In the Footsteps of Buddha

2010 Pilgrimage with Yogi Acharya Lama Gursam — 14 nights / 15 days

Delhi • Dehra Dun • Lumbini • Kushinagar • Varanasi • Bodhgaya • Vultures Peak • Taj Mahal

A journey through South and Northeastern India that follows the footsteps of Buddha! You will enjoy daily meditations and profound teachings with Yogi Lama Gursam, who will accompany you through every aspect of the trip. Highlights include Dehra Dun, where you will visit Jangchubling Monastery and meet Buddhist Masters such as H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche; Lumbini, where Siddhartha Gautama, the Shakya Prince and the ultimate Buddha was born in 623 BC; Kushinagar, the place chosen by Buddha for his Mahaparinirvana, or final exit from this earth; Varanasi, where you will witness life and receive teaching on the banks of the Holy Ganges river; Bodhgaya, the place where in the 6th century BC, a young ascetic, Siddhartha, attained enlightenment to become the Buddha, and founded Buddhism; Vultures Peak, where Buddha delivered the Heart Sutra, and our last stop is Agra, to see the wonderous Taj Mahal.

Day 1 — Delhi

You will be met on arrival by Lama Gursam and his experienced and ever helpful tour guide assistant Tenzin and Venerable Lama Jamdor and taken to your chosen hotel in Delhi where you will spend the rest of your day and one night. The country's energetic capital offers a panorama of fascinating images as you begin to settle in. Tenzin and Lama Jamdor who have been guiding pilgrimages in India for over 15 years will welcome you to Delhi.

Day 2 to 4 — Dehra Dun

Jangchubling Monastery is the central institute of the seat in exile of the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. The Institute was founded in 1985 by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, outside Dehra Dun, in the northeast of India. Here you will meet masters and yogis of this lineage and receive teachings From Lama Gursam on developing a good heart and the 37 Bodhisattva Practices. You will also visit the renowned Tushita Stupa.

Day 5 and 6 — Lumbini (Drive by coach and overnight AC sleeper train)

Here you will visit and tour the birth place of the Buddha and also receive the foundational teachings on the wheel of interdependent origination and the practice of calm abiding meditation with Yogi Lama Gursam.

Day 7 — Kushinagar (Drive by coach)

This is the place where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana and was cremated. It is an international Buddhist pilgrimage center for the followers of the Buddhism, many who wish to visit this place at least once in their lifetime. Meditation and teachings on living free and dying free with Lama Gursam will prepare you to experience Varanasi. One night spent here.

Day 8 to 10 — Varanasi (Drive by coach)

In this heavenly and spiritual place called Varanasi the life and activities in the city revolve around the holy river. Life on the banks of the Ganga begins before dawn when thousands of pilgrims — men, women and children, come down to the river to wait for the rising sun. Here you will take a boat cruise down the river. This is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Here in the ghats you also will meditate and receive teachings with Lama Gursam on the great commentary on Mahamudra known as the Ganga Ma in the same place where Tilopa bestowed this deepest of teachings on to his disciple Naropa.

Day 11 to 13 — Bodhgaya (Drive by coach)

Two full days and three nights with time on your own, silent calm abiding meditation and Ganachakra feast offering with Lama Gursam at the Mahabodhi Temple complex where at the western side stands the large and historic Bodhi Tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha, then known as Gautama, attained enlightenment some 2540 years ago. You will also visit the historic Vultures Peak, Rajgrir and Nalanda and receive transmission of the Heart Sutra.

Day 14 — Agra (Sleeper train to Delhi and drive by coach to Agra)

Here we will visit and tour the Taj Mahal, one of the Wonders of the World, created by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. His grand-daughter Mumtaz married Shah Jehan and her tomb is, of course, the Taj Mahal. Overnight in Agra.

Day 15 — Return to Delhi

Cost of Pilgrimage in US dollars will vary based on the number of people in actual attendance.

• 10 to 15 people: $1130
• 15 to 20: $910
• 20 to 25: $805
• 25 to 30: Only $685

Inclusions:

• Comfortable and very clean, air conditioned accommodations on twin bed one room sharing basis at luxury hotels. The option of a single room will be $250 extra.
• All arrival-departure transfers and land transportation using a 1^st Class bus or Aircon sleeper train, exactly as per the itinerary. If you are unable to travel together as a group you must pay own transport.
• Sightseeing and assistance provided by two English speaking guides and not including entrance fee to monuments ($17 for Taj Mahal) exactly as mentioned above in the Itinerary.
• All meditation and teaching sessions with Yogi Lama Gursam and the Ganges boat cruise.

You will need to provide:

• Your roundtrip airfare to and from Delhi, India.
• Payment for train ticket from Delhi to Gaya in overnight sleeper ($70).
• Your tourist visa application fee to your nearest Indian Consulate by priority mail.
• The meals of your choice at the chosen hotel.
• Travel insurance.
• Monument fees and tips for porters and helpers.
• Optional heart offerings of no suggested price to Lamas and teachers.