Description - Best Foot Forward by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
This concise yet profound guide to Buddhist pilgrimage will be an essential companion of any Mahayana or Tibetan Buddhist pilgrim. Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse's fresh and easy-to-read writing style appeals to anyone generally interested in Buddhist topics; he has a wide audience that extends beyond his personal followers. While a few small presses have published translations of Buddhist pilgrimage guides written by Tibetans, there is currently no major publication written by a contemporary Tibetan master.
Dzongsar Rinpoche begins with teachings on the significance and meaning of holy sites and, in particular, the importance of the four locations of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, first teaching, and death. After explaining how one should practice at each of these sites, he provides detailed instructions on spiritual practices to be carried out while on pilgrimage, such as taking refuge, making confession, and offering mandalas. Throughout he prepares Westerners for the dusty, chaotic Indian environment and even offers some advice about dealing with fake monks and beggars at the holy sites. The book also includes appendices containing prayers and mantras that can be recited.
A pithy guidebook for Buddhist pilgrims to the four holy sites of India.
"The aim of all Buddhist practice is to catch a glimpse of the awakened state. Going on pilgrimage, soaking up the sacred atmosphere of holy places, and mingling with other pilgrims are simply different ways of trying to achieve that glimpse."-from chapter 1, "Holy Buddhist Sites"
Pilgrimage is a powerful method for remembering the Buddha's teachings and putting them into practice. For Buddhists, the most important holy places are the four sites associated with the Buddha's life-
. Lumbini, where Siddhartha was born as an ordinary human being
. Bodhgaya, where Siddhartha became enlightened
. Varanasi (Sarnath), where the Buddha taught the path to enlightenment
. Kushinagar, where the Buddha passed into parinirvana
While it may be an inconvenient, chaotic, and even dangerous journey, traveling to these places can be profoundly affecting and transformative for a practitioner.
In his fourth book, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse skillfully lays out how we can make the most of our experience as pilgrims. He explains what makes a person or place "holy," what pilgrimage is all about, and what we can do when visiting the four holy sites of India and Nepal-or any holy place. This manual shows us how to partake in one of the most potent practices available to remind ourselves of the entirety of the Buddha's teachings.
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