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Event at Gyuto Vajrayana Center

Dear Friends,

BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA & NEPAL
with Ven. Thupten Donyo
October 4 - 20, 2008

A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place as an act of devotion and faith. Many enlightened beings have advised to visit the place where the

Buddha was born, where the Buddha attained Enlightenment, where he preached the first teaching and where he passed away into Maha Parinirvana. By visiting these holy places with the right motivation, one is able to purify one’s thoughts, speech and actions and to correct our mental attitude to help us to become a better person.

Ven. Thupten Donyo, Director of Gyuto Vajrayana Center is leading a pilgrimage that will visit major holy sites of the Buddha, such as Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Rajgir, Nalanda, and so on. We will also visit Dharamsala, the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. If possible, we will request an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. Finally, we will visit the Taj Mahal which is one of the eight wonders of the world. The duration of the pilgrimage will be 16 days.

Description of the Holy Sites:

(1) Lumbini: This is the sacred place where the Buddha was born, located in Nepal. There is an ancient shrine there with an image representing his birth as Prince Siddhartha. At this site Asoka's pillar is found, which is engraved with an inscription commemorating Emperor Asoka’s pilgrimage.

(2) Bodh Gaya: This is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. There is a great gilded statue of the Buddha touching the earth which symbolizes the supreme event. To the west of the temple is the Bodhi tree sandstone seat where the Buddha is said to have sat when he reached his full enlightenment.

(3) Varanasi: This is where the Buddha gave the First Turning the Wheel of Dharma, known as Deer Park. During ancient times, this is where the Buddha gave his first discourse to his five former companions. Emperor Asoka built a Stupa here which stood at a height of about 150 feet and the impressive ruins of which can still be seen today.

(4) Kushi Nagar: This is the place where the Buddha lay down and passed into Maha Parinirvana. A large mound nearby, known as Ramabhar, is the place where a great stupa stood marking the spot where the Buddha was cremated.

(5) Rajgir: Known as Vultures Peak, this is where the Buddha gave teachings on the Heart Sutra. The first Dharma council was also held here just after Buddha passed into Maha Parinirvana.

(6) Nalanda: The monastic Universities at Nalanda became famous in the centuries following the Buddha’s passing away. Nalanda was a flourishing center of learning and for centuries was famous for its learned and versatile teachers.

(7) Dharamsala: Is a hill town known as “Little Lhasa” and is the home of His Holiness the14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. Dharamsala has many Tibetan monasteries, nunneries, including Gyuto Tantric monastery and the Tibetan Children Village.

(8) Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal, built entirely of white marble, is one of the eight wonders of the world and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed.

COST OF THE PILGRIMGE:

Without International Airfare $1,900.00 per person

The price includes:

* Twin Sharing Hotel Accommodation in Deluxe Hotels
* Daily Breakfast in every Hotel
* Meals at Kushi Nagar
* Transportation by A/C Deluxe Coach Bus
* Train II Class A/C Sleeper
* One Domestic Flight

The price does not include: Visa fees, airport taxes, miscellaneous transportation needed other than what is scheduled for the group, spending money, emergency evacuation insurance (required), travel insurance (not required), expenses for meals, medicine, immunizations, personal tips, extra luggage fees, personal offerings at temples and monasteries, extended stay beyond the scheduled trip dates, and changes to or extensions of the air ticket.

Registration: Registration will be taken on a “first come” basis and open to everyone. To register the pilgrimage, please call Ven. Donyo to see if there are still seats available. Once you register, you will need to send a photocopy of your valid passport, two passport photos, and a $500.00 non-refundable deposit payable to: Thupten Donyo. Once we receive your deposit then we will begin the registration process.

Please note that without the deposit the registration will not be confirmed. There will be a limited number of people accepted to join the pilgrimage, so we recommend you book as soon as possible. Full payment must be received by August 1, 2008 to ensure your place on the pilgrimage.

Important Tour Information: During the tour we will be staying in very good hotels. We will make the greatest effort to make you as comfortable as possible. However, traveling in India can be rough. All participants are advised to check with their health insurance carrier as to coverage abroad and for precautionary medical treatment for travel in India. Emergency medical facilities may not be readily available at all times in India.

More information on our website: www.gyutocenter.org If interested, please contact: Ven. Donyo (408) 926-9430 Email: info@gyutocenter.org

Thank You!

Ven. Thupten Donyo

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May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes.
May all sentient beings be free from suffering and its causes.
May all sentient beings never be separated from sorrowless bliss.
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity free of bias, attachment and anger.

Gyuto Vajrayana Center
1439 Old Piedmont Rd.
San Jose, CA 95132
Tel: (408) 926 9430
Fax: (408) 272 1275
Email: gyutovc@aol.com
Website: http://www.gyutocenter.org

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