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Buddhism Pilgrimage. Pilgrimage cont’d. Pilgrimage is first mentioned in the Pali Tripitaka where the Buddha says that one should try to visit at least once in Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kusinara.
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Pilgrimage cont’d • Pilgrimage is first mentioned in the Pali Tripitaka where the Buddha says that one should try to visit at least once in Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kusinara. • He says that if such a journey is undertaken with a 'devout heart' it will be very beneficial to one's spiritual growth.
Pilgrimage cont’d • Obviously pilgrimage, like worshipping Buddha statues or performing pujas, is a behaviour growing out of and able to reinforce positive emotions like faith, determination and humility which in turn strengthens one's practice.
Buddha • The earliest pilgrimages were the places associated with the life and teachings of the Buddha • To honor the great master • To achieve personal advantage such as rebirth in a good location
Lumbini • Birthplace of Siddhartha Guatama "... here at Lumbini the enlightened one was born ..." "After taking seven steps,he speaks with a voice like Brahma’s:‘The destroyer of old age and deathhas come forth, the Greatest of Physicians.’Looking fearlessly in all directions,he pronounces these words rich in meaning:‘I am the first,the best of all beings,this is my last birth."Voice of the Buddha
Bodh Gaya • Place where the Buddha was enlightened, under the bodhi (bo or pipal) tree after practicing several years of meditation "... here at Bodhgaya he attained enlightenment ..." "Here on this seat my body may shrivel up,my skin, my bones, my flesh may dissolve,but my body will not move from this very seatuntil I have attained Enlightenment,so difficult to attain in the course of many kalpas."Voice of the Buddha
Sarnath • Scene of his first teaching – the Deer Park sermon "... here at Sarnath he turned twelve wheels of Dharma ..." "Keep in mind this most beautiful wood,named by the great rishi,where ninety-one thousand kotis of Buddhasformerly turned the Wheel.This place is matchless, perfectly calm,contemplating, always frequented by deer.In this most beautiful of parks,whose name was given by the rishi,I will turn the holy Wheel." Voice of the Buddha
Kusinara • Place of his death • Pilgrims meditating and paying respects at the place of Buddha’s Parinirvana at the Nirvana Temple
Kusinara cont’d • Restored Nirvana Temple and Nirvana Stupa "... and here at Kushinagar he entered parinirvana." "How transient are all component things!Growth is their nature and decay:They are produced, they are dissolved again:And this is best,—when they have sunk to rest."Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Works Cited • Map - http://www.buddhahttp://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/about-pilgrim.htm • Lumbini - http://www.lamayeshe.com/otherteachers/more/pilgrimage/lumbini.shtml • Bodh Gaya - http://www.lamayeshe.com/otherteachers/more/pilgrimage/bodhgaya.shtml
Sarnath -http://www.lamayeshe.com/otherteachers/more/pilgrimage/sarnath.shtml • Kusinara - net.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/mapbud.htm- http://www.lamayeshe.com/otherteachers/more/pilgrimage/kushinagar.shtml