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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.
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.
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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.
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For example, during this 2nd 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
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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!
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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! ?
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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
?
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who offered me a child sunglass as a gift
?
May they always have good eyes and embrace the right
views of the Buddha Dharma!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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],
?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]
."[5]
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.
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| Saying the Name of Amida Buddha and
teaching the beings living in this river and forest about the unconditional salvation offered by Amida Buddha |
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
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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.
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Small wooden cabin close to the
stupa
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| 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
