A pilgrimage is usually a journey to a sacred place or shrine (possibly with sacred relics) undertaken by individuals for a variety of religious and spiritual motives. The significance for the individual may lie in the journey itself and the effect of its experiences on his own spiritual development, or possibly in the special insight he believes he can receive through visiting the sacred place. Visiting the tomb of a saint provides a physical link with those now with God. Following prescribed rituals or penances purges away past mistakes and sins. Although current pilgrimage may not result in the miraculous casting aside of sickness common in the past as the psychodrama of the saint's life was re-enacted, pilgrims often find peace and acceptance. Non-believers may also have special places which have become "sacred" to them - perhaps linked with childhood memories - which provide renewal when visited. Such "secular" pilgrimages may also be to places of historical, cultural or political significance. Returning to one's roots may enhance the sense of continuity with the past, reinforcing cultural identity, helping to make sense of the world.
A particular pilgrimage is the [angya]
made by a Zen monk who, having completed a preliminary stage of training, makes his way to a Zen monastery where he wishes to be trained under a Zen master. Although a ritual, the monk may well face physical as well as spiritual hazards if the monastery is in a remote place. He has then to display his determination for spiritual training through further austerities before acceptance.
The concept of pilgrimage may be extended to cover a journey not in space but in time, when important moments of revelation or vision associated with a particular place are called to mind in order to seek purification and renewal. Disciplines aimed at enlightenment and the experience of sacred presence in the depth of one's being are often referred to as "the Way", a reference to the discipline of pilgrimage.
