Thoughts on my 2nd Nembutsu pilgrimage to the Buddhist stupa in Tranisu village (many photos included!)

Click here to read about

my 1st Nembutsu pilgrimage

Nembutsu pilgrimage to the Buddhist stupa in Tranisu (photos, impressions

and doctrinal explanations)

It all started with a powerful thought that suddenly occurred into my mind – make a new pilgrimage NOW!

After my first Nembutsu pilgrimage I already decided to make another one, but I did not plan anything for this summer, so I was taken by surprise by this intense urge to go NOW, that is, as soon as possible. I was travelling by train from Amidaji to Bucharest, watching a movie and relaxing with a cheap coffee when this powerful thought like a command appeared in my mind. In the next half an hour I was already organizing things and in two days I was on the road.

Such a trip on foot is not comfortable, but going to a stupa or Buddha statue should not be the same as visiting a mall-center, so if one is healthy, one should express one’s devotion and gratitude by walking at least a few hours on foot to a sacred place. I also think that as Buddhists living in a non-Buddhist country, and especially if we are ordained, we must get out of our comfort zone and be seen by the people, talk with people, help them create connections with us and the Buddha Dharma, inspiring them by our example, and thus helping them to know about the existence of the temples, stupas and statues that can be found in our countries. These are some of the reasons I started to make such pilgrimages.
I know there are many great pilgrimage sites in India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, etc, and I understand the wish of many new converts to visit them. However, I think that focusing too much on them is not good and useful. There are enough Asiatic Buddhist followers who can take good care of those sacred places, while we should focus our efforts on our own countries where the Buddha Dharma is at the very beginning. We should build our own stupas and Buddha statues[1] and create our own pilgrimage routes that can become the veins of Buddhism here.

People should slowly get accustomed to see Buddhists, both lay and ordained, travelling through their towns and villages, mountains and forests, towards various temples, statues and stupas. The Buddhist pilgrims should have a minimum of Buddhist knowledge that can be shared with those who are curious about the Dharma. They should be examples of dedication that can inspire others to wish to know more about Buddhism and even visit the temples, stupas and statues themselves.

For example, during this 2^nd pilgrimage to the stupa at Tranisu, while I had two hours left until destination I became ?friends with a couple who were doing a tourist route in the area. Seeing me in the robes they got curious, and I told them about the stupa and the blessings received by the visitors irrespective of their religion, so they decided to join me. During those two-three hours we spent together on the road, at the stupa and later at the meal and tea kindly offered by Kalden Marius (the custodian of the stupa), I could share with them many useful Buddhist teachings. I am sure it was a life changing meeting for them and a great way to create a connection with the Buddhas and the Buddha Dharma. Even if they will not practice Buddhism in this life, the seeds have already been planted in their mind-stream and at the right time they will surely grow into big trees of Enlightenment. Of course, such a meeting is not by chance. Many have the past causes of meeting again the Buddha Dharma but in order for a past cause to manifest, the favorable conditions should also exist, and this is exactly what we do by establishing temples, statues, stupas and by being examples of faith ourselves. In this case, the favorable conditions for this couple to hear again and probably practice the Buddha Dharma have been the stupa and meeting with me, a Buddhist pilgrim.

Here is why it is very important for us, Buddhist converts living outside Asia, to have pilgrimage routes in our own countries. In the spreading of the Buddha Dharma we must assume a missionary spirit and a non-sectarian attitude. While focusing on our own school’s set of teachings and practices we should also stay open for collaboration and mutual support with Buddhists of other schools. A simple way to do this is, for example, to visit each other’s centers/temples, stupas and statues. A pilgrimage becomes a great method to dedicate time to our own practice, while also subtly spreading Buddhism or at least make people aware of its existence, help them create connections, etc. Pilgrims may carry flyers with short explanations of basic Buddhist teachings, as well as information on their own center and the centers/stupas/statues/temples they are about to visit.

The genius of Buddhism is that it has many Dharma Gates so that any type of beings, on various levels of spiritual development and karmic affinities, can benefit from it. This is why we should not be jealous and afraid that other centers might have more success than us or that they might take our members. We are NOT the owners of the Buddha Dharma and beings are NOT our property. Our role, as disciples of the Buddha, is to serve beings and each one of them should be helped to find its own place within the Buddha Dharma in this life. This is why Buddhist centers should recommend one another, so that seekers can find the exact practice and school they have karmic affinities with. I always carry this aspiration and prayer in my heart since the previous pilgrimage I did eight months ago,

May Amida Dharma and all Dharma Gates, along with all the genuine lineages of transmission be permanently established in this land so that every being living here can practice according to his personal karmic affinities and may all, without exception, quickly attain perfect Enlightenment!

Last time the trip was very dangerous as I walked 95% of the pilgrimage on the European road E60. However, this time I took a different route where I only walked on the same E60 for only four hours, the rest of time going through wilderness or villages. Sometimes I had to find my way without google maps, by asking locals or finding small routes through the hills, but the entire pilgrimage although difficult and tiresome, was done without major incidents.

Some greeted me by sounding horns when they passed by me in their cars, others stopped and offered to take me to the destination or gifted me with food and drink. The various gestures of kindness humbled me and I prayed for each one of them in particular, wishing them to never lack worldly necessities like food, water, shelter and medicine, that their vital energy be increased, all their obstacles be removed, as well as be given the most important benefit of creating indestructible connections with Amida Buddha, have faith in Him and reach His Pure Land. I am convinced that each one of them made an excellent karmic connection by showing respect to the robes of a wandering Buddhist monk and received great karmic benefits and blessings through their kindness. Every seed that was planted in their mind-stream through this Nembutsu pilgrimage will certainly manifest one day, in this life or the next, into an opening state of mind towards the Buddha Dharma in general, and the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha in particular.

For example, a gipsy ?I met on the road expressed concern for me and offered me food. He has a small horse-drawn carriage and takes care of cows. He is also known to be hard working among people in the area. May his hunger be completely satisfied with the medicine of the Buddha Dharma! ?

This lady ?offered me fresh water which tasted like the nectar of the gods. She has her own water source in her garden. May her thirst be forever satisfied with the water of Dharma!?

While travelling through the village of Doroltu, I met these kids ?

who offered me a child sunglass as a gift ?

May they always have good eyes and embrace the right views of the Buddha Dharma!

This truck driver ?

also offered me mineral water and made a great prolonged sound with his big truck when he passed by me as a sign of respect. May he soon become a splendid Buddha in the Pure Land of Amida!

This nice Lady ?offered me accomodation at her guest house Kalotaszeg Vendeghaz from Izvoru Crisului and offered me food in the evening and morning ?Please always stay at her place if visiting the area! She also helped me during my 1st Nembutsu pilgrimage.

Next day I spent some time with her husband at a cofee before starting my

second day of the pilgrimage ?

May they and their family never be born again in the lower realms and have all their needs satisfied until they are born in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha!

This person helped me with some accomodation problems ?

May he soon dwell on the lotus of Enlightenment!

I even met a Buddhist couple from UK living in Romania whom I invited to visit the stupa and keep in touch with me ?May they stick with the Buddha Dharma and quickly attain Liberation!

And last but not least I enjoyed the company of my Dharma brother, Jiyu Doru from Cluj who kindly guided me to buy provisions for the trip ?I have no aspiration to make for him as he is already assured of birth in the Pure Land through his simple faith in Amida.

The dreams I had were calm and assuring that all will be well. Although I made 42 km in the first day and always carried a knapsack of around 10kg on my back, my legs and body in general behaved well. A big thank you to Amida for inspiring me towards a good diet and for hitting the gym regularly. Also, a big thank you to all Enlightened and worldly Protectors who walk with me every day. Shinran Shonin himself stated that people who say the Nembutsu of faith are protected by all Buddhas as well as by various gods and spirits[2],

„When we say 'Namo Amida Butsu',
?Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta,
Together with Bodhisattvas countless as the Ganges' sands or as particles,
Accompany us just as shadows do things.

Countless Amida Buddhas reside
In the Light of the Buddha of Unhindered Light;
Each one of these transformed Buddhas protects
The person of true and real shinjin (faith).

When we say 'Namo Amida Butsu',
The countless Buddhas throughout the ten quarters,
Surrounding us a hundredfold, a thousandfold,
Rejoice in and protect us."[3]

„Shakyamuni, Amida, and the Buddhas of the ten quarters, all with the same mind, are no more apart from sentient beings of the Nembutsu than shadows from things.”[4]
."[5]

Thus, if Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva protects us, Nembutsu devotees, it means that His many manifestations, including Black Mahakala and White Mahakala, also protect us. Due to my personal experiences, I consider that Black Mahakala as well as White Mahakala, are part of the team of Enlightened Protectors of Amidaji.

According to many texts, sometimes the apparition of various black beings like black dogs, black horses, ravens and crows, etc indicate the protective presence of Black Mahakala. During my previous pilgrimage I had a few signs, like for example, a big black dog sitting calmly on the pilgrimage route and watching as I was passing by him. This time, black has been a colour that accompanied me many times, like for example, the two black people who sold me falafel and baklava in the Cluj city for the first day of the trip and to whom I gave a generous tip, as well as the black skinned gipsies that naturally respected me (not only the one in the photo above!) and even offered me food, etc. I know some of you might not take these things seriously, but I do. I truly believe that nothing is by chance, especially during a Buddhist pilgrimage when one’s mind is more focused, opened and dedicated.

Saying the Name of Amida Buddha and teaching the beings living in this river and forest
about the unconditional salvation offered by Amida Buddha

Everything I do which is useful to others awakening to faith or at least for making a good connection, is due to Amida Buddha’s influence and work on me, and whatever I do wrong comes from my unenlightened personality and limitations. I always say this to my students - every person of simple faith in Amida, whether lay or monk, is a reflection of Amida’s Light and is used by Amida to awake others to faith. This is why it’s extremely important that each one of us be an example of faith and knowing the Buddhist teachings. If you are well prepared and you are established in faith, you can work as an indestructible link in Amida’s chain of love that is spread everywhere.
Do not be sad if the signs of success do not appear quickly, as no Dharma activity is in vain if it is made with good intention and knowledge. When I was a fisherman, before I met Buddhism, I used to bait the place where I intended to fish with

various baits made from polenta, bread, and other things, then I waited with patience for the fishes to come. I think we should do the same with Buddhism – create the best conditions with temples, centers, statues, stupas and pilgrimage sites, books, activities, publicity, dedicated Buddhist members with faith and good knowledge, etc, and sooner or later people will get curious, some will make a few steps, create the first connections while others will fully embrace the Dharma. We should be satisfied even if only one person makes a small connection with the Buddhas and the Dharma, lights one incense or makes one bow, as no gesture is in vain in his or her spiritual journey. The Buddha statues, stupas, Buddhist texts, robes and kesas, etc, have immense power that will place anybody who makes the smallest connection with them on the Path to Buddhahood.

Do not be hungry for immediate results and do not think that everything must happen during your present lifetime, as that it’s an egocentric attitude that might sometimes hurt the cause of Buddhism in your country. Do not hurry things, do not accept members nor elevate them to leadership status without thoroughly checking their understanding, and especially be careful with those who embrace views that are contrary to the Buddha Dharma or who mix religions. Build centers and temples that are open to anybody, no matter their religious views as everybody should be helped to make a connection, but do NOT, under any circumstance, accept members if they are not willing to follow Buddhism exclusively and do not exclusively take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

This is all for now. I will say more on my next pilgrimage. When will the next Nembutsu pilgrimage happen? Whenever I raise enough money for the necessities of such a trip, like food and medicine supplies, accommodation, etc
If you, the reader of these lines, wish to support my Dharma activities and my pilgrimages please consider a DONATION.

Namo Amida Bu

PS: One of the reasons I made this and the previous pilgrimage to the stupa in Tranisu village, which was built with the instructions and approval of the late Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was to bring awareness to the importance of translating into English his book against smoking – The Effects on Smoking and Living a Healthy and Happy Life. I hope that his disciples in FPMT organization will take my honest efforts into consideration and will honour his memory by IMEDIATELLY starting the translation work. People need to know the Buddhist teachings against smoking contained in this book.

Small wooden cabin close to the stupa

Tibetan retreat center Dekyi-ling near the stupa

[1] One of my deepest desires is to have a statue with Amida Buddha in the courtyard of Amidaji temple of at least four meters high which can be included in a pilgrimage route, so if any sponsor happens to read about it and is willing to help, he/she is kindly asked to contact me.

[2] “The gods of the heavens and earth
Are all to be called good,
For together they protect
The person of the Nembutsu”

Are all to be called good,
For together they protect
The person of the Nembutsu”
Are all to be called good,
For together they protect
The person of the Nembutsu”
Shinran Shonin, Hymns of the Pure Land (Jodo Wasan) - Hymns of the Benefits in the Present, The Collected Works of Shinran, Shin Buddhism Translation Series, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, Kyoto, 1997, p.354
[3] Shinran Shonin, Hymns of the Pure Land (Jodo Wasan) - Hymns of the Benefits in the Present, The Collected Works of Shinran, Shin Buddhism Translation Series, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, Kyoto, 1997, p.352-355

[4] Shinran Shonin, Lamp for the Latter-Ages, letter 2, The Collected Works of Shinran, Shin Buddhism Translation Series, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, Kyoto, 1997, p.526

[5] Shinran Shonin, Hymns of the Pure Land (Jodo Wasan) - Hymns of the Benefits in the Present, The Collected Works of Shinran, Shin Buddhism Translation Series, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, Kyoto, 1997, p.353-354