[Fcm-News] In the Footsteps of the Buddha

[fcm-updates at floridamindfulness.org]

Dear Sangha,

Many months ago, we received this email from Shantum Seth and I forwarded
it to you.    Shantum had extended an invitation for us to go on
pilgrimage as a sangha co-led by him and myself. To visit the sacred
places of India connected to the major experiences of the Buddha’s life,
especially Bodh Gaya where the Buddha attained Full Enlightenment, is a
wondrous and deepening experience. Actually, I’ve been to India on
pilgrimage three times in the past thirty years and consider those times
as being some of the major transformative travels of my life. Last April,
I asked you to read over the enclosed email and access Shantum’s website
to learn more about him and the pilgrimage experience he offers.  Many
people responded that they were interested in participating in such a
pilgrimage, but were waiting to hear about dates and costs.  Members and
non-members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness were invited to
respond.

The dates offered to us were December 8-23, 2008 or January 11-27, 2009. 
Although these dates may seem far away, many people need that much lead
time to plan such a journey. The cost to us for the pilgrimage would be
$4800 double occupancy, with a $1440 extra change if one wanted single
accommodations.  This price does not include the international airfare.
The pilgrimage starts and ends in New Delhi.

Once again, if you have an interest in participating with our community in
such a meaningful journey, please email me at feppst at earthlink.net.


In the Dharma, Fred

------

Dear Community of Mindfulness,

Our pilgrimages 'In the Footsteps of the Buddha' have been led by
Dharmacharya Shantum Seth for the last 18 years. The first pilgrimage that
Shantum Seth organised was for Thich Nhat Hanh and his followers, more
than 18 years ago. Shantum has continued that tradition since, doing up to
three pilgrimages every year.

Shakyamuni Buddha discovered the truth of overcoming suffering and
bringing happiness to the individual, family and society. Before he died,
the Buddha suggested that it would be of great benefit to those who are
interested in his teachings to make a pilgrimage to the places associated
with his life.

We have an opportunity to travel in the company of Shantum Seth, an
experienced and renowned guide on the Buddha's path, who has been leading
pilgrimages since 1988. A Buddhist scholar and practitioner, he is an
ordained Dharma teacher in the Zen tradition of the Vietnamese Master,
Thich Nhat Hanh. As we journey, Shantum shares stories and teachings of
the Buddha and the practices of daily meditation and mindfulness. In this
way the Buddha comes alive not only as a historical person, but in the
here and now, someone who is relevant to our lives today.

Together we visit the actual sites where the historical Buddha was born,
spent his childhood, attained enlightenment, taught, meditated and where
he passed away. We travel along the fertile plains of the Ganges,
beautiful with its mustard and lentil fields, to the lush 'terai' that
leads to the foothills of the Himalayas. We visit the remains of ancient
monasteries and stupas, museums with exquisite art, living temples and
villages that have changed little since the time of the Buddha 2,500 years
ago. We take a boat ride, stop at mango groves, visit Hindu temples,
Muslim mosques, visit schools and meet/mingle with pilgrims from all over
the world.

The pilgrimage has all the ingredients of a truly memorable journey,
widening our perceptions and consciousness. It is an opportunity not only
to deepen our knowledge and practice of the Buddha and his teachings but
also to get an insight into an India that few penetrate. On this journey
we touch a culture and civilization that are both ancient and
contemporary. We take an inner and an outer journey through a fascinating
and mysterious India.

India herself is a great teacher. Shantum, who has been an advisor to the
United Nations Development Programme on a number of social development and
environmental programmes in India, shares the underlying structures and
subtleties of Indian society so that the travellers get a real sense of
our living and ancient cultures. We visit homes of both villagers and city
dwellers, and have an opportunity to share ideas and stories with local
people. This journey is not only intellectually stimulating, exposing the
mind to challenging ideas and diverse lifestyles, but also spiritually
transformative.

Normally there are 10-25 people on each journey, which allows for greater
individual attention in the context of a supportive sangha and also makes
it possible to cater to personal needs and interests.

We are very conscious about the comfort, health and safety concerns of our
travellers. We therefore choose to stay at the best hotels available in
the areas we traverse - hotels that meet the exacting standards of the
Japanese.

Costs are inclusive of Government Service Tax and do not include
international travel to and from India.

Please share this information with the entire sangha. If anyone is
interested in coming on the journey, please fill up the registration form
that is attached and send it back to us. Alternatively, a confirmation by
email could be sent to me and will give guidance on how to proceed
further. We have a web-site www.buddhapath.com that I would encourage the
sangha members to visit.

If the sangha is able to get together a group of at least 10 to 15 people
who would like to travel on the pilgrimage, we would be happy to organize
an exclusive journey tailored to your group's time and budgetary needs,
which could even be co-led by the Community of Mindfulness Teacher, Fred
Eppsteiner, and Shantum Seth.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to be in
touch with me. I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

Apart from me in India, there are three other contact points: two in the
US, (Linda Ballantine Tel: 360-766-7979, 888-279-1484 and Vicki Seglin -
Tel: 847-441-0120), and one in England (Robert Bluck Tel: 01434-344930).
For first-hand feedback, you may also like to contact other people who
have already been on the pilgrimage; we are enclosing a few names for your
reference. However, it would be best to discuss bookings etc. directly
with me by correspondence or e-mail. Our e-mail address is
info at buddhapath.com

Tel: +91-120-2512161/4334285; Tel/Fax: +91-120-2512160.

We would be very happy to travel with your sangha in one of our journeys.


Looking forward to a response,


With regards and good wishes,

Bina Aranha

(*Saal: the tree under which the Buddha passed away  **Dharamshala: the
home of the Dalai Lama where he gives annual teachings; we plan to stay at
the guesthouse run by his brother's wife)



If you wish, you could also speak to some former pilgrims:

Arocles Aguilar (USA)                  Tel: 510 843 2334

Lisa Greenhouse (USA)                  Tel: 410 783 9477

Howard & Vicki Pollard  (USA)          Tel: 207 374 9963

Leonie Luterman (USA)                  Tel: 978-369-9319

Anne Bowdoin (USA)                     Tel: 603-823-5955

Bob & Bernice La Mar  (USA )           Tel: 650 595 0408

Ruby & Mathew Grad  (USA )             Tel: 415 488 4893

Cynthia Jurs  (USA)                    Tel: 505 982 3846

Derek Brocklebank (UK)                 Tel: 20 8542 9415

Millie Foye (UK)                       Tel: 207 842 6197

Rachel and James Shillingford (UK)     Tel:207 404 5213

David Price  (UK)                      Tel: 44 1458 442091

Joan Geller (ITALY)                    Tel: 396 580 3377

Margaret Snow (ITALY)                  Tel: 39-055-685669

Helga and Karl Riedl    (GERMANY)      Tel: 85 58 9202 52

Jean and Babeth Astic (FRANCE)         Tel: 47 569 2323

Inger Winje (NORWAY)                   Tel: 473 344 2187

Dharmacharini Bhadracitta (N. ZEALAND) Tel: 9 849 2902

Antony Mills (AUSTRALIA)               Tel: 61 2 66886523

Giora and Danielle Ayalon (ISRAEL)     Tel:  972 4 9835587

Noel Salmond (CANADA)                  Tel:  613 230 4147