Overview: These popular annual pilgrimages to the sacred Buddhist sites of Nepal, Tibet and India are led by experienced Western Dharma teachers following the advice of Ven. Robina Courtin and Lama Zopa Rinpoche concerning the practices to be done on pilgrimage. These pilgrimages include daily Dharma teachings and group meditation sessions. There will also be local English speaking guides accompanying and assisting group members throughout the journey.

The Pilgrimage begins in Kathmandu with a week-long meditation retreat at Kopan Monastery. We visit nearby spiritual icons such as Bodhanath and Swambhunath Stupas. In India we see the places of Buddha's birth (Lumbini), death (Kushingar), enlightenment (Bodhgaya), and first sermon (Sarnath). In Tibet, we travel from Lhasa visiting a host of sacred sites such as Jokang Temple, Tashilunpo Monastery and much more.

 Leader for Chasing Buddha Tibet: Venerable Amy Miller came to Tibetan Buddhism in 1987. She has traveled on retreats in India, Nepal and the United States and acted as Tibet pilgrimage leader for the Institute of Noetic Science in 1987 and 2001. In 1990, Ven. Amy co-founded Tse Chen Ling Buddhist Center in San Francisco, California. She completed a solitary, seven-month retreat at the Vajrapani Institute where she was Director from 1995-2004.

Ven. Amy was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 2000 by Tibetan master, Ven. Choden Rinpoche, and has taught extensively since 1992. In 2005 and part of 2006, she organized and accompanied international teachings for the Tibetan Buddhist master, Ven. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche. Ven. Amy led our successful 2007 Chasing Buddha India pilgrimage.
Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into daily life — helping people connect with meditation and mindfulness for a fresh perspective on stressful living.

 Leader for Chasing Buddha India: Venerable Robina Courtin was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun at Kopan Monastery, Nepal in 1978. She has since worked for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, as editorial director of Wisdom Publications and later as editor of the FPMT magazine, Mandala. She is now director of Liberation Prison Project, which supports the Buddhist practice and studies of thousands of prisoners in the USA and Australia.

Since 1987 Ven. Robina has taught Buddhist courses and retreats at FPMT centers worldwide. An award-winning film by her nephew Amiel Courtin– Wilson, "Chasing Buddha" documents her life and work at Kentucky State Prison. She is one of the subjects of Vicki Mackenzie's "Why Buddhism?", and a film by Christine Lundberg, "On the Road Home." She is a popular and engaging pilgrimage leader.