In the Footsteps of the Buddha

Each of us felt a deep resonance with the sacred sites and we were moved to tears.

Sister Deer Park on the 2023 Pilgrimage

We welcome you to this sacred pilgrimage through India (2024 February 15 – 28), an opportunity to “truly feel what the Buddha felt, see what he saw, and experience what he experienced” as a living human being.

Led by Dharmacharya Shantum Seth and six Plum Village monastics, we will embark on this inner and outer journey, beginning each day with meditation, engage in mindful walking, and immerse in the life and teachings of the Buddha.

More information

Monastics of the 2024 Pilgrimage


Sister Tuệ Nghiêm (“Sr. Insight”) ordained as a novice nun in 1993, received full bhikshuni ordination in 1996, and the Lamp Transmission from Thầy to become a Dharma Teacher in 1999.

She regularly leads retreats in Europe, Asia, and North America. While at home in New Hamlet, she finds many ways to be with her younger sisters: hiking, mentoring, teaching the precepts, Buddhist psychology, and Vietnamese/English classes, driving and car maintenance.

Sister Insight firmly believes in taking care of the body to sustain the practice, thus shares her experience in holistic medicine, yoga, Qi Gong, and nutrition with the community.

Read more about Sister Insight here.


Brother Phạm Hạnh or Brother Holy Life is a Dutch born inventor. He was ordained in the “Azalea” family in 2012 in Plum Village France and became a Dharma Teacher in 2022. Br. Pham Hanh brings his full investigative energy to explore the working of the mind, the world, and machines.

From combining trauma awareness with Buddhist practice to transforming household items into coffee roasters or tempeh food production, he is actively finding ways to contribute to the Plum Village community and the world.

Moments from past pilgrimages

I came to understand that during his period of asceticism, the only thing that could have sustained him was compassion – compassion for the suffering of others.

Brother Phap Linh

Transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings on Vulture Peak, 2019 [Photo Credit: Vikash Kumar]

Walking mindfully in the footsteps of the Buddha in Bakrour village where Sujata offered him kheer [rice pudding] (2023 Pilgrimage).
Sun setting behind Shariputra’s stupa at the remains of the ancient university at Nalanda. (2023 Pilgrimage).
Monastics with school children under a Neem tree, like the Buddha would have sat under in Sarnath (2023 Pilgrimage).
Sister Kindness touching the foot of Bodhisattva Tara at the Maha Bodhi temple, Bodh Gaya (2023 Pilgrimage).
Wake Up Retreat for young people under a Banyan tree planted by Thay 15 years ago at Jamun Village (Plum Village-India), Dehradun (2023 Pilgrimage).
Plum Village pilgrims crossing the Niranjana River (2019 Pilgrimage) [photo credit: Vikash Kumar]
Dhamekh Stupar, Sarnath – said to be where the Buddha gave his first teaching after attaining enlightenment (2019 Pilgrimage) [photo credit: Carlos J. Vázquez-Berríos]

/ Register

Hide Transcript

What is Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh January 15, 2020

00:00 / 00:00
Show Hide Transcript Close