A Buddhist Pilgrimage (video)

A Spiritual Pilgrimage (The Monk Life)

Monks know it's impersonal. Donors give to robe.

(Nick Keomahavong, May 2, 2021) The Buddha's sane austerities or dhutangas include pilgrimage (#13?) or walking.

Since ancient times Buddhist monastics have wandered without being lost, walked as their main form of travel, and to avoid getting attached to any parochial views, home, or donors.

This practice is another form of training for monastics, who at heart are shramanas or "wandering ascetics" in Indian culture. It reminds them to live simply, letting go, detached, mindful of impermanence, and meditating.

This journey for Ven. Nick is symbolic of life in general: We are all literally wandering on in samsara. The road of life is long (and the road of endless future lives to come is much longer). It comes with many difficulties such as aches and pains, illnesses, exhaustion, ups and down, and so on.

On this long journey it's important to practice in a way that results in one's mind becoming still and calm.

Through the turbulence we'll come across many different people on this road who support us. We'll encounter many noble friends (kalyana mittas) who will walk along this path with us.

But one thing that is key -- as in meditation -- is that no matter what comes our way, we just KEEP ON WALKING. We keep our focus and just keep keeping on, putting one foot in front of the other.