A Journey of Merits: The Spiritual Pilgrimage to Ancient Buddhist Sites

Siripa wiharaya Image

As pilgrims traverse the ancient sites of Buddhism, they immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of each location. Engaging in meditation and prayer at these sacred places allows them to cultivate a deeper understanding of the Buddha’s teachings and fosters a sense of inner peace and reflection.

Through acts of devotion and reverence, individuals demonstrate their respect and gratitude to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha – the three jewels of Buddhism. Lighting incense, offering flowers, and performing rituals symbolize their commitment to the path of enlightenment and the pursuit of virtuous living.

📒 Latest Pilgrimage
🛕 Dambadiva Vandana
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📆 Date: Early February 2024 (January 31st to February 8th)
Time: TBA
🚌 Expected Devotees: ~Group of 50-80 devotees
📌 Locations: Lumbini (Load Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal), Bodh Gaya (where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in India), Sarnath (where Load Buddha delivered his first sermon in India), and Kusinara (where Load Buddha passed away in India)
📅 Number of Days: 7

“Dambadiva Vandana” is a sacred pilgrimage of deep spiritual significance in Buddhist tradition. It refers to the act of paying homage and respect to the Four Holy Places associated with the life of Gautama Buddha: Lumbini (Load Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal), Bodh Gaya (where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in India), Sarnath (where Load Buddha delivered his first sermon in India), and Kusinara (where Load Buddha passed away in India). Pilgrims from around the world embark on this journey to express their devotion and seek enlightenment, connecting with the profound teachings of Buddha along the way.

📝 Registration

Embark on a transformative journey! Register now for our pilgrimage to ancient sites and discover the path to inner peace, gain merits, and embrace a deeper understanding of Buddhism. Don’t miss this opportunity for spiritual growth and connection. Secure your place today!”

🔊 To Receive Updates

Please be aware that before accepting the WhatsApp group requests, we will review the registration document. So, kindly fill out the above registration form as well.

🛕 Upcoming: Pilgrimage to Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela
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📆 Date: December 2023
Time: TBA
🚌 Expected Devotees: ~Group of 50-60 devotees
📌 Locations: Sri Dalada Maligawa, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery- Kundasale, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Nuwaraeliya, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Bandarawela, Kumbalwela
📅 Number of Days: 1-2

🛕 Pilgrimage to Dambadeniya Asapuwa

📆 Date: August 20th (Sunday)
Time: 02:00 PM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~10
📌 Location: Mahamevnawa Monastery – Dambadeniya

Offering Sand to a Great Bodhi Tree Compound at Dambadeniya Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

🛕 Pilgrimage to Monaragala Asapuwa

📆 Date: July 15th (Saturday) and 16th (Sunday), 2023
Time: 09:00 PM July 14th (Friday) – 10:30 PM 16th (Sunday), 2023
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~23
📌 Location: Monaragala Asapuwa, Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Rajagala Buddhist Ruins

Visited Monaragala Asapuwa to offer dana to Pindapathika monks, and explore the sacred wonders of Rajagala and Muhudu Maha Viharaya. Experience ancient serenity and deepen your spiritual connection on this unforgettable journey.

🛕 Pilgrimage to Uyandana Asapuwa

📆 Date: June 25th (Sunday), 2023
Time: 06:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~28
📌 Location: Uyandana Asapuwa

Devotees from Kotte asapuwa went to Uyandana Manamevnawa asapuwa to assist with the construction of a stupa that was recently begun. They went there for the second time. The devotees who arrived to help bring the big stone to the stupa’s base were also given a dansala by the devotees. Many young people from Kotte Asapuwa participated in this noble act.

🛕 Pilgrimage to Uyandana and Pothuhera Asapuwa

📆 Date: June 18th (Sunday), 2023
Time: 05:00 PM – 11:30 PM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~38
📌 Location: Uyandana Asapuwa, Pothuhera Asapuwa

Devotees from Kotte asapuwa went to Uyandana Manamevnawa asapuwa to assist with the construction of a stupa that was recently begun. In addition, they gave Pothuhera Asapuwa, where a new stupa is being built, a concrete mixer, which would significantly speed up the construction process.

🛕 View Vesak Celebrations in Colombo

📆 Date: April 6th, 2023
Time: 06:00 PM – 11:30 PM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~28
📌 Location:

Kotte Mahamevnawa Asapuwa planned a short journey to attend Vesak festivities in Colombo on the day of Vesak. Children missed out on two years of the splendor of the Vesak celebrations due to the pandamis.

🛕 Pilgrimage to Seruwila Mangala Maha Seya and Wilgamwehera Maha Seya

📆 Date: February 18th to 19th, 2023 (2 days)
Time: 04:00 AM (18th) – 4:00 AM (20th)
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~110
📌 Location: Seruwila Mangala Maha Seya and Wilgamwehera Maha Seya

The Seruwawila Mangala Maha Seya and the Wilgamwehera Maha Seya were recently visited by devotees from Kotte Manamevnawa asapuwa. They performed a Kanchuka puja and offered Kiripidu puja to Seruwawila Mangala Maha Seya in the morning.

Additionally, they assisted with the clay brick production and truck loading as the Mihidu Maha Seeya was being constructed in this time period.

The following day, they visited Girihandu Seeya, where devotees cleaned the stupa and the land around it.

Girihandu Seya is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Thiriyai, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The temple is supposed to be the first Buddhist Stupa in Sri Lanka, believed to be constructed by two seafaring merchants Trapusa and Bahalika.

🛕 Pilgrimage to Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Matale

📆 Date: February 11th (Saturday) and 13th, 2023 (Monday)
Time: 01:00 PM – 10:30 PM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~28
📌 Location: Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Matale

Devotees went to worship the Matale Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery. This time, they had the extremely uncommon opportunity to enter the stupa and view it for themselves.

🛕 Visit to Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Polgahawela

📆 Date: February 5, 2023 (Sunday)
Time: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~74
📌 Location: Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Polgahawela, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Uyandana

To assist with the construction of a new datu mandira, we went to the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery in Polgahawela. On that day, we carried materials up to the top, where the new datu mandira will be constructed, including sand, bricks, and metals. For this meritorious act, about 50 devotees from the English Dhamma Center came.

Additionally, those who joined had a unique opportunity to venerate Suprime Buddha’s and Arahanths relics.

🛕 Pilgrimage to Mihidu Seya and Ruwanweli Maha Seya

📆 Date: January 15, 2023 (Sunday)
Time: 04:00 AM – 12:30 AM
🚌 Devotees Participated: ~62
📌 Location: Mihindu Seya of Mihintale Monastery and Ruwanweli Maha Seya

Devotees from Kotte Manamevnawa asapuwa visited the Mihintale Monastery to worship the Mihindu Seya. This time, they had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help with the clay brick production and truck loading when the Mihidu Maha Seeya was being built.

Additionally, they visited Ruwanweli Maha Seya to perform an evening vandhana and offer flowers.

Index

9 Buddha Qualities, abandon suffering, aggregates~khanda, alcohol, anger, animal world, anuttaropurisadammasarati quality, araham quality, Aṅgulimāla Arahant, bad association, bhagava quality, buddhanussati meditation, Buddhist etiquette, chanting, compassion, confidence~saddhā, courage, craving, Culla Kammavibhanga Sutta, death, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, dharma classes near me, Enlightenment, evil deeds, first noble truth, Four Noble Truths, friendship, ghost world, giving~dāna, good actions, gratitude, greed, guided meditation, heaven, ignorance, impermanence~anicca, jataka, jealousy, karma, Katina, Katina Clothing, kids dhamma school, killing, life of Buddha, lokavidu quality, losing loved ones, loving-kindness~mettā, lying, Maha Satipatthana Sutta, Mangala Sutta, marks of a great man, meditation, merit~puññā, Mihintale, mindfulness~sati, Mora Paritta, Mundane Right View, nibbāna, Noble Eightfold Path, noble truth of suffering, non-attachment, Offering Katina Robes, online dhamma school, ordination, origin of suffering, parents, paritta, patience, pilgrimage, practice, precepts, psychic powers, pujas, Pāli, rains retreat, Rainy season, rare human birth, Ratana Sutta, respect, right speech, right view, sacred places, Sakka God, sammasambuddho quality, samsara, Sangha, Second Noble Truth, sexual misconduct, similes, Sri Lanka, stress, Sāriputta Arahant, Taking advice, Third Noble Truth, uposatha, Vas Season, Venerable Maha Moggalana, Vesak, vijjacaranasampanno quality, virtue~sīla, wisdom, Work, worldly conditions, wrong view