Eastern Mind
25 August 2011, 06:15 PM
Vannakkam: In many of our bhakti orientated lineages, pilgrimage is far more than travel. Just as it is a Moslem's duty to reach Mecca once in a lifetime, it is the Hindu's duty to pilgrimage to some sacred site a minimum of once a year.
We see daily worship or meditation as a recharging of the batteries, a break from the dross world. the spirit of pilgrimage is very similar, only for a longer period of time, not part of the day every day, but a part of the year, every year. It can be somewhere close by or somewhere far away, but the spirit remains the same; drop the worldly stuff like jobs and money and live a spiritual life for a while. Put God and thoughts of God first, 24-7. Pilgrimage is very very different than the western idea of travel for relaxation and sightseeing. It can be hard work. Very hard work. For some it might be very similar to a retreat.
There are many famous pilgrim towns in the Himalayas, India, and elsewhere. One can walk (as to Amarnath or Palani etc.) or fly or drive. There are many set pilgrimages as well like the 12 Jyothirlingams, Arupadaveedu, etc.
Often pilgrimages are accompanied by certain vows like abstinence, or even silence.
I'd like to hear how others incorporate this duty into their lives, both in India and in west.
Pietro, how hard would it be to get to Punta Arenas from where you are? Apparently its possible. http://www.alongdrive.com/videoblog/an-indian-interlude-in-punta-arenas/
That one would sound like 'fun' to me.
Aum Namasivaya
We see daily worship or meditation as a recharging of the batteries, a break from the dross world. the spirit of pilgrimage is very similar, only for a longer period of time, not part of the day every day, but a part of the year, every year. It can be somewhere close by or somewhere far away, but the spirit remains the same; drop the worldly stuff like jobs and money and live a spiritual life for a while. Put God and thoughts of God first, 24-7. Pilgrimage is very very different than the western idea of travel for relaxation and sightseeing. It can be hard work. Very hard work. For some it might be very similar to a retreat.
There are many famous pilgrim towns in the Himalayas, India, and elsewhere. One can walk (as to Amarnath or Palani etc.) or fly or drive. There are many set pilgrimages as well like the 12 Jyothirlingams, Arupadaveedu, etc.
Often pilgrimages are accompanied by certain vows like abstinence, or even silence.
I'd like to hear how others incorporate this duty into their lives, both in India and in west.
Pietro, how hard would it be to get to Punta Arenas from where you are? Apparently its possible. http://www.alongdrive.com/videoblog/an-indian-interlude-in-punta-arenas/
That one would sound like 'fun' to me.
Aum Namasivaya