Chapter Forty-Seven: The Seat of Ancient Learning and The Peaceful Buddha
The morning after Jantar Mantar, the group woke with a different energy.
Not the romantic awe of the Taj. Not the scientific wonder of the observatory. Something quieter—a sense that today would be about something deeper.
Percy was ready, but subdued. "Bihar, right? We're going to Bihar?"
"Bihar," C.N. confirmed. "Nalanda. The oldest university in the world."
"And a giant Buddha statue," Mica added. "I'm excited for that."
"GIANT BUDDHA!"
"There's the Percy we know."
---
The flight to Bihar was short.
They landed in Patna and immediately began the drive to Nalanda. The landscape changed—greener, more rural, dotted with villages and fields.
Keiran pressed to the window. "Mamma, where we going?"
"To a very old school, baby. The oldest school in the world."
"Like Keigan's school?"
"Much bigger. Much older. Kids came from all over to learn there."
"Rex wants to learn!"
"Rex can learn today."
---
They arrived at the Nalanda Archaeological Site in the late morning.
The ruins spread before them—red brick stretching across a vast area, the remains of monasteries and temples and lecture halls. It was massive. Overwhelming.
Percy's jaw dropped. "This was a UNIVERSITY?"
"The oldest residential university in the world," C.N. said. "Established in the 5th century. Ran for 800 years."
"EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS?"
"Longer than most countries have existed."
---
David took the lead, bouncing with excitement. "OKAY! History time! Nalanda was the Oxford of its day—actually, Oxford came LATER. Students came from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia... everywhere!"
Keifer added, "They studied everything. Buddhism, sure, but also medicine, mathematics, astronomy, politics, art. Over 2,000 teachers. 10,000 students."
Jay continued, "The library was nine stories tall. So massive they called it 'Dharmaganja'—the Treasury of Truth. It took three months to burn when invaders came."
Percy's face fell. "It burned?"
"Invaders in the 12th century. Destroyed everything."
"That's... that's terrible."
"It is. But the knowledge spread. The monks who escaped took Buddhist teachings to Tibet, to Southeast Asia. The ideas survived."
---
They walked through the ruins slowly.
Cells where monks had lived. Lecture halls where thousands had gathered. Stupas where they had meditated.
C.N. touched a brick wall. "1,500 years old. And still standing."
"Barely," Rakii said. "But yes."
"Imagine the conversations here. The debates. The discoveries."
"Imagine being a student here, from thousands of miles away, learning in a language not your own."
"Humbling."
"Yeah."
---
Percy found a quiet spot overlooking the main complex.
Honey sat beside him. "You're thinking."
"Always thinking. Just don't always show it."
"What are you thinking about?"
"About how much was lost. About how much survived. About how knowledge is precious and fragile." He paused. "About how lucky we are to have what we have."
"That's pretty deep."
"Travel does that."
She leaned against him. "I'm glad we're doing this. All of it."
"Me too."
---
Felix and Bridget explored together, hand in hand.
"Imagine studying here," Bridget said. "2,000 years ago."
"1,500, actually. But close."
"You're such a nerd."
"Your nerd."
She smiled. "Yeah. Mine."
They found a small stupa and sat before it, just breathing.
---
Mica and Calix discovered a carved Buddha in one of the temples.
"He looks so peaceful," Mica whispered.
"That's the point. Enlightenment. Freedom from suffering."
"Do you think we'll ever get there?"
"To enlightenment? Maybe not in this lifetime. But moments of peace? We can find those."
She leaned into him. "Like now?"
"Like now."
---
David was in his element, explaining everything to anyone who would listen.
"See these cells? Each monk had their own. Small, but enough. They'd meditate, study, sleep. Simple life."
Freya watched him with fondness. "You love this."
"I LOVE THIS! History! Knowledge! Stories from the past!"
"You're adorable."
"I'M INFORMATIVE!"
"Same thing."
---
Keifer found a quiet corner with Jay and Keiran.
"Can you imagine?" he said softly. "Thousands of years of knowledge. Gone in months."
"But not completely." Jay looked around. "The ideas spread. Buddhism went to China, to Japan, to Southeast Asia. The seeds survived."
"Because people carried them. In their minds, in their hearts."
Keiran tugged Jay's sleeve. "Mamma, the bad people burned the school?"
"Yes, baby. A long time ago."
"Rex says that's mean."
"Rex is right. It was very mean."
"But the good ideas didn't die?"
"No, baby. Good ideas never really die."
Keiran nodded solemnly. "Rex glad."
---
After Nalanda, they drove to the Great Buddha Statue.
It rose from the landscape—tall, serene, golden in the afternoon light.
Percy's jaw dropped again. "THAT'S BIG!"
"Very big," C.N. agreed. "One of the largest in India."
"How big?"
"About 80 feet."
"EIGHTY FEET OF BUDDHA!"
---
They approached slowly, the statue growing with every step.
The Buddha sat in meditation posture, eyes half-closed, face peaceful. Behind him, a massive bodhi tree spread its branches.
David gathered them at the base. "Okay! This statue was consecrated in 1989 by the Dalai Lama. It's meant to inspire peace and compassion."
Keifer added, "The lotus he's sitting on represents purity. The hand position—the bhumisparsha mudra—represents the moment Buddha achieved enlightenment."
Jay continued, "He's calling the earth to witness. To testify that he's overcome all obstacles."
Percy stared up. "He looks so... calm."
"That's the goal. Inner peace. Freedom from suffering."
"I want some of that."
"Don't we all."
---
They walked around the statue, taking in the details.
The carved scenes on the base—moments from Buddha's life. The gentle expression on his face. The sheer scale of the figure.
Keiran held Jay's hand tightly. "Mamma, Buddha big."
"Very big, baby."
"He looks nice."
"He was nice. He taught people how to be kind and peaceful."
"Rex likes him."
"Rex has good taste."
---
Felix and Bridget sat at the statue's base, looking up.
"It's overwhelming," Bridget whispered.
"In a good way?"
"In a... humbling way. Like, my problems are so small compared to this."
"That's the point, I think. Perspective."
"Yeah." She leaned against him. "I like this perspective."
---
Mica actually sat still for once, cross-legged, trying to meditate.
Calix watched her with amusement. "How's it going?"
"Shh. I'm finding inner peace."
"Is it working?"
"I found a snack wrapper. Does that count?"
"Not really."
"Then no. But I'm trying!"
"Trying counts."
---
Percy stood alone before the Buddha, staring up.
Honey approached quietly. "What are you thinking?"
"That I've been running my whole life. Always moving, always talking, always doing. But here—" He gestured at the statue. "Here, being still feels possible."
"Then be still."
"For how long?"
"As long as you need."
He was still for a long moment. Then he turned, pulled her close.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"I want to be still with you. Always."
"Then we will be."
---
C.N. and Rakii circled the statue together.
"Eighty feet of compassion," C.N. murmured. "Imagine if we all carried that much compassion inside."
"Maybe we do. Just smaller."
"Maybe." He paused. "I used to think compassion was inefficient. Emotional. Illogical."
"And now?"
"Now I think it's the only thing that makes sense."
She squeezed his hand. "Growth."
"Travel."
"Same thing."
---
As the sun began to set, they gathered at the statue's base.
The golden light made everything soft, warm, peaceful.
Keiran tugged Jay's sleeve. "Mamma, can we come back someday?"
"Maybe, baby. If we're lucky."
"Rex wants to come back."
"Rex is welcome anytime."
Keifer pulled them both close. "Today was good."
"The best."
"Every day with you is the best."
"That's cheesy."
"Your cheesy."
---
They drove back as darkness fell.
The statue receded behind them, but its peace stayed.
Percy was quiet for once, leaning against Honey.
C.N. stared out the window, thinking.
Felix and Bridget held hands.
Mica slept on Calix's shoulder.
David snored softly, head on Freya.
Yuri didn't film. Just watched the stars.
Rakii took one last photo—the group, silhouetted against the night.
Perfect.
---
That night, at their hotel, Keiran asked a question.
"Mamma, Buddha was real?"
"Very real, baby. A prince who gave up everything to find truth."
"Did he find it?"
"He found peace. And taught others how to find it too."
"Rex wants peace."
"We all do, baby."
Keifer kissed her forehead. "I found mine."
"Where?"
"Right here. With you. With him. With all of them."
She smiled. "Me too."
---
End of Chapter Forty-Seven