{"id":2640,"date":"2019-07-23T10:30:40","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T10:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sacredearthjourneys.ca\/blog\/?p=2640"},"modified":"2019-07-23T17:29:10","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T17:29:10","slug":"sri-lanka-a-land-of-beauty-in-nature-and-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sacredearthjourneys.ca\/blog\/sri-lanka-a-land-of-beauty-in-nature-and-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka; A land of beauty in nature and spirit."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Few places in the world can offer the richness of tropical forests, the vastness of deserts, and the luxury of soft sandy beaches with the serenity of Sri Lanka. It offers a depth of beauty and spirituality like no other. The destination has had it\u2019s trying times, but Sri Lanka has remained steadfast as a beacon of calm determination and a haven for self-reflection. Andrew Harvey will lead us through some of Sri Lanka\u2019s most sacred sites and natural beauty so that we too can draw from the peaceful strength that flows from this oasis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anuradhapura Temple at Sunset<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We will begin with a Blessing Ceremony once we arrive in Colombo. This\nwill be our opportunity to release the thoughts of our day-to-day lives, center\nour energy, and focus on our blessings before we begin exploring. There is so\nmuch to see in Sri Lanka and we have designed this journey to visit as many of\nthese beautiful places as we can. Here are some of the highlights you can\nexperience on this journey.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will visit one of the three sacred stupas, Ruwanweli Seya, where many\nancient Buddhist relics have been preserved. The greatness of the history\npreserved here can be felt just by laying eyes on the exquisite\nstructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest known tree planted by a human is in the Mahamewna Gardens.\nThis sacred tree is called Sri Maha Bodhi. We will take our time to soak up\nthis site and reflect on the importance of how the Buddhists have preserved and\ntreasured this tree for over 2000 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Sri Maha Bodhi Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After, we will visit one of Sri Lanka\u2019s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage\ncities, Abayagiriya, where we will see some of the most extensive ruins in the\nworld. It is a breathtaking experience to take in the history and spiritual\nimportance in this ancient Theravada Buddhist monastic centre.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tour will also visit the site of Sri Lanka\u2019s first Buddhist\nmonastery, Mihintale, in the city of Sigiriya. Many monks have visited this\nancient site to pray in these temples and complete a pilgrimage of 1840 steps\nto the summit. This monastery is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minhitale Mountain Peak and stunning views from the top<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While in Sigiriya we will take in another of the World Heritage sites,\nGal Viharaya, which holds the famous carvings of Buddha in four positions. We\nwill climb Sigiriya Rock and take in the view from the top of the jungle before\nwe visit the Aluvihare rock temple which still holds the complete Tripitaka\nlibrary. We could spend our entire journey here soaking up all the knowledge\nthat it has to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To appreciate the true Buddhist experience we will have the honour of\nspending a day in the life of a monk in our \u201cSil\u201d Observance Program. This\nunique opportunity will take place at the Paramitta Buddhist temple where we\nwill join in guided meditation, sutra chanting, and learn from Buddhist\nteachings through prayer and talks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After, we will have two days to enjoy the beauty of the picturesque\nbeach in Koggala and reflect on the experiences and teachings we have received\nduring our journey. The Long Beach Resort is a luxurious destination that will\noffer the comforts of a tropical vacation in a tranquil atmosphere before the\nend of your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Beautiful Koggala Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During our journey of Sri Lanka, we will share with you the depths of the ancient Buddhist tradition and wisdom, it will be a journey of sacred sites and nature\u2019s beauty. Lonely Planet has captured the unexpected highlights of Sri Lanka which includes the forests, beaches, food, train travel, and much more. If you\u2019d like to learn more about what Sri Lanka has to offer you can read that article here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our tour leader, Andrew Harvey notes that Sri Lanka was an important part of his spiritual beginnings. He first visited Sri Lanka as an atheist at the age of 23  which sparked his quest for knowledge of all that Buddhism has to offer. Andrew Harvey is a renowned author, spiritual activist, and one of our most sought after tour leaders.  You can learn more about this life-changing journey with Andrew Harvey, being offered March 1-12, 2020 in Sri Lanka, by watching this video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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