Middle Land Middle Way  

The region to the south is known as the Middle Land. The climate is temperate and without frost or snow. The people are rich and contented, unencumbered by any poll-tax or official restrictions. Only those who till the king's land pay a land tax and they are free to go or stay as they please. The king governs without recourse to capital punishment, offenders are fined lightly or heavily cut off. The king's attendants, guards, and retainers all receive endowments and pensions. The people in this country kill no living creatures, drink no wine, and eat no onion or garlic.. Neither pigs nor fowl are kept in this country and no living creatures are sold.  There are no butchers or wine-sellers in the market.  Shells are used as currency in trading. Only low caste fisherman and hunters sell flesh. After the Buddha's final nirvana, the kings, elders, and lay Buddhists built monasteries for the monks and provided them with houses, gardens, cattle, and fields as well as with husbandmen to cultivate their land. Tide-deeds inscribed on iron were handed down from king to king and since none dared to annul them, they are still in force. The monasteries are supplied with beds and bedding, food, drink and cloths so that the monks want for nothing. This is the case everywhere. The monks devote themselves to practising virtue, reciting the scriptures, or practising meditation.
Just before the Buddha attained final Nirvana he urged his disciples to visit, at least once in their lives, the places where the most important events in his career occurred. In the centuries since then pilgrims from all over the Buddhist world have endured danger and hardship to come to India to see the places made sacred by the Buddha's presence. Middle Land, Middle Way is the first comprehensive guidebook for the modern Buddhist wishing to undertake a pilgrimage. In the introduction the author gives an inspiring account of the significance and history of pilgrimage in Buddhism, as well as the biographies of famous pilgrims of the past. Then sixteen places are covered, the Buddha's association with each place, their subsequent history, and a detailed and informative description of the monuments found there. With maps and colour photos Middle Land, Middle Way is an essential companion for both the pilgrim and the general traveller.  
Ven. S. Dhammika is a Buddhist monk of Australian nationality. He is the author of many books, including a series of Buddhist comic books for children.
Contents  

Introduction 1 

Lumbini 29
Kapilavatthu 35 
Bodh Gaya 43 
Saranath 73 
Gaya 88
Rajagaha 91
Nalanda 110
Patna 119 
Vesali 124
Kosambi 131
Madhura 138
Curpa 141
Lauriya Nandanger 144
Barabar and Nagarjuni Hills 148
Savatthi 151
Kusinara 165
Hints for Pilgrims 170
Abbreviations 173
Notes 174
Biblography 179
Index 181