In the Footsteps of the Buddha - Pilgrimage 2011 - Part I

pil_fr1pil_1_001Immediately after the conclusion of the 2011 Winter Teaching, on November 20 the Drikung Kagyu Pilgrimage Tour 2011, following the footsteps of Buddha Shakyamuni started from Jangchubling Monastery, Dehradun, India.

His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang gave his blessings and advice to the participants at the main temple of Jangchubling Monastery. Thereafter the pilgrimage tour group embarked on its journey at 10:30 am from the main gate of the monastery and reached New Delhi by coach in the evening. 93 participants from all over the world took part in this auspicious event. We had participants from Austria, Bhutan, Columbia, Estonia, Germany, India, Latvia, Malaysia, Nepal, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tibet, and the USA.

pil_1_004On November 21, at 12:25 am the tour group flew from Delhi to Patna and then traveled on by coach to Bodhgaya where lord Buddha attained enlightenment about 2500 years ago.

On Nov 22, the pilgrims headed by Most Ven. Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche, H.E. Thritsab Rinpoche, H.E. Nyidzong Trichen Rinpoche, and Most Ven. Tsungphen Rinpoche, Khenmo Drolma and group leader Ms. Kay Candler with the group from the USA, Ven. Lama Tsering and group leader pil_1_002Ani Susanne with the group from Germany, Ani Khando and group leader Mrs. Jeannette Erickson with the group from Sweden, Ven. Lama Sönam Nyima with the group from Taiwan, Ven. Khenpo Gelek with the group from Beijing, all went to the main temple of the Bodhgaya around 7am. They paid homage to the Buddha inside the main shrine of the Stupa and offered new robes and made offerings by filling the Buddha’s bowl. After that whole group visited the Bodhi Tree near the main stupa under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. They sat down beside the main Stupa, did Guru Yoga Puja and Ghana Chakra puja (Tsok Offering) until 12am.

pil_1_008After Lunch from 3pm to 4:30 pm Khenchen Rinpoche gave a teaching on how Buddha attained enlightenment. A Mandala Offering was made to Khenchen Rinpoche by Khenpo Gelek on behalf of all the participants for kindly accepting to lead the pilgrimage tour and grant teachings. From 5 pm to 6 pm Khenchen Rinpoche gave another short teaching on how to meditate and lead a group meditation session at the conference hall of the Mahayana Hotel. After Dinner the whole group visited the main stupa and offered lamps and made aspiration and dedication prayers around the main Stupa.

pil_1_005On November 23, the group climbed up the Rajgir mount (Vulture’s Peak) and paid homage and made an offering at the place where the Buddha taught the Heart Sutra. Thereafter most Khenchen Rinpoche gave a teaching on the Heart Sutra for more than one hour and amazed the whole group. Around 10:30 am the group visited the site of the famous ancient Nalanda University. There Khenchen Rinpoche gave a short presentation of the story of the great Shantideva, who taught the Bodhicharyavatara at Nalanda. Khenchen Rinpoche gave teachings on the Bodhicharyavatara. He also talked about the origin of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, and about the famous pil_1_007Seventeen Masters of Nalanda and so forth. Subsequently the group visited the famous museum, where the statues of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Nalanda are being displayed. Khenchen Rinpoche stressed the fact that the culture and tradition of Tibetan Buddhism originated from Nalanda, and we can still see the original sculptures and statues of Tibetan Buddhism here.

In the morning of November 24, the group visited the Mahakala cave and Sujata village where Buddha meditated for six years. They performed the Guru Yoga Puja. After lunch the different temples and monasteries, like the Japanese Temple, the Vietnamese Temple, the Nyingma Monastery, the Kagyu Monastery and others were visited. Read more: Part II of the Pilgrimage Tour

Lama Jamdor & Kinley Gyaltsen
Coordinators for Pilgrimage Tour

The Office of H.H. the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang


pil_1_009
 
Joomla 1.5 Templates by JoomlaShine.com