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

pil_frpil_2_001In the morning of November 25 the pilgrimage group started their journey to Varanasi and reached there by evening. Very early in the morning of November 26 the whole group went down to the River Ganges. They took a boat cruise in front of the famous Ghats, floated a lamp offering to the Ganges and released fishes. At daybreak the lovely sunrise came to greet us all with the warm welcoming rays and light. We were all very happy.

pil_2_003After breakfast, with the warm welcome by sunrise we visited Sarnath and went first to the Dhakmek Stupa. It was in the deer park of Sarnath that the Buddha first turned the wheel of Dharma. There the group performed the Guru Yoga Puja and made a Tsok Offering. Teachers and students of the Kagyu Committee from the Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath-Varanasi, also joined with our group for the Guru Yoga Puja and the rest of the others program in Sarnath. After lunch, we visited Moolgandh Kuti Vihara, and then Most Ven. Khenchen Rinpoche gave a teaching on the Four Noble Truth at the spot where Buddha hat taught on the topic more than 2500 years ago. The Chief Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society in Sarnath and the students of Kagyu Committee helped us with the arrangement of seating and all the necessary equipments at the Moolgandh Kuti Vihara. At the end of the Sarnath program, the age old traditional tea of Banaras was served for all the participants by the students of Kagyu Committee, Tibetan University as a greeting and good wishes for our pilgrimage tour.

pil_2_006On November 27 early in the morning, we set forward to Kushinagar, the place where Buddha entered into the Mahaparinirvana or passed away. The following day we went to pay homage to the Buddha statute, postured like a lion when entering into complete nirvana. There Khenchen Rinpoche offered cloth to the Buddha statute, offered lamp and incense and made an aspiration prayer. He also gave teachings for two hours on Bodhichitta and offered Bodhisattva vows. In the evening we visited the place where Buddha’s body was cremated and there we made a Mandala offering, Guru Yoga Puja, Tsok Offering, prayers and all.pil_2_004

On November 29, the pilgrimage group moved on to Lumbini, where the Buddha was born. In the morning of the following day we visited the main site of Buddha’s birth place paid homage and offered scarfs to the Maya Devi statue. Thereafter, at the peaceful natural park outside under a tree, Khenchen Rinpoche gave a teaching on how to tame our mind and bring peace within oneself.  After lunch, we visited the Tara Foundation’s Great Stupa, and in the presence of all the pictures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas inside the stupa a Tsok Offering was made and Guru Yoga Puja was performed. pil_2_005Subsequently the transmission and Long Life Empowerment was kindly bestowed by Most Ven. Khenchen Rinpoche for all the people. Khenchen Rinpoche said we are not here only for the physical pilgrimage, but this is also an inner journey and practice. The Mandala Offering was made by each group leader of the participants to Khenchen Rinpoche for kindly giving us teachings, empowerment and all.

pil_2_007At 7 pm a farewell dinner was served, thank you speeches and scarves were offered by Kinley Gyaltsen as a coordinator to all the participants for their kind understanding, cooperation and patience during the course of the pilgrimage tour. The group from Taiwan sang a beautiful song, and the group from Beijing also sang a song of Achi Chöki Dolma as an honor an appreciation of Khenchen Rinpoche and all, for kindly leading and successfully completing the pilgrimage tour. Everyone was happy, rejoiceing and we all made a dedication prayer for all sentient beings at the end of successfully completing the Drikung Kagyu Pilgrimage Tour 2011, following the footsteps of the Buddha.

After the completion, we informed H. H. the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang about the successful pilgrimage tour. His Holiness was very happy to learn about the kind cooperation, understanding, and patience of the participants throughout the pilgrimage. His Holiness wholeheartedly conveys his thanks and wishes success, peace and happiness for all the participants.

May peace and happiness prevail on earth.

Lama Jamdor & Kinley Gyaltsen
Coordinators for Pilgrimage Tour
The Office of H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang

Read Part I of the Pilgrimage Tour
 
Joomla 1.5 Templates by JoomlaShine.com