Revelation

S01 E06 • Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011 • Aug 31

With her interest in Buddhism piqued, and her love of yoga firmly entrenched, Judith travels to India to immerse herself in the birthplace of both of those things. She discovers that religion and spirituality in India are like the Kardashian family in the west - you just can't avoid them. Leaving behind the steamy bustle of Delhi, she travels to Bodhgaya to visit the Bodhi tree, where Lord Buddha is supposed to have sat until he became enlightened. It's an awe-inspiring place, and Judith takes the opportunity to practise her new-found meditation skills, before she meets a young Australian woman who gave up her job, house and marriage to follow Buddhism to India. In Varanasi, the sacred city of the Hindu god Shiva, the master of yoga, Judith finds a different kind of spirituality - one which isn't contained in temples but is everywhere from the stunning riot of colour surrounding the river Ganges to the backstreets patrolled by mangy dogs. This time she meets an American woman who gave up her job, house and marriages to follow Hinduism to India -and intends to die here. In an emotional ceremony, Judith gets a special blessing from a group of hot young priests during one of the nightly rituals on the Ganges, and she gets to practise yoga on a boat on the famous river. Arriving back in Australia, Judith keeps a promise to Brisbane's rebel priest Peter Kennedy and joins his church for a very special service, where she sums up her journey with a dose of what she calls "spiritual standup". What has she learnt? Has she uncovered any answers? Has she found herself, and if so, did she like what she found? Is the journey over, or is it just beginning?