Pilgrimage 2023

April 1st : Arrival to Kathmandu

Welcome to Kathmandu the capital of Nepal!

From the airport, get a taxi to go to Amitabha Centre:

Kapan VDC, Ward No6
Kathmandu, Nepal
tel: 977-984-121-3733

We suggest you to arrive in the morning.

April 2nd: 1st day retreat in Amitabha monastery

• 07:00 am: Teaching and practice of meditation Samatha – calm abiding meditation
• 08:00 am: Breakfast
• 09:00 am: Teaching and practice of Chenrezig – Buddha of Compassion
• 12:00 pm: Lunch
• 02:00 pm: Chöd practice

April 3rd: 2nd day retreat in Amitabha monastery

• 07:00 am: Meditation Samatha
• 08:00 am: Breakfast
• 09:00 am: Teaching and practice of Tara – The Mother of Liberation who liberates from samsara and all fears
• 12:00 pm: Lunch
• 02:00 pm: Chöd practice

April 4th: Bouddhanath & Swayambhu

The stupa of Bouddhanath is the main of the three stupas of Kathmandu. From very early in the morning until late in the night, you can make kora around this holy stupa, have a rest in a coffee shop or restaurants and do some shopping.

In Swayambhu, you will do kora around the second main stupa of Kathmandu. You will be surrounded by lots of monkeys.

You will feel the strong blessing of those holy places and also the loving-kindness energy of local people.

April 5th: Namo Budha

This is one of the three holy stupas of Kathmandu, where the Lord Buddha, in one of his previous life, saved the life of a tigress. The perfect Buddha, with pure compassion, when he saw a tigress tormented by starvation, offered his body to her without a moment of hesitation.

Namo Budha is one of the main place of pilgrimage. Far from noise and pollution of the city, it is a remote and peaceful place, a nice place for meditation and practices.

April 6th: Mahabuddha temple in Patan

This temple was built in 14th century in commemoration to the original temple in India called Bodhigaya after Lord Buddha. 9,000 images of Buddhas have been carved.

April 7th: Pharping

It’s the place where Guru Rinpoche attained the level of Mahamudra Vidyadhara in the sacred site of Yangleshö cave.

The Asura cave was also blessed by Guru Rinpoche. Down the cave, there is the blessed site of self-arisen Tara. And, nearby, you will visit the Vajrayogini cave.

April 8th: Sankhu

It’s an historical village where you can visit Vajrayogini temple built by the King Pratap Malla in the sixteenth century. The temple is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus.

It is also known as the eighty siddhas place where great sidhas had stayed.

April 9th: Black Mahakala temple

The temple is in Ratna Park. There is a small shrine of Mahakala containing an image of Mahakala.

Mahakala is the wrathful form of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. The Dharma protector Mahakala – the Great Black One – destroy negativity, clear away obstacles, and dispel adverse conditions.

April 10th: Closing ceremony

Morning:

• Auspicious prayers
• Offering ceremony to the Lama: ceromony to express our deep gratitude toward Chödpa Lama Rinpoche for organizing the pilgrimage, guiding us and giving precious teachings to libereate us from the endless sufferings of the samsara.

Afternoon:

You are free to go to do kora, shopping, visit other places or simply have a rest.

April 11th: Departure

This is the farewell moment for those who go back to home.

You have the possibility to stay longer in this holy country but all expenses will be at your charge.