* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Buddhist Pilgrimage - Walkden High School
Nirvana (Buddhism) wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and violence wikipedia , lookup
Mogao Caves wikipedia , lookup
Noble Eightfold Path wikipedia , lookup
Longmen Grottoes wikipedia , lookup
Buddhas of Bamiyan wikipedia , lookup
Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent wikipedia , lookup
Silk Road transmission of Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Early Buddhist schools wikipedia , lookup
Persecution of Buddhists wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist art wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist cosmology wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist texts wikipedia , lookup
Faith in Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Four Noble Truths wikipedia , lookup
History of Buddhism in India wikipedia , lookup
History of Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and sexual orientation wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and psychology wikipedia , lookup
Triratna Buddhist Community wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist cosmology of the Theravada school wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and Western philosophy wikipedia , lookup
Buddha-nature wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism in Myanmar wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist meditation wikipedia , lookup
Dhyāna in Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist ethics wikipedia , lookup
Relics associated with Buddha wikipedia , lookup
Wat Phra Kaew wikipedia , lookup
Pre-sectarian Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist philosophy wikipedia , lookup
Greco-Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Sanghyang Adi Buddha wikipedia , lookup
Women in Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist Pilgrimage The practice of making pilgrimage in Buddhism is an ancient one but, due to the decline of the religion in India between the 7th and 12th centuries, the major sites of pilgrimage became derelict. The practice revived considerably however in the last century after the restoration of these. Nowadays, pilgrimages to sites associated with Buddha’s life as well as local holy places associated with the Buddha and other holy beings are significant features of Buddhist practice for both the lay and monastic sangha. The 4 Main Sites of Buddhist Pilgrimage Lumbini-Buddha’s Birth Place Nowadays, Lumbini lies in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal but at the time of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama’s birth, it was part of India. The site of his birth is marked by a pillar originally erected in the 3rd century BCE by the Emperor Asoka, probably the most famous of all Buddhist monarchs. An inscription on the pillar declares, ‘Here the Buddha was born’. Bodh Gaya-Enlightenment Under the Bodhi Tree Since it is the place where Siddhartha Gautama manifested enlightenment, Bodh Gaya is the most important site of Buddhist pilgrimage. One of the dominant features of the site is a large fig tree known as a ‘bodhi’ or enlightenment tree. This tree is a direct descendant of the very tree under which the Buddha sat at the time of his enlightenment. Next to the tree lies a circular stone upon which is an imprint of Buddha’s foot. Directly adjoining the small garden in which the tree lies is the Mahabodhi or ‘Great enlightenment’ temple. The foundations of this temple date back to the 2nd or 3rd century CE, although there is some evidence of even earlier construction. The foundations themselves have been added to repeatedly over the centuries, so that now the temple has become a huge building, with a 59 metre high tower and housing a large image of the Buddha. The Deer Park at Sarnath-The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma After Bodh Gaya, probably the most important place of Buddhist pilgrimage is the Deer Park at Sarnath. Once Buddha had achieved enlightenment, he travelled to the Deer Park where the five ascetics he had formerly practiced meditation with were dwelling. Recognizing that he had achieved his goal, the ascetics requested that Siddhartha Gautama teach them. After some initial hesitation, Buddha taught them the Four Noble Truths and explained that the Noble Eightfold Path led to the end of suffering. The teachings that were given by the Buddha on this occasion came to be known as the Dhamma cakka pavattana or the ‘First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma’. Although archaeological evidence indicates that a number of monuments and monasteries were built at Sarnath over the centuries, most of these have subsequently been destroyed. Nowadays, the main focus for pilgrims is a statue enshrined in one of the temples there. Kushinara-Maha Pari Nirvana: The Great Final Liberation When the Buddha was 80 years old, he was taken ill. Despite this, he continued to travel on foot around India, as had been his custom since achieving enlightenment. However, when he reached Kushinara (sometimes known as Kushinagar), he decided he should go no further. As he lay down between two trees with his head pointing north, it became clear to those around him that this would be his final resting place. Asked what should be done with his body after his death, the Buddha replied that it should be wrapped in a shroud, placed in a coffin and cremated, and that the remains should then be placed in a stupa. Stupas are burial mounds containing the remains of the Buddha or other holy beings such as arhats and bodhisattvas; they are symbols of the Buddha’s enlightened mind. The Buddha then said: ‘Whoever shall place there garlands or perfumes, or whitewash, or make salutation there, or become in its presence calm in heart, that shall long be to them for profit and joy’. The practice of circumambulation or ‘walking around’ stupas with a mind of devotion is also particularly popular. Finally, having asked the monks around him if they had any final questions before he died, the Buddha declared: ‘All conditioned things are subject to decay. Work out your salvation with diligence’ and with that, in the state of meditation, he passed from this life. After the body had been cremated, the remains or ‘relics’ were divided and placed in eight stupas. The ashes of the funeral pyre were placed in a ninth and the bowl used to collect the relics in a tenth. The relics were later subdivided and distributed more widely throughout the Buddhist world. Why Pilgrimage? It is said that simply being near relics brings great blessing. Moreover, the Buddha himself recommended the practice of pilgrimage, declaring that anyone who dies with a serene heart while making pilgrimage will gain a good rebirth. Visiting places associated with important events at the time of the Buddha brings them to life and strengthens followers’ determination to follow his example. This in turn helps Buddhists accumulate merit and create good karma.