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What happens during the pilgrimage? What are the devotion, purify the mind, accumulate merit, and
rituals or practices associated with pilgrimage in deepen one’s connection with the enlightened beings
your tradition? and teachings of Buddhism.

Aggacitta: No details are given in the Pāli suttas about Dadul: People engage in activities at their own levels
what a pilgrimage entails. In fact, the term cetiyacārika of spiritual understanding and growth. Most common
occurs only once in the Pāli canon as quoted above. people make prostrations, do circumambulations,
Elsewhere the term cetiya refers to the shrines of devas practice generosity, recite prayers, and offer benevolent
or ancestors. services to the needy. They also participate in grand
Tsog-offerings in honor of their masters during
Nonetheless, since the main purpose of a pilgrimage is which they remember the exceptional qualities and
to evoke a spiritual sense of urgency and bolster faith, achievements as well as the kindness of their masters
the pilgrim should engage in activities that promote the and generate aspiration to follow their examples.
same. These include chanting the virtues of the Buddha
and reflecting on them in general, as well as chanting How does pilgrimage help us in our mind training
and reflecting on passages related to each specific and spiritual development?
site. Those with more devotional inclinations could
make offerings such as food, drinks, flowers, incense, Aggacitta: The abovementioned activities could increase
light, robes. Sweeping the surroundings of the shrine, and strengthen the faith of the devotee and hopefully
circumambulating it and making numerous prostrations bring about a sense of spiritual urgency to practice
are also ways of expressing a pilgrim’s devotion. more diligently. Some pilgrims claim that the “good
vibes’’ around these sites are conducive to exceptional
Min Wei: In the Mahāyāna tradition, pilgrimage is often experiences while meditating there.
accompanied by various rituals and practices that hold
significance for the pilgrims. Here are some common Min Wei: Pilgrimage can play a significant role in mind
rituals and practices: training and spiritual development for several reasons.
1. Pilgrims often perform prostrations as a form of Firstly, it offers an opportunity for self-reflection and
reverence and devotion. This involves kneeling, introspection as individuals embark on a journey to
touching the ground with the forehead, and sacred places.
extending oneself fully in a gesture of respect and
humility towards the Buddha, bodhisattvas, and Secondly, pilgrimage often involves physical exertion
sacred sites. and challenges, such as long walks or difficult terrain.
2. Pilgrims engage in chanting and recitation of These physical trials can serve as metaphors for the
sacred texts, mantras, or sūtra associated with the spiritual journey, teaching us resilience, perseverance,
bodhisattvas. and discipline.
3. Circumambulation refers to the act of walking
or rotating around sacred statues, or stupas in a Lastly, pilgrimages often involve engaging with sacred
clockwise direction as a means of paying homage rituals, prayers, and ceremonies. These practices
and generating merit. provide opportunities for individuals to deepen their
4. Pilgrims engage in prayer and meditation at the connection with their faith or spiritual beliefs.
pilgrimage sites, seeking guidance, expressing
gratitude, and reflecting on the teachings of the Overall, pilgrimage combines physical, emotional,
Buddha and bodhisattvas. and spiritual elements, creating a holistic experience
that can contribute to mind training and spiritual
These rituals and practices associated with pilgrimage development by encouraging self-reflection, offering
in the Mahāyāna tradition serve as means to cultivate opportunities for growth, and deepening faith.