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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 33
Pilgrimage
as a Spiritual
Inspiration
By Shantum Seth 19th Nov 2024
Shantum Seth is a Buddhist practitioner, ordained Benny: You have been leading pilgrimages to
as a teacher (Dharmacharya) by the Vietnamese Buddhist sites across diverse regions of India
Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh in 2001. He has lead and Asia since 1988. For someone interested to
highly acclaimed pilgrimages ‘In the Footsteps embark on their first pilgrimage, what is your
of the Buddha’ and other transformative and advice for them?
educational journeys in India and across Asia since
1988, through Buddhapath (buddhapath.com). Shantum: The Mahaparinirvana sutra records the
Buddha’s suggestion of pilgrimage as a practice. A
He is actively involved in social and educational Buddhist pilgrimage is an inner and outer journey to
programs, including work on bringing the living the sites associated with the historical Buddha. It allows
one to meet the Buddha, get to know oneself better, and
Buddha Dharma back to India. He is setting up hopefully awaken the Buddha within.
a Mindfulness Practice Center in the tradition of
Plum Village in India. This is pioneered by the non- To prepare, contemplate why you want to go on
profit, Ahimsa Trust (ahimsatrust.org) of which he pilgrimage. As you ready yourself, your motivation
is a co-founder. will become deeper and clearer. It is good to prepare
your mind before preparing your luggage. It is helpful
Benny Liow met Shantum in New Delhi in to begin a regular meditation practice for at least
September 2024 during a Buddhist conference and three months before departure. However, even doing
invited him to share his thoughts and advice for supposedly mundane things like choosing which clothes
those planning to go on a pilgrimage to Buddhist to pack, buying your ticket, and speaking with others
holy sites. who have been before may reveal aspects of motivation
you hadn’t realized before.
