Tourists from America, New Zealand and Australia learned the doctrine of Buddha in Kushinagar.

Kushinagar, 19 October (Hindustan Reporter). Kushinagar, the place of Mahaparinirvana of Gautam Buddha, is also attracting tourists from European countries. During the ongoing tourist season of the Buddhist Circuit, apart from tourists from Buddhist countries, a contingent of tourists from New Zealand, Australia and America were also seen on Saturday. The tourists are followers of Zen Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism practiced in Japan.

The team comprising John Macnon, Annie Meloni and Patrick Meloni from New Zealand and Peter Goldswain and Margaret Goldswain from Australia are visiting the Indian Buddhist circuit for the third time. Whereas Jacob Corning and Annie Brine of America have come to India for the first time. The group, which is on a 16-day Buddhist circuit tour, is interested in the sites, antiquities associated with Buddha and the study of Buddha's principles, teachings, history etc.

Before coming to Kushinagar, the team has completed the journey to Banaras, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Patna, Vaishali, Kesariya, Areraj, Bettiah, Loria and Rampurwa. Neeraj Singh, the multilingual guide accompanying the team, gave information to the tourists about the Buddhist antiquities. In the afternoon the team staying at Royal Residency Hotel left for Lumbini.

what is zen buddhism

Tourist Patrick Meloni explains that the word Zen means meditation. Zen came to Japan around the eighth century. Zen Buddhism is expanding in the West. Zen Buddhism is a simple, determined, uncompromising, straightforward, meditation-based Buddhism that is not interested in doctrinal sophistication.