03/01/2019
On Pilgrimage in Mongolia With Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling
Ianzhina Bartanova, director of FPMT center Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, shares about an August 2018 fourteen-day pilgrimage the center organized to holy sites in Mongolia. This is a short excerpt from Ianzhina’s published online story, The Karmic Bond That Connected Us All in Mongolia.
Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling placed an advertisement in the January-June 2018 issue of FPMT’s Mandala magazine inviting readers to join us for an August 2018 pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mongolia. It was the first pilgrimage for Western Buddhists organized by Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling. Three courageous students from Bulgaria, Holland, and the US arrived in Mongolia in mid-August for the eleven-day pilgrimage, which later expanded into fourteen days.
The capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is impressive: tall modern buildings, busy traffic, expensive cars on the roads, fancy restaurants with international cuisine including vegan and vegetarian options, comfortable hotels, and smiling people.
But the real jewels of our pilgrimage were the Mongolian monasteries, some of which were destroyed and then restored. A few survived the Communist purges of the 1930s, and are home to some hidden artifacts which were buried in the ground. Like the canvas for a masterpiece, Mongolia’s natural environment provided a framed backdrop for the holy sites, which appear like beautiful jewelry.
Together with the pilgrims, we visited approximately ten monasteries, took in a few natural sights, and made some visits related to Buddhist museums. When developing the itinerary, we recognized the importance of sharing some cultural aspects and traditions so our guests could have a richer experience of Mongolia. Therefore, we included some secular activities such as a traditional music show and a sightseeing visit to the largest Genghis Khan equestrian statue. …
Read Ianzhina’s full online story, “The Karmic Bond That Connected Us All in Mongolia,” and view more of her photos online:
For more information about Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, visit their website:
http://www.fpmtmongolia.org/shedrub-ling-center
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https://fpmt.org/fpmt-community-news/news-around-the-world/on-pilgrimage-in-mongolia-with-ganden-do-ngag-shedrup-ling/
Caption: Driver Oyunbaatar, Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling center director Ianzhina, Bill, Elena, and Cees on pilgrimage in Mongolia, August 2018. Photo courtesy of Ianzhina Bartanova.
