Pilgrimages to Buddhist Holy Places
Pilgrimages to holy places where great masters have meditated confer great blessings. Such trips strengthen our awareness and connection with these sacred places and the great lineage masters.
Pilgrimage provides an opportunity for one to reflect on the events and stories of the life of the Buddha and the great lineage master. They help to reaffirm and strengthen one's devotion. Leaving behind our usual comforts and luxuries during a pilgrimage is also a form of spiritual practice. Many gain great inspirations and experience great purification and transformation in their lives as well as some deep awakening of spiritual insights.
The Kagyu Institute of Buddhist Studies is now organising a number of group Pilgrimages to sacred Buddhist sites which will be led by Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche and the Sangha.
| Program Name | Led By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrimage to Muktinath and Jomsom | Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche | To be confirmed |
| Pilgrimage to Bodhgaya (Kagyu Monlam) | Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche | 14 Dec 2011 - 20 Dec 2011 |
Pilgrimage to the Holy Places of Guru Rinpoche in Muktinath and Jomsom
Date: To be confirmed
Led by Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche
Muktinath located at 3,710 metres at the foot of the Himalayas in the district of Mustang Nepal, is a sacred place for both Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists. To the Tibetan Buddhists, it is known as Chumig Gyatsa (meaning Hundred Spring Water).
Just like Mount Kailash, this place is also believed to be the palace of Chakrasamvara and his consort, Vajra Yogini. It is said that whoever meditates and recites mantras with devotion or make any positive connection in this sacred place will purify negative karma and obscurations, gain happiness and success during this lifetime, and ultimately attain enlightenment in a later life.
Many sacred objects can still be found here including a self arisen garuda and scorpion, foot prints of Guru Rinpoche, a holy statue of one the 35 Buddhas, 'Lord of Naga King' (believed to have flown here on its own).
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) and the 84 Mahasiddhas blessed this place during their visit in the past. Guru Rinpoche meditated at this holy place while on his way to Tibet under the invitation of King Trisong Deutsen. He blessed and left his footprints at this place.
The 84 Mahasiddhas also visited this place while on their way from Mount Kailash, each carrying the holy water of Manasarover. They poured the holy water into the ground which turned into spring water. They then poked their walking sticks into the ground and from each stick a tree began to grow. The blessed spring water, originating from Lake Manasarover, tasting both sweet and cooling, is able to relieve one from all suffering, both physical and mental. The 1st Shangpa Rinpoche built 108 pipes and repaired the sprouts for the 108 springs during his time.
Under the invitation of the Mustang King Jigme Palbar Bista, the current Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche made his first trip back to Muthinath in March 1994. At that occasion a piece of land near the pilgrimage site of Muktinath was donated to Rinpoche, where Tharpa Choeling Nunnery now stands.
This pilgrimage will be led by Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche and his lamas. In addition to visiting the above holy places in Muktinath, we will be staying and doing a puja at the Tharpa Choeling Nunnery on its anniversary day.
On the way back from Muktinath, we will visit Kutsab Ternga Monastery in Jomson which the 1st Shangpa Rinpoche rebuilt when he visited there. This was a very old temple that has the five treasures which represent Guru Rinpoche.
-->Registration and Enquiries
For registration or any further information about the trip, please email: info@kirtipur.org or admin.kibs@gmail.com
Tel: (977) 1-433-1679 (Nepal) / (65) 98150386 (Singapore)