From Wednesday, 22. November 2023
To Sunday, 26. November 2023

Root Institute offers pilgrimages in and around Bodhgaya throughout the season, where you can enjoy the company and support of warm-hearted, like-minded people. Led by Root Institiute's co-SPC and veteran pilgrimage leader, Annie McGhee, our pilgrimages are designed to facilitate an "inner spiritual journey" – with opportunities to practice, connect, and revive one's inspiration from places in the outer environment blessed over millenia by the realisations of spiritually accomplished beings.

Holy sites to be visited

• Mahabodhi Tree, Temple and Muchalinda Lake: where the Buddha meditated and manifested enlightenment

• Gurupada: where Mahākāśyapa dwells and Arya Asaṅga meditated for 12 years (a very beautiful place)

• Vulture's Peak: where the Buddha taught the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras (Prajñāpāramitā), turning the 2nd wheel of Dharma 

• Nalanda ruins: it is said to be one of the earliest universities in the world, founded in the 5th century, where renowned Buddhist scholars such as Candrakīrti, Shantideva and Atiśa studied

• Venu Vana: the Bamboo Grove gifted by king Bimbisara to the Buddha and where the Buddha used to meditative and interact with his disciples

• Mahakala Cave: it is said the Buddha did ascetic practices here

• Sujata: where the Buddha received food from a local girl reviving his strength  

• Local temples: Thai temple, Tergar monastery, Tara Devi temple, Japanese Zen temple and Burmese vihara.

Making the most of our journey

At each site the group will be given important information about the site and led into different meditations and practices relevant to the place. During the first day of the course there will be a Dharma talk: Being a pilgrim versus being a tourist.
 

Pilgrimage needs faith. More faith, more happiness. Otherwise, we are just like tourists looking at ruins. Pilgrimage is not just going to holy places and taking pictures. We go to holy places for blessing, so it’s good to do practices at the different holy places.

Bodhgaya is not only the place where the Buddha showed the holy deed of achieving enlightenment under the bodhi tree but also where all the great pandits such as Nagarjuna and Asanga practiced and made so many prayers. Also many great enlightened beings and yogis from Tibet, China, Nepal and other countries came here and made many prayers to benefit us sentient beings so there would be unbelievable, unbelievable benefit for us to purify negative karma and accumulate merit as quickly as possible.

I think you are very fortunate to be able to come to Bodhgaya, where a thousand buddhas will descend, place their holy feet, display holy deeds, and achieve enlightenment. Guru Shakyamuni Buddha is the fourth of the thousand buddhas. The rest of the buddhas will descend here and will also display the twelve deeds, and the holy deed, achieving enlightenment.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Schedule

Wed, Nov 22 – Welcome
Main meditation topic: Qualities of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha
1:00pm	Introduction by SPC and Dharma talk about pilgrimage versus being a tourist by pilgrimage leader
2:30pm	Visit to Mahabodhi Stupa
5:00pm	Guru puja and tsog offerings at Root Institute
6:00pm	Dinner
Thurs, Nov 23 – Gurupada
Main meditation topic: Precious Human Rebirth, Love & Rejoicing
4:45am	Pilgrimage to Gurupa (take away breakfast)
12:00pm	Lunch at Gurupada (take away from Root)
1:30pm	Dedication prayers – end of pilgrimage
6:00pm	Dinner
Fri, Nov 24 – Mahakala and Sujata
Main meditation topic: Renunciation, Death & Impermanence
6:30am	Breakfast
7:00am	Pilgrimage to Mahakala
9:00am	Pilgrimage to Sujata
1:00pm	Lunch at Root Institute
3:00pm	Screening of Mystic Tibet
Sat, Nov 25 – Vulture's Peak, Nalanda ruins and Venu Vana
4:45am	Pilgrimage to Vulture's Peak
6:30am	Breakfast at a Thai temple on the way to Rajgir
10:00am	Pilgrimage to Venu Vana
12.00pm	Lunch at Nalanda Cafe
1:00pm	Pilgrimage to Nalanda Ruins
6:00pm	Dinner
Sun, Nov 26 – Visit to Bodhgaya's Buddhists temples of different traditions
8:15am	Pilgrimage to local temples
12:30pm	Lunch at Root Institute
2:00pm	Visit Root Institute's Holy Objects and charitible projects – Maitreya School, Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic and the Stupa Garden