Shikoku

PBS Broadcast: Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler

This second episode in PBS's Sacred Journeys series focuses on the Japanese island of Shikoku. Here, a 700 mile pilgrimage route follows the footsteps of revered Buddhist teacher Kobo-Daishi, who is credited with bringing Buddhism to ordinary people. The route links 88 temples, and on foot takes an average of 45 days to complete. The pilgrimage attracts 200,000 pilgrims every year. While most are Japanese, increasingly pilgrims are coming from around the world.

Pilgrims come for many different reasons, but in all cases it is the journey that draws them. One of the priests at Temple #1 says: "During periods of pain and transition, there is need for clarity. Pilgrimage is comforting, a chance to heal." Jennifer Tsai, and American pilgrim, says "I feel like ancient traditions are about healing and self discovery." "Every traveler reaches the same point, where the inward journey becomes more important than the outward one," says Feiler. 

Ritual plays a key role in these journeys. Pilgrims begin their journey by purchasing special white clothes and conical hats, which mark them as pilgrims.  Throughout the program, we hear the sound of the bells pilgrims ring to announce their arrival at a temple and of voices chanting Buddhist sutras, and we see pilgrims washing hands and lighting candles and incense. Jennifer Tsai and Alexander Fu take part in a fire ceremony, and talk about how difficult it is to describe the experience. The difficulty of the journey and the rituals that both separate them from the ordinary world and connect them to one another are part of what make the experience more than a challenging hike. 

Have you ever gone on a pilgrimage that included a difficult physical journey? What was it like? How was ritual incorporated in your journey? And if you've never been on a physical pilgrimage, in what ways does ritual help you on your spiritual journey? 

Please add your own thoughts, reflections, and questions in the comments below: we look forward to a lively discussion!


A few guidelines for respectful dialogue:

• Speak out of your own experience: in other words, talk about what you believe, not what others believe, and share what *you* think. Don't put words in others' mouths. 
• Try to see from another's point of view. "Try on" new ways of thinking! 
• If something makes you angry, take a few minutes before you respond, until you can write without anger. Write about your own reaction, not someone else's presumed intentions. 
• Above all, honor the dignity of all persons, and treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Speak respectfully towards the views of others, even if they are at odds with your own. 

If you didn't have an opportunity to view the episodes during this episode's premier on Tuesday, Dec. 16, you can find additional broadcasts here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/sacredjourneys/content/schedule/