (jokes!), hence the added excitement to 'do the pilgrimage'..hehehe

Borobudur was built during the golden era of the Sailendra dynasty, which held sway on Java and Sumatra. The Sailendra clan came from South India, but what is impressive is that Indonesian architectural elements were also incorporated into this august, South Indian influenced, structure.

Historians suggest that the name of Borobudur comes from the Sanskrit 'Vihara Buddha Uhr' which means ‘Buddhist monastery on the hill’.

There are more than 2,000 relief panels and 500 Buddha statues. There are 72 Buddha statues surrounding the central dome, each seated inside a perforated stupa. Borobudur has the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world.

Relief panels - depicting tenets of Buddhism

Stupa

Stupa is a replica of the universe

Buddha in the stupa

The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a clockwise path around the monument and ascends to the top through three levels symbolic of Buddhist cosmology: Kāmadhātu (the lowest level, the world of desire - influenced by negative impulses), Rupadhatu (middle level, the world of forms - in which man has control of his negative impulses and uses his positive impulses) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness -  the highest level, in which the world of man is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire).

As one climbs upwards from level to level, he/ she is guided by the stories and wisdom of the bas-reliefs from one symbolic plane of consciousness to the next, higher level on the journey to enlightenment.

My aunt and I decided to 'meditate' and watch the sunrise from the temple. We made our way to this sacred monument at 4am in the morning and climbed directly up to reach 'nirvana'... lol.

Around sunrise

Trying to meditate

The view from the top of the temple, at sunrise, is serene.

Surrounding mountains

As mentioned above, pilgrims start from the bottom of the monument and make their way clockwise to the top. My aunt and I started from the top and made our way down - in anti-clockwise! No wonder we are so out-of-place! Lol! (Reverse nirvana!)

The Borobudur Temple from a distance

So what do you do in Borobudur when you have the whole day ahead of you although, you have been awake for the past 7 hours exploring the largest Buddhist temple?.... Read the next post!


Jumpa nanti!