Fayan's pilgrimage and the cultivation of an open mind Barry Magid June 4th 2016

Pilgrimage is intersting. It's at once an open ended exploration, and at the other taken up with the goal of pursuing or attaining something. In the case of Fayan, he attains enlightenment, at a monastery he found himself at because of a snow storm, it wasn't even on his pilgrimage route. When asked why he's on pilgrimage, he responds, "I don't know." The master approves of this. Why? Not knowing itself is the state that pilgrimage cultivates. Not just open to new experience, but simply open. It's not that by being open you're going to get new exciting and deep experiences, but being open is the mind you're after. If you realize that, your pilgrimage is complete.

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