Retreats & Vacations

Item Description

Shakyamuni Buddha discovered the truth of overcoming suffering and bringing happiness to the individual, family, and society. Before he died, the Buddha suggested that it would be of great benefit to those who are interested in his teachings to make a pilgrimage to the places associated with his life. Buddhapath is dedicated to bringing these pilgrimages to life.

The successful bidder for this item will receive $1000 off the full value of $5950.

"In the Footsteps of the Buddha", October 29 to November 11, 2022, will visit sites that the historical Buddha lived in and traveled through along the Gangetic plains in Northern India. Besides New Delhi, the pilgrimage visits two states of northern India, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

India's cities stand in contrast to her villages and have their own interesting (if seemingly chaotic) lifestyle. Varanasi and Bodh Gaya are both significant pilgrimage sites, having their own distinct character. In these places, we get a closer view of how modern and traditional India co-exist. Kushinagar, Sravasti, and Rajgir are smaller towns and relatively quiet, giving the pilgrims the opportunity to absorb the nuances of the local culture and society.

In Delhi, we will visit the place where Mahatma Gandhi, the father of India, lived his last days. This is a wonderful place to begin the pilgrimage. Gandhi reminds us of the Buddha in our living memory and personified a unique way of peaceful living and politics. He was a man open to all cultures and religions but with a deep faith in his own.

Our journey will take us across the plains of the river Ganges to Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the Deer Park at Sarnath, where he gave his first teachings. We will visit his favorite meditation places such as Vulture Peak in Rajgir, the Jeta Grove at Sravasti (where he spent 24 rainy season retreats), and Kushinagar, where he passed away. We will also visit Lumbini, where he was born, and the palace at Kapilavastu, where he spent his childhood.

Aside from visiting the places where the Buddha lived, we will visit monasteries, temples, and shrines. The trip includes visits to homes of locals in cities and villages, a gentle walk to the Dungasiri Mountain (Mahakala Cave) where the Buddha practiced his austerities. We will meet interesting people and visit the homes of both the poor and the privileged to get a sense of contemporary India. We will combine this with an explanation of the Buddha's teachings, and the places he lived and visited so that we can examine what we are witnessing and experiencing both from an external and internal perspective. In Varanasi, we will also take a boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise.

At each pilgrimage site along the way, Shantum will tell stories of the Buddha's life and give teachings to help us understand the Buddha as a human being, the drama of his life, and the significance of what he taught. We will schedule time for daily sitting and walking meditation, regular discussions, and contemplative time for ourselves. The creation of a traveling sangha will be an important aspect of this trip, giving the journey a greater cohesiveness and building a sense of support for those seeking to deepen their practice.

The pilgrimage is an unforgettable opportunity to explore areas that few tourists visit and to see and experience aspects of contemporary Indian life that, in many ways, have not changed since the time of the Buddha. We invite you to join other practitioners on a transformative journey that will allow you to touch an ancient and diverse culture and civilization, and experience the life of the Buddha through the places he lived and taught.

The successful bidder will have the opportunity to travel in the company of Shantum Seth, an experienced and renowned guide on the Buddha's path, who has been leading pilgrimages since 1988. A Buddhist scholar and practitioner, he is an ordained Dharma teacher in the Zen tradition of the Vietnamese Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. As pilgrims journey, Shantum shares stories and teachings of the Buddha and the practices of daily meditation and mindfulness. In this way, the Buddha comes alive not only as a historical person but in the here and now, someone who is relevant to people's lives today.

Buddhapath is a government-approved tour operator based in India that has been organizing mindful journeys across India and Nepal since 1988. In addition to Buddhist pilgrimages, it offers meaningful and transformative journeys that are of cultural, spiritual, and educational significance, led by highly qualified leaders and guides.

Item Special Note

The size of the group varies. It could be as small as 8 people and could go as high as 20 or 25 people. If eight people or fewer, the pilgrimage will be led by a person trained by Shantum.

Costs are based on shared twin hotel accommodation and include all taxes. Journey price includes airport transfers and escort services, transportation (including domestic air/train travel) in India, guides, monument entrance fees, food (three meals per day), bottled mineral water, and lodging arrangements.

The price does not cover: International airfare to and from India, visas and other international arrangements, any extra days spent in India prior to or beyond the dates of the journey, excess baggage on the flights, phone calls and faxes during the journey, laundry, medical and other insurance coverage.

All prices $USD

At the conclusion of the auction, the winning bid will be charged to the credit card on file.