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 Jomson (Holy places of Guru Rinpoche) | Ven Shangpa Rinpoche | 1-10 Oct 2009 |
| Pilgrimage to Yolmo (Tiger Cave Lion Fortress) Holy Meditation Cave of Milarepa | Ven Shangpa Rinpoche | 26-29 Dec 2009 |
Pilgrimage to the Holy Places of Guru Rinpoche in Muktinath and Jomson
Date: 01 - 10 October 2009
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)-9811 3936 (Singapore)
Pilgrimage to the Holy Meditation Cave of Milarepa
Yolmo, Ta Puk Senge Dzong (Tiger Cave Lion Fortress)
Date: 26 to 29 December 2009
Led by Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche
North of Kathmandu is the hidden land of Yolmo in the district of Helumbu. This ancient hidden sanctity is where Yeshe Tsogyal received her highest Dzogchen initiation, and where Milarepa had one of his most important retreats. Many important terma were discovered within this ancient hidden land of Yolmo. It is one of the holy places prophesied in the Mahayana Sutras.
Jetsun Milarepa meditated for sometime at the Tiger Cave of Senge Dzong in Yolmo Snow Range, abiding in Meditation on the void-illuminating Mind upon the instruction of Marpa, his guru. The cave itself was originally said to have been a tiger's den, and the tigress, upon seeing Milarepa, circumambulated him three times and offered to him her cave for the continuation of his meditation. Local mythology recounts that Ama Yangri, dakini goddess of the mountain, approached Milarepa there and offered to him her services and protection.
Milarepa sang fondly of Yolmo: "You must have diligence and faith when you practice. You must practice in solitude, Yolmo Mountain is an excellent place to practice." Milarepa gained inspiration from his surroundings as he told his disciples and followers: "If you meditate in these caves, you will have solitude and favorable conditions. Go there and meditate and you will have the blessings of my lineage." - The Life of Milarepa.
It is said that hearing the life story of Milarepa once is enough to set one on the path to enlightenment. Visit the holy caves where he meditated confers the full power of his blessings and gain inspiration from his life story.
This pilgrimage aims to strengthen our awareness and connection with one of the great lineage master, Milarepa. Ven Shangpa Rinpoche will lead the group in the practice of Milarepa Guru Yoga at the holy site, reaffirming our devotion with the lineage master. If conditions permit, we will also visit Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche's cave within proximity.
| Day | Date | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day One | 26 Dec 2009 | Kathmandu - Yolmo |
| Day Two | 26 Dec 2009 | Meditation and practice at Tiger Cave, Yolmo |
| Day Three | 26 Dec 2009 | Visit Guru Rinpoche's Cave |
| Day Four | 26 Dec 2009 | Journey back to Kathmandu |
Optional related programme prior to pilgrimage:
Teaching Retreat on 'Milarepa Guru Yoga'
(includes Empowerment, Oral Transmission and instructions by Ven Shangpa Rinpoche)
Date: 22 to 25 December 2009
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)-9811 3936 (Singapore)