As a Buddhist, we
should perform wholesome actions and think wholesome and beneficial
thoughts. One wholesome thought or action is to plan for and
participate in a pilgrimage. Buddha Shakyamuni said that after he
entered parinirvana, all the places he has visited to give
teachings and performed special activities should be visited by
followers. By visiting these places, Buddhists would gain
inspiration for practice, remember the Buddha’s teachings and
reflect upon their own practice.
In this relation,
we should also visit the 4 main holy places of Buddha Shakyamuni -
Lumbini (where Buddha was born), Sarnath (where Buddha first turned
the Wheel of Dharma), and Kushinagar (where Buddha passed into
Parinirvana). Likewise we should also visit Rajgiri (where Buddha
gave the teachings on the Prajna Paramita) Vaishali and Shravasti
where Buddha spent much of his time during the rains and gave many
important teachings.
For a Vajrayana
practitioner, there are 24 sacred places and many other holy places
mentioned in many teachings of Tantras. These are connected to the
outer (phenomena) and the inner (our own body with channels and
bindu). By visiting these holy places and meditating there, we
purify our defilements and correct our inner body’s channel, Bindu
and energy wind. With that, we feel physically comfortable as well
as have a clearer mind. For that reason, practitioners while in
practicing occasionally should visit holy places to do meditation
and practices.
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