The Eight Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage
Jeremy Russell |
|
|
First published in 1981 by Mahayana Publications, Tushita
Mahayana Meditation Centre. This article first appeared in Teachings from
Tushita, Journal of Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre.
Born and educated in England, Jeremy Russell’s interest
in Buddhism was initially sparked during his first visit
to Dharamsala in the early 70. He subsequently studied
at the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives for several
years. He has lived in Dharamsala with his family since
1981, dividing his time between working as an editor for
several offices of the Tibetan government-in-exile and
leading trekking groups into the nearby mountains. He
is editor of Chö-Yang, the Journal of Tibetan Culture.
|
Contents
- Introduction
- Lumbini—birthplace of the
Buddha
- Bodhgaya—site of Buddha's
enlightenment
- Sarnath—first turning of
the Wheel of Dharma
- Rajgir—second turning of
the Wheel of Dharma
- Shravasti—teachings in
the Jetavana Grove
- Sankashya—where Lord
Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven
- Nalanda—site of the great
monastic university
- Kushinagar—where Buddha
entered mahaparinirvana
- Conclusion and Books Consulted
Lord Buddha said:
Monks, after my passing away, if all the sons and daughters
of good family and the faithful, so long as they live, go to
the four holy places, they should go and remember: here at Lumbini
the enlightened one was born; here at Bodhgaya he attained enlightenment;
here at Sarnath he turned twelve wheels of Dharma; and here
at Kushinagar he entered parinirvana.
Monks, after my passing away there will be activities such
as circumambulation of these places and prostration to them.
Thus it should be told, for they who have faith in my deeds
and awareness of their own will travel to higher states.
After my passing away, the new monks who come and ask of the
doctrine should be told of these four places and advised that
a pilgrimage to them will help purify their previously accumulated
negative karmas, even the five heinous actions.
|
