Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
A Pilgrimage Retreat in Borobudur, Indonesia
Don’t miss this unique and rare pilgrimage retreat opportunity to study Buddhadharma at the feet of the Great Stupa in Borobudur. Limited enrollment.
About the Teaching:
A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (Sanskrit. Bodhipathpradipam) was composed by the renowned Indian master Atisha Dipankara Shrijnana. This text briefly explains the importance of the Buddhist path and how one can attain higher births and enlightenment through the cultivation of Bodhichitta. This set of teachings was precursor to the Lamrim (“Stages of the Path”) tradition compiled by the famed Tibetan teacher Tsong-khapa in the 14th Century.
Acharya Atisha is credited with transmitting the lineage on Mind Training (Tib. Lojong) practices which he studied in Java and Sumatra. He remains perhaps the most important connection between the Buddhist traditions that was once prevalent in the islands of Indonesia to India and Tibet. Atisha taught at the Vikramshila monastic university prior to accepting an invitation to teach in Tibet. He made major contributions to Buddhist literature and helped reform Buddhism in Tibet.
About Borobodur:
Covered in thin sheet of mystic mist, Borobodur is perhaps the single most important Buddhist site in South Asia. Today a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a cluster of Buddhist monuments built in the 8th Century. The Great Stupa is designed as a Buddhist Mandala which takes a pilgrim through the 3 realms, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms), and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).
For a detailed information on Borobodur and its history, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur
About the Teacher(s):
The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi Rinpoche is the Founding Director of The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his undergraduate degree (summa cum laude) and was also an Integral Honors Scholar (studying Philosophy and Physics), and has a graduate degree in Comparative Philosophy of Religion from Harvard University. At the age of ten years, he entered a Buddhist monastery in Rajgir near ancient Nalanda University and was subsequently ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is his spiritual mentor.
He has been interviewed by the National Public Radio and articles on him and his work have appeared in the New York Times and the Boston Globe. He also speaks at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and various institutes of learning. Venerable Tenzin lectures internationally and is also President of The Prajnopaya Foundation, a worldwide humanitarian organization.
John N. Miksic [Darmouth (B.A.), Ohio University (M.A.), Cornell University (PhD)] is the Head of Archaeology Unit, Nalanda-Sriwijaya Center, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Associate Professor, Department of Southeast Asian Studies, National University of Singapore.
As a student Prof. Miksic joined archaeological expeditions to northern Canada and Honduras, but over the last 40 years he has been based in Southeast Asia, conducting archaeological and historical investigations in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Burma and Cambodia. He has conducted major excavations at 15 sites in Singapore, bringing to light details of 14th-century life there.
He is a widely-published author with key works including: Archaeological research on the “Forbidden Hill” of Singapore: excavations at Fort Canning (1985); Borobudur: golden tales of the Buddhas (1990); Old Javanese Gold (2010); Earthenware in Southeast Asia (2003); Early Singapore 1300s-1819: Evidence in maps, texts and artifacts (ed. with Cheryl-Ann Low) (2004); and the Historical Dictionary of Ancient Southeast Asia (2007). His interests include early Buddhist artifacts and monuments; ceramics of China and Southeast Asia; gold; urbanization; and maritime trade.
Please Register by August 15, 2012.
Contact:
North America: Linda, retreat@prajnopaya.org (+1 413 24UPAYA)
Indonesia: Priscillia, priscilliasari37@gmail.com (+62-818155168)
Singapore: Wei Ling, weilingchow@hotmail.com (+65-90276907)
Costs are inclusive of:
All transportation beginning and ending at assigned airport, twin room sharing accommodation in hotels or temple run guest houses.
Costs do not include:
Any meals other than those mentioned, travel and health insurances. Fees for special permits if and when required, entrance fees to monasteries, parks, shrines temples, etc., gratuity to local staffs and attendants, and, any other expenses that may be incurred due to delays/cancellations/ involuntary re-routings, etc., as a result of strikes, riots, civil disorders, wars and acts of nature like famine, floods, landslides, earthquakes, etc.
National of several countries can get “Visa on Arrival” for Indonesia. Please check the regulations here: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/consular/voa.htm
Please make all payments to “Prajnopaya Institute of Buddhist Studies”
Mailing Address:
66 Morrison Avenue,
West Somerville, MA 02144
We accept all major credit cards (An additional 3% will be charged due to credit card comission fees)
Insurance:
Pilgrims should purchase “emergency evacuation insurance” before arriving.
Medical:
You also should review your medical and personal insurance to ensure you are covered. You need to review vaccinations with your doctor by early June. Expect they will recommend tetanus, typhoid, malaria, polio, meningitis, hepatitis A, pneumovax, and maybe rabies.