Pilgrimage to Bodhgaya with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche 22 Oct

• Choiceless Awareness

  11 Sep 11, 13:45

  Pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar & Lumbini 

  October 22^nd to October 31^st, 2011
  

   Almost every year, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche visits Bodhgaya, India to offer a 5-day free seminar of Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings to approximately 35 American students participating in the Antioch College Study Abroad Program. Once again, for the 27^th time, Rinpoche will travel to Bodhgaya in October to fulfill his commitment to the Antioch students there.

   This year, in addition to his Bodhgaya engagement, Rinpoche plans to include a short pilgrimage to three more venues held sacred by Buddhists — Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini. Rinpoche will thus be paying homage at four of the eight main Buddhist pilgrimage sites. If time permits, while in Bodhgaya Rinpoche may also include a day trip to visit two more of the eight great pilgrimage sites — Rajgir and Nalanda.

   

  Why are these places special? During His lifetime, Lord Buddha took birth in the Garden of Lumbini (in modern-day Nepal), reached complete enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhagaya, set the Dharma Wheel in motion by giving His first sermon in Deer Park, Sarnath (Varanasi), and offered teachings on the Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma at Vulture Peak in Rajgir, India. Many times the Buddha rested in a mango grove located on land that would later become the site of the renowned Buddhist university, Nalanda; therefore it is counted among the great pilgrimage spots. Finally, in Kushinagar, Buddha Shakyamuni took His departure from this world, entering mahaparinirvana at the age of 80.

   

  Traditionally, Buddhists in the East try to visit at least one of these eight great pilgrimage sites during their lifetime. Rinpoche’s decision to visit the afore-mentioned other pilgrimage sites after his Bodhgaya trip are simply his personal plan. However, he has said that others are welcome to follow along with him if they wish. Therefore, a few of his students have volunteered to help make transportation arrangements from Sarnath to Kushinagar and from Kushinagar to Lumbini for Rinpoche and for anyone else accompanying him.

   

  In an effort to arrange comfortable transport overland from place to place on the rugged roads of India, the size of the group will be limited to not more than 100. As for lodging, we will also try our best to research accommodations in Varanasi and Kushinagar and provide further information for those seriously interested in making this pilgrimage.

   

  For more detailed information regarding the itinerary and to register your name to the list of those seriously planning to join this pilgrimage, contact us at: [email protected]

   

  Lastly, please bear in mind that this is NOT A GROUP TOUR, and the final details of the itinerary are still taking shape.  Due to our limited resources, the number of pilgrimage participants will be limited to 100, therefore names will be added to the list on a first come, first served basis.

   

  The deadline for registering for this pilgrimage is September 15, 2011.