This region of India is rich in the heritage of Buddhism – with many holy places where the Buddha and his disciples resided, meditated, taught, and acheived enlightenment – thus a key role of Root Institute is to make this heart of the Buddhist world more accessible to practitioners and spiritual seekers alike. The very name of this state – Bihar – is derived from the Sanskrit "vihara," meaning monastery.

Advice on the purpose of pilgrimage, from our late Spiritual Director, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

Normally when people go on pilgrimage, they are just like tourists; maybe they take some pictures, and that's it. They don't use the places to collect merit or to meditate or to get some benefit for their minds. If it's just like sightseeing, then it won't be that much benefit.

The point is to use the pilgrimage to purify our mind and collect as extensive merit as possible. By doing pilgrimage, we receive blessings from the holy places where enlightened beings, great yogis, and bodhisattvas, have practiced.

We offer the following three options

Spiritual programme pilgrimages

As part of our spiritual programme, Root Institute plans pilgrimages in our winter season, where you can enjoy the company and support of warm-hearted, like-minded people. These are listed on the homepage, and here under "Upcoming scheduled pilgrimages" below.

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.

Pilgrimage service

Whether solo or in a group, whenever you want to make your own pilgrimage, let us arrange everything for you. That way, free of practical hassles, you can simply relax and enjoy the time and space to receive blessings and inspiration from holy places.

With our wealth of experience running pilgrimages radiating out from Bodhgaya, Root Institute can do all the ground work, and offer you the following:

• accommodation & healthy vegetarian meals at Root Institute
• take-away breakfast and/or lunch for all-day trips
• transportation arranged for small & large groups to fit your budget
• portable microphone with speaker
• advice on which prayers & practices are most relevant to each of the holy sites, and hard copies as needed
• meditation cushions/tarps for sitting
• use of our video room for group meetings prior to/after your pilgrimage – we have a wide selection of DVDs and can also stream or download teachings, historical documentaries, etc
• use of our large or small gompa, when available, for motivation and dedication prayers and practices
• use of our extensive Dharma library.

Fundraising pilgrimages

For those seeking a more extensive experience, we set off on a spiritual adventure further afield, tracing the steps of the Buddha and visiting the places where he taught, did retreat, and achieved major milestones in his life, cultimating in Bodhgaya where he achieved enlightenment.

These journeys, like 2018's inaugural Pilgrimage Celebrating Root Institute's 30th Anniversary [PDF] and similar pilgrimage in 2020, are led by an experienced meditation leader and integrate practices advised by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of FPMT, and raise money and awareness ​for​ Root Institute for Wisdom Culture.

Upcoming scheduled pilgrimages