12th Pilgrimage to Buddhist Holy Sites 2024-2025

PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA AND NEPAL
December 2024 – January 2025

​Khenpo la’s 12th Group Pilgrimage to India and Nepal commenced on 27 December. Pilgrims were met at the airport in Gaya, India by Khenpo la and taken to the guesthouse in Bodhgaya where we stayed for one week. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and after dinner circumambulated the precious stupa. We feel so fortunate to be in this blessed place, where Lord Buddha lived and was enlightened, and to have Khenpo la as our guide for these three weeks of pilgrimage.

On New Year’s Day, Khenpo la and pilgrims undertook this rare opportunity to offer to the Buddha, on behalf of all sangha, new robe cloth and many other offerings such as flowers, fruit and rice in the Mahabodhi Temple. May these precious blessings extend to us all, for the New Year and always. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year and may your dharma activities increase and may all your wishes be realised for the benefit of all sentient beings. Khenpo la has been leading group meditation practice daily under the Bodhi tree, just beside where Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. 

​Khenpo la led pilgrims to Vultures Peak, the holy site where Buddha taught The Heart Sutra to many followers gathered in the surrounding valley. The group recited The Heart Sutra and Buddha Shakyamuni Mantras and made khata, light and incense offerings. Pilgrims then gathered in one of Buddha’s closest disciples Shariputra’s meditation cave to make offerings and meditate. This was very special as many in the group had recently been studying The Heart Sutra. 

Nalanda University was the next stop, the site of where the great masters studied, taught and lived, such as Masters Nagarjuna, Shantideva, Asanga, Virupa to name but a few of such extraordinary beings. This was so special, again as we all owe so much gratitude to the great masters, we have all benefited from their great knowledge and compassion from their teachings. We could really feel their presence there.

Just outside Bodhgaya is a very significant holy site, the Mahakala cave. Khenpo la arranged for pilgrims to visit the cave. Here it is believed that Lord Buddha Shakyamuni stayed on His travels in the area along with other realised masters. Everyone made offerings and Khenpo la conducted a short Mahakala practice in the cave. It was extremely special, to know Buddha Himself and many other past and current masters have visited this holy place. Travel was by tuk-tuk to the cave through scenic countryside. 

The pilgrims spent three days in Saranath, Varanasi. Here Lord Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time teaching the Four Noble Truths to disciples at Deer Park, Saranath. We also visited the site close by the stupa where Lord Buddha met up with the first five disciples. Khenpo la led us in meditation and circumambulating and offerings each day, as well as visiting other holy sites and temples and the local archaeological museum. We all felt so fortunate to have this opportunity to be in these such holy places.

In Varanasi Khenpo took pilgrims on a boat cruise on the amazing River Ganges, holy mainly to Hindu faith and mentioned in some Buddhist texts. The pilgrims then travelled to Kushinagar, the holy site where Lord Buddha became unwell and passed into Mahaparinirvana and was then cremated. We were so fortunate to visit all three sites and pay homage to Lord Buddha. Khenpo la gave concise teachings at each site, asking pilgrims to reflect on Lord Buddha’s incredible teaching for us all, on the impermanent nature of compounded phenomena. Even Buddha, with this human form, could not live forever. On the way to the holy sites we met an elephant, a very auspicious sign. Khenpo la said, the elephant with the owner holding a hooked staff, was the living example of Mindfulness and Vigilance.

In the holy site of Shravasti Lord Buddha spent around 40 years at the later part of His life, setting up monastic orders and conducting 24 Rain Retreats. He also performed many miracles. Khenpo la led us in meditation and making offerings at these sites. The main temple site is where Buddha and many Arhats and realised beings lived, practised and discussed the dharma. One could really feel the Buddha’s and all their presence.

In Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Khenpo la guided pilgrims around the Holy site and were able to see the exact place of Buddha’s birth. Khenpo la led prayers and meditation. Many times, it is hard to believe the great fortunate circumstances to touch the earth that Buddha walked on. It was a very auspicious time as the visit to Lumbini coincided with the anniversary of Sakya Pandita. Pilgrims stayed at His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche’s monastery guesthouse. Khenpo la and pilgrims were invited to attend special practice and prayers in the Gompa with the ordained sangha to commemorate the anniversary of Sakya Pandita’s passing to Mahaparinirvana. It was a very beautiful evening, which included tea offering to all gathered. On behalf of Drogmi Buddhist Institute members and friends, 1000 light offerings were made. We thanked the Ani Las for sharing this very special occasion with us. 

Khenpo la led the final leg of the pilgrimage in Nepal, providing numerous opportunities to pay homage and make offerings. On the first day in Kathmandu, pilgrims visited the most holy site Swayambhu Stupa, the oldest and most complete stupa in the world, and performed Kora, meditation and made offerings. Pilgrims then walked to the nearby Vajrayogini temple, a site frequented by many great Vajrayogini practitioners past and present, and where Khenpo la said many have gained the Vajrayogini state. We made offerings and were so fortunate to have the opportunity to meditate there.

Khenpo la led pilgrims on a visit to the International Buddhist Academy (IBA) in Boudhanath. The academy had been developed by Khenpo la’s late Guru, the great Khenpo Appey Rinpoche. Pilgrims paid respects at Rinpoche’s memorial stupa and were given a very moving tour of the academy, learning about Khenpo Appey Rinpoche’s extraordinary vision and Dharma activities. We then visited the very holy stupa at Boudha close by and made circumambulations of the stupa.

​The following day pilgrims visited Parphing just outside Kathmandu, to make offerings at the site of Tara in the Rock, Guru Rinpoche cave and the very old Vajrayogini temple. At each site the group spent plenty of time in meditation and receiving teachings from Khenpo la. We were so fortunate. On the way back to town we stopped at the ancient part of Kathmandu, Patan, and made a wonderful visit to the Golden Temple, which has so many incredibly ‘alive’ shrines and statues of many deities.

Next stop was the incredible Mahabouddha Temple, dating back to 1585 and built in the image of the Stupa at Bodh Gaya.

Our final day Khenpo la had organised, with Dr Tony Richardson and Emily as main sponsors along with contributions from others, to offer cloth to the Swayambhu Stupa. This is a very rare opportunity, the dome of the stupa is repainted with lime water, that the group members helped to prepare, and cloth was replaced, along with the prayer flags. An amazing day to complete the pilgrimage. Thank you Tony and Emily, and everyone who sponsored, and Khenpo la and Tsering and Nyima for organising to make it happen.

On the final evening of the pilgrimage, Khenpo la arranged for the group to have a celebratory dinner at a restaurant with a view of Swayambhunath Stupa. Pilgrims shared their reflections about their pilgrimage experience. Everyone found this very inspiring. We all enjoyed dressing up for the occasion in traditional Tibetan and Indian dress. Everyone thanked Khenpo la from the bottom of our hearts for leading us these 3 weeks in the footsteps of Lord Buddha. How can we repay your kindness.