Chodrak Dawa Pilgrimage
Part 1: Preparing for the Pilgrimage
Greetings! Chodrak here… I realize that quite some time has passed since I have last spoken to you. Things have been quite good with me. Over the last couple of weeks I have been keeping busy with my scholarly activities. I have been working on some new healing practices that I am eager to demonstrate to my fellow doctors. The village too has been buzzing with activity. The expansion of our village is progressing well. The library is producing and publishing many academic works and this has brought much attention to our village from the surrounding area. Many have been enticed into pursuing an informal education through our tutoring program. This, too, has been going well. As a whole, our village is a flourishing institute of knowledge; many good things are happening and we are prospering greatly. As I may have previously mentioned, there was a group of villagers that went on an expedition to explore the caves of the mountain. With much success, they recovered a travelogue describing a sacred pilgrimage site. Some village members have discussed undertaking this task and I am inclined to join them. I have been feeling inspired to step out of my comfort zone. This would be the perfect opportunity to share my medicinal knowledge and practices with different parts of the world. I am also very eager to experience spiritual growth and hope to gain many insights on what lies outside the boarders of our village…
As a doctor, I must embark on this pilgrimage fully equipped for any situation. My services may be called upon to help anyone at anytime. I will be gathering some essential plants and minerals to take with me as a precaution. I must complete certain procedures before my departure. My home needs to be maintained and regularly checked in on. Still uncertain of whom I can trust, I think the best bet would be for me to call upon the services of the nunnery. I must also find someone to replace me in the education program, as it is apparent I will be spending quite some time away from the village. I am uncertain of when my return will be. I have many aspirations for this pilgrimage. When and if I return to the village, I would like to have gathered rare plants, minerals and objects that our medicinal factory would benefit from. Going on a pilgrimage is an endeavor that demands physical, mental and emotional strength. I hope I am ready for this.
I have a general idea with regards to the route we should follow when looking for the pilgrimage site. I came from this exact direction on my journey to the village. Our best bet is to pass through the northern gap of our villages’ mountain. Although it would be the longer route, it is most definitely the safest. I have heard terrifying stories of explorers who took it upon themselves to find alternative and shorter routes to the region we are headed to… Their remains have never been found. Some extremists believe that their souls were carried into nirvana. I, however, am not convinced. Although we are certainly embarking on an arduous mission to discover this sacred site, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. We will undoubtedly encounter others on our journey to the pilgrimage site. This mere exchange will allow cross-cultural barriers to be broken down. We will thus be able to exchange texts, practices and traditions with the people we come across. I am bursting with excitement.
As a side note, I have also heard some reports of people not returning to their native villages after having completed their pilgrimage. Some deliberately choose to remain in the area where they have experienced the most spiritual advancements, which is understandable.
As of now, I am uncertain as to who the author of the travelogue is. It is said by some of the elders in the village that he was among the first bodhisattvas to exist. His travelogue contained many details about varying subjects. For example, aside from an account of the pilgrims’ spiritual journey, the records contain vital insights for us as to how Buddhist societies functioned in the past. If improvements must be made to better ourselves, we will unquestionably adopt and adapt to them. The travel records also contain precise descriptions of Buddhist doctrines, rituals and ancient monastic institutions. The ruins of these institutions may, in fact, still exist. This is another important site we should pay tribute to on our journey. We also discovered important historical resources that can be utilized for scholarly study. We could potentially open a new branch in the library specializing in this field. For the time being, the records are being stored in the library for safekeeping, where they are under constant supervision.
The travelogue will undoubtedly be our best tool in locating the pilgrimage site. I have yet to propose to the village the idea of copying the travelogue into print so as to be able to take a copy along with us during our travels. We must prepare ourselves for the most treacherous conditions… The travelogue described a vast and precarious voyage. I am planning to send letters to the nuns of the village to let them know of my progress. We depart for the pilgrimage tomorrow morning.
Part 2: Accounts from the Pilgrimage
Nuns,
Today marks the fourth day that we have been traveling toward the sacred pilgrimage site. We have managed quite well over the past few days and have maintained course quite well. However, the people I am traveling with seem to have some reservations about the voyage. They did not anticipate that it would be so physically demanding and have therefore decided to turn back during the early stages of our journey. While this is unfortunate, these things happen and the rest of us must move forward. I can sense some hostility from the village members that I am traveling with. I had a feeling that there would be some disagreements amongst the group. The outcome is that the others have branched off into a different direction, while I have chosen to go through the eastern pass. I have followed the drawing of a map that was in the travelogue and believe to be headed in the exact direction of the pilgrimage site.
During a trek through the forest, I encountered some men who spoke a similar tongue. I managed to communicate with them well enough and they took me to their village. They provided me with some nourishment and water. When I told them I was a healer, I managed to collect a rare plant that grows in their local mountain. It is rumored that this plant can be turned into an immortality elixir when combined with the proper ingredients. I will provide further details on this upon experimentation. The people of this village also took me to see a relic of the Buddha. I meditated and performed some rituals with them for its safekeeping.
One thing that has constantly amazed me is the beauty of my surroundings. One morning, as the sun was rising, I came across this river with crystal clear water where golden sands lie at the bottom. I drank from this water and could sense its purifying properties immediately. I looked along the length of the river and in the distance I spotted an elephant that was firmly fixed. As I approached him, he began to circumambulate a nearby banana tree. He then proceeded into the foliage of the forest and I lost sight of him. This experience was much to my pleasure as bananas began to tumble down from the tree. I then realized how hungry I was, this was certainly an instance of perfect timing. By the end of the whole ordeal, it was nighttime and I had no idea where the time had passed.
Thus far into my voyage, I have been blessed with a temperate climate. However, I have spotted thick storm clouds coming from the west. Because of this, my navigational techniques are beginning to falter and I have taken shelter under a rock. Although the storm is picking up strength, I feel warm and protected in my new abode. I will spend the night here and resume course come first light.
I am passing through an area that the travelogue described as populated and lively. All that I see before me are the ruins of what once was one of the most prosperous areas of this region. It should be noted that I was advised not to wear red garments or loud sounding calabashes when passing through here. The travelogue described that there are fierce dragons that attack travelers. Vibrant hues and loud sounds attract these ferocious beasts…
Passing through the dragon’s den was a dangerous task, but I made it through safely and am now stopped in a town called Su-yeh. Three hundred people or so populate the town. They have shared much insight with me. They have reported to me that there is a water source called “Thousand-springs” in the direction that I am headed. It is said that the soil there is well watered and the trees afford a lot of shade. There are a thousand of water and lakes. There are also deer that are ornamented with bells that aren’t afraid of people. I am now regaining my strength and resting before taking off again to Thousand-springs.
This is all I have to report for now. I do hope that this letter finds you in good spirits and that all is well in the village.
