DOKHAM

Walking Pilgrimage with H.H. Gyalwang Drukpa from February to March 2006

The following is an extract from the interview with H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche by The Dragon magazine (December 2006 Issue), published by Drukpa Publications

There were 108 pilgrims who did this 600km walking pilgrimage which started from Nepal and ended in Varanasi(where Buddha gave his first teaching or first Dharma wheel) on the way we visited Vaishali,(where Buddha gave his third major teachings or the 3rd Dharma wheels) Nalanda, One of the two major Mahayana and Vajrayana universities. Naropa also came from here) Rajgir, (where Buddha gave teachings on Prajnaparamita or non existence of phenomena. The 2nd wheel of Dharma) and Bodhgaya (Where Buddha got enlightened )the following year we continued from Varanasi and then visited Saravasti, (where Buddha stayed for 25 years and the places is known for giving pacifying the mind just by being there) Lumbini, Where Buddha was born and then finally Kushinagar.(Where he went in Nirvana or Dharmakaya). This time the distance was about 650kms and there about 300 hundred of us.

His Holiness, who is an enlightened being and manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, is so kind. Even though he is already realized and completely purified; but because we need to purify negative Karmas or causes so that we don’t have to experience sufferings or the negative effects, yet we are very lazy and in need of tremendous inspiration so he comes in human form and does this kind of physically strenuous practice.

We thought of our pain physical tiredness when we were walking, but then when we saw that Avalokiteshvara in human form is doing so much and going through so much pain and hardships, such as getting blisters, sleeping on the ground, for our sake….we got the much needed inspiration to go on and on.

Despite the physical strains he was going through, everyday during the pilgrimage without fail, His Holiness was giving us teaching on Gampopa's "Jewel Ornaments of Liberation" where as we just had to sit there and listen. Sometimes under the tree, sometimes next to the paddy field, sometimes in the dark, sometimes next to the railway track with noisy trains passing by….but we all felt so blessed to be able to receive teaching from a genuine guru, who of course, is not only the emanation of Avalokiteshvara but a reincarnation of Gampopa himself. It was almost like returning to the Buddha’s time the Golden period of Buddhism.

I personally did not feel that much of difficulty but had such a great time that I can’t say there was anything difficult. But one particular day when we had to walk for a very long time, say 43km to Gaya was a pretty difficult. Where the next day we all were moving slowly like old man and woman! Ha-ha ha…!

His Holiness was the main inspiration for all of us. We would not have done it or aspired to do this kind of pilgrimage if it were not for His Holiness. Inspiration comes from His Holiness, teaching comes from His Holiness and practice comes from His Holiness. So everything still goes back to him. That is why I say guru is very important. Now we can see guru is there to inspire us, to give us blessing, to teach us, and to guide us.

If there is no Guru, there are so many practices; which practice would you do? Everyone is different, some people have more anger, some people have more attachment, some people are more emotional, and some are ignorant, some are more proud, so how do you choose your practice? So your guru who is genuine and experienced, tells you what practice are more suitable for you, which one is for humbling yourself, which one is for equanimity and so on.

I think equanimity is very important. In our life how much tension are we going through? How many mental problems do we have? This is because we don’t have an understanding of equanimity. When a good situation happens we get attached to it and not so good ones we dislike it. For example: in this walking pilgrimage we did not know where we were going to sleep, what kind of food we were going to eat, we were sometimes sleeping on the ground, sometimes in the middle of the field, and sometimes in a place where there were snakes. That was a great experience for me because I am very scared of snakes. So when I go to sleep I had to cover my entire body and my face hahaaha.

Then I thought to myself , "If I die today, what wealth, position, fame, friends, matter to me right now?" death will come one day, everything will be left behind. It is said in Shantideva's "Bodhisattva charya avatara" (a guide to bodhisattva’s way of life) that all happiness and sufferings, all friends and enemies are like a dream but all the karma, or actions of good and bad deeds will remain with you.

I think this kind of pilgrimage is very good for developing equanimity. I hope that we all will be able to take life with equanimity. Today if good a thing happens it’s okay. Tomorrow bad things may happen it is also okay, I try to accept it.