Pilgirmage lesson

Buddhist Pilgrimage Target: Where do Buddhists go on pilgrimage?

Why do Buddhists go on pilgrimage?

Buddhist Teaching • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIqGpXnN2DA

The Enlightenment

Place

What happened here?

Why is it important

Lumbini Grove

The Buddha was born here.

It was the last birth of Buddha

Bodh Gaya

Where Buddha gained enlightenment

He came to wisdom here and broke the cycle of suffering

Sarnath

Where Buddha gave his first discourse (sermon)

Buddha delivered his first speech here.

The word began to spread

Kushinagar

Where Buddha passed from this life

Buddha died from food poisoning. His soul left his last earthly body.

Lumbini Grove/Bodh Gaya/Sarnath/Kushinagar

Lumbini Grove- The Birth of Buddha • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXgEApkgXas

Bodh Gaya – Englightenment http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=Hki9U5-g75g

Sarnath – The First Discourse Buddha tells his followers about the noble truths. Here it is in simplicity; “the middle way”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7scCqQyDNA

Kusingara – The death of Buddha • His Final Words…..

• “Make of yourself a light. Rely upon yourself: do not depend upon anyone else. Make my teachings your light. Rely upon them: do not depend upon any other teaching.

Meditation.

• Why do it?

• Because your body is an illusion. Your attachment to it brings great suffering. When you can release yourself from the bonds of your body, only then can you find true peace.

• People who practice meditation think more clearly, and make better decisions.

• Your teacher will demonstrate to you the folly of believing that your body is important.

• This will bring you great release and joy.

Thinking it through • We often need time to think before we come to our conclusions.

Without thinking our actions through carefully, the results can be disastrous.

Buddhist Meditation • Walking makes a body fit. Meditation enables a Buddhist to make his mind fit.

What does it achieve? • Meditation leads to calm and understanding. • Calmness and understanding leads to freedom from suffering. • Meditation enables people to become aware of the things that they need to do in order to change in their lives.

Meditation Exercise – 20-30 Mins • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP02RvMOSXU