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 – The Birth of Buddha 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