<\/p>\n

Having just been to Bodhgaya, India, in late April myself, I decided to take a look at my photos to see if I could find an image that depicts a “before” picture of one of the portions of the temple complex that was bombed and suffered damage as a result of the terrorist bombings early in the morning of July 7, 2013<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The image above shows a “before” and “after” image of the southern portion of the shrine that surrounds the holy bodhi tree (said to be a descendent of the same tree the Buddha sat under and found enlightenment roughly 2,500 years ago).<\/p>\n

To describe any terrorist bombing as senseless and horrific is stating the obvious, but for one to be aimed at and to injure mostly Buddhist monks — a group of people whose pacifist beliefs and quiet lifestyle is as apolitical as it gets in the world of religion — somehow heightens the depths of the tragedy. I can only hope this is an isolated incident and the serenity and importance of this site will not suffer for future travelers and pilgrims.<\/p>\n

By Matt Stabile<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt Stabile is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Expeditioner. The Expeditioner began in 2008 and is headquartered in New York City. You can read his writings, watch his travel videos or contact him at any time at TheExpeditioner.com<\/a>. (@TheExpeditioner<\/a>)<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Having just been to Bodhgaya, India, in late April myself, I decided to take a look at my photos to see if I could find an image that depicts a “before” picture of one of the portions of the temple complex that was bombed and suffered damage as a result of the terrorist bombings early […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2561],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n