The Shwedagon
On my whirlwind work trip to South East Asia, I stopped a week in Myanmar – a place that has always been on my bucket list.
No trip to Yangon is complete without a visit to the breathtaking Shwedagon Pagoda.The Shwedagon is the centre of Yangon and the centre of life for the city’s (and country’s) largely Theravada Buddhist population.
The Shwedagon’s gilded stupa dominates the Yangon skyline and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. It’s the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar and, amidst the country’s turbulent history, has been place of meditation, prayer and solace in its darkest hours.
There are numerous entrances to the Shewdagon but we take the West side, flanked by two gigantic statues of the Chinthe, a mythical lion-dragon hybrid seen in the many temples throughout Myanmar. After two or three escalators and a very grand hall we finally make it to the Shewdagon centre, and that’s when the surreal beauty of the place hits you – along with 27 metric tons of gold leaf and over 4,000 diamonds and other gems encrusted at the top of the stupa.
The sheer size and scale of the Shwedagon is something to behold. It’s not only the massive stupa, but the maze of temples and shrines and relics they house within the grounds. Every surface is adorned with gold and jewels – in fact, the glare from this will blind you on a bright sunny day – and there are more Buddhas than you can count.
It’s a hub of activity, and despite the constant stream of visitors during the day, it is incredibly serene. Exploring the grounds will easily take a few hours, but give yourself a few more to soak it all in. Find a spot to stop and sit, whether it’s near the main stupa, or somewhere hidden away among the smaller shrines and become an observer.
For me, I found a spot away from the crowds, under a Bodhi tree – grown from a cutting of the original tree where Buddha found enlightenment. Here, I took some time just to breathe and take in the truly magnificent surroundings.
Usually when we travel, we are so time poor – as I was in this case – but taking the time to reflect and appreciate what’s in front of you, and your ability to experience something like this, gives you a completely different perspective (as opposed to viewing it behind a camera lense for instance, or when being driven by which photo will get the most likes on Instagram).
I used my time under the Bodhi tree to reflect and express gratitude and thanks. I am so fortunate I am able to travel for work and experience new places and cultures like this. I am so grateful that I am able to see the world. I am so humbled to be welcomed into such a deeply spiritual place by incredibly kind people. I took a few deep breaths, brought my hands in namaste and felt the warm breeze against my skin and surrendered in that beautiful moment, against a beautiful backdrop.
Oh, and then I did a headstand.
