This October, I will be traveling to the Holy Land of India together with my Dharma friends from the West. During
this pilgrimage, we will also have the precious opportunity to receive an
audience with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the great
spiritual guide for peace and compassion throughout the world. Before we
depart, I would like to briefly explain—in five points—the meaning, purpose,
and benefits of making a Buddhist pilgrimage, so that my Dharma friends and
students may undertake this journey with a proper understanding.
1. The Meaning of
"Pilgrimage" (Gné Kor)
In Tibetan, the word gné kor
(pilgrimage) consists of two parts:
Gné (Sacred Place) refers to a
place sanctified by the presence and activities of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas,
accomplished masters, and great spiritual teachers. These are places where,
over countless years and even many lifetimes, they practiced meditation,
cultivated realization, and benefited sentient beings. Such places possess
extraordinary spiritual significance.
Kor (Circumambulation or
Pilgrimage) means personally traveling to these sacred places and engaging in
spiritual practice there—making prostrations and offerings, circumambulating
holy sites, meditating, reciting prayers, and performing other virtuous deeds
that accumulate merit and purify obscurations.
The sacred sites we will visit are
the Four Great Holy Places associated with the life of the Buddha:
·
Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained complete enlightenment.
·
Sarnath (Varanasi), where he first turned the Wheel of Dharma by
teaching the Four Noble Truths.
·
Lumbini, where he was born.
·
Kushinagar, where he entered Parinirvana.
When we arrive at each of these
holy places, I will explain their history and spiritual significance in greater
detail.
2. Establishing the Proper
Motivation
According to the Buddhist
teachings, regardless of what virtuous actions we perform through body, speech,
and mind, our motivation is of the utmost importance. Whether the results of
our actions become wholesome or unwholesome depends largely upon the quality of
our intention.
Before setting out on pilgrimage,
we should reflect carefully that this journey is not an ordinary sightseeing
vacation. Rather, after learning about the history of these sacred places and
understanding the benefits of pilgrimage, we should cultivate sincere faith and
devotion.
We should rejoice from the depths
of our hearts, recognizing how fortunate we are to have obtained such a rare
opportunity to visit these holy sites.
More importantly, we should
remember that this pilgrimage is not undertaken merely for our own enjoyment or
personal benefit. Instead, we dedicate it to the welfare of all sentient
beings, aspiring that every being may attain happiness and be free from suffering.
If our pilgrimage is embraced by
such a pure and altruistic motivation, then every aspect of the journey becomes
genuine Mahayana practice. Therefore, it is essential that we begin and sustain
this pilgrimage with a wholesome and compassionate intention.
3. How We Should Conduct Ourselves
During the Pilgrimage
Having established a proper
motivation based on altruism and compassion, we should then prepare ourselves
well for the pilgrimage itself.
Before departure, make sure that
you have packed everything you will need. Although our destination is the
sacred land of India, we should remember that its environment, food, climate,
and general living conditions are very different from those in the United
States. Everyone should keep this in mind and exercise care regarding food,
health, and daily conduct.
In particular, please remember to
bring your regular medications and any personal necessities you may require.
Thoughtful preparation beforehand will help ensure a smooth and meaningful
journey.
When visiting the holy places, we
should not behave as ordinary tourists. Instead, while staying at each sacred
site, we should recollect its history and contemplate the enlightened beings
who sanctified it—the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, accomplished masters, and great
lineage teachers.
Whenever possible, we should recite
prayers of praise, engage in meditation and Dharma practice, and make the best
use of our time in these precious places.
Finally, throughout the pilgrimage,
please follow the instructions of our guides. Remain with the group at all
times, and avoid wandering off alone, falling behind, separating from the
group, or going ahead independently. Traveling together in harmony, supporting
one another, and remaining mindful as a community are all important aspects of
a successful pilgrimage.
4. The Benefits of Pilgrimage
The Buddhist teachings explain that
for a sincere practitioner, a single day of Dharma practice at an exceptionally
sacred place may bring greater benefit than practicing for an entire year at
home. This is because certain holy places possess extraordinary spiritual power
and blessings.
The teachings also speak of two
kinds of blessing: the blessing bestowed by a realized person upon a place, and
the blessing bestowed by a sacred place upon those who visit it. The holy sites
we are about to visit belong to the latter category. They have been blessed by
the presence, enlightenment, teachings, and activities of the Buddha and
countless realized masters throughout history. Therefore, these places
naturally possess the power to inspire and transform those who approach them
with faith and sincerity.
For this reason, as mentioned
earlier, we should not rush from one location to another. Instead, we should
spend our time calmly and mindfully at each sacred site, reciting prayers,
practicing meditation, contemplating the Dharma, and engaging in whatever
wholesome practices we can.
Throughout Buddhist history, there
have been countless practitioners of great fortune whose minds were profoundly
transformed while practicing at these holy places. Some experienced a
remarkable deepening of realization, and others made swift progress on the
stages of the spiritual path. Since there are many such inspiring accounts, I
will not attempt to recount them all here.
5. Concluding Advice
On this occasion, we have the
wonderful opportunity to travel together to India as teacher and students,
Dharma friends, and companions who share the same spiritual aspirations and way
of life.
Even more joyful is the precious
opportunity to receive an audience with His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama,
Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and a
worldwide ambassador of peace and compassion. Considering His Holiness's
advanced age and the preciousness of this opportunity, it is difficult to know
whether such a chance will come again. For many of us, both this pilgrimage and
the opportunity to meet His Holiness may truly be a once-in-a-lifetime
blessing. Therefore, I sincerely encourage everyone to make every effort to
participate wholeheartedly and not let this rare opportunity pass by.
During our journey, there may be
occasions when the accommodations, food, climate, traveling conditions, or even
our interactions with fellow pilgrims do not entirely match our personal
preferences. Whenever such situations arise, patience will be our greatest
practice. Rather than becoming upset or discouraged, we should remember that
cultivating patience is itself an essential part of the path.
Overall, I am confident that this
pilgrimage has been thoughtfully and carefully organized. Considering the
season, the weather, our itinerary, the sacred places we will visit, and the
arrangements that have been made, I believe we have every reason to expect a
meaningful and successful journey.
One of the reasons for my
confidence is that the pilgrimage will be led by my dear Dharma brother, Lama
Kozen, together with his students. This gives me great peace of mind, for he
has led many pilgrimages over the years and possesses extensive experience
guiding practitioners through the sacred sites of India. Furthermore, he has a
deep understanding of both Eastern and Western cultures and Buddhist
traditions, enabling him to serve as an excellent bridge between them.
This pilgrimage also brings
together students from both the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. This
harmonious gathering reminds me of a well-known Tibetan proverb:
"When the tiger and the snow
lion travel side by side, their strength is united."
Likewise, it is truly a fortunate
and auspicious occasion for all of us to journey together in the Dharma.
Taking this opportunity, I would
also like to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved Dharma brother, Lama
Kozen, for kindly joining us and helping guide this pilgrimage. I offer him my
heartfelt appreciation and sincere thanks.
There is one more point I hope
every pilgrim will keep in mind.
Many of us are accustomed to
traveling in developed Western countries, where we naturally expect comfortable
hotels, familiar food, convenient transportation, and predictable conditions. A
pilgrimage to the sacred land of India is quite different. It is not a luxury
vacation but a spiritual journey.
Therefore, whatever hardships,
inconveniences, or physical fatigue we may encounter during these nineteen
days, we should resolve in advance to accept them with courage, patience, and
joyful perseverance. Let us regard every challenge as part of our Dharma
practice rather than as an obstacle to it.
As the Tibetan saying advises:
"Prepare for difficulties from
the very beginning, and place your hopes in the best possible outcome."
If we travel with such an attitude,
our pilgrimage will become far more meaningful and rewarding.
Finally, I sincerely pray that our
entire pilgrimage may proceed smoothly, free from obstacles or hindrances, and
that every participant may safely complete this sacred journey with great joy,
spiritual inspiration, and abundant blessings.
This advice has been written by
Khenpo Karten Rinpoche for the benefit of all pilgrims participating in
this journey.
Sarva Maṅgalam.
May all be auspicious.
Tashi Delek!
