Buddhist Pilgrimage Clothing??

JayhooRay · Jun 4th, 2009, 05:22

Anybody have any experience with what Buddhist pilgrims wear? Do they even care? I have heard white but if anyone knows anymore about it I would love to hear it. I'm especially wondering if I can just buy or have made the clothing once I get there.

I'm thinking particularly vajrayana Buddhists.

thirdreel · Jun 4th, 2009, 07:59

Buddhist pilgrims come from around the world, so you see all kinds of clothing. If you study Vajrayana Buddhism under a particular guru, you might ask your guru what he/she suggests, but other than that, just go for comfortable and modest.

atala · Jun 5th, 2009, 17:55

There is no compulsion about which clothes to wear to be on pilgrimage, or even when staying at a Buddhist monastery as a live-in guest.

White is indeed the color worn by Theravada Lay Buddhist, typically on Uposattha days (half, full, new moon days when visiting a monastery to give dana (gifts) to monks and renewing vows) and often also on pilgrimage in India. I do not recall having seen Tibetan Lay Buddhists wearing white at for instance Bodh Gaya.
If you did need a white dress, you could easily get it made for you with any tailor. Male Westerners often choose to wear white when in India, independent of their religious orientation; with ladies it traditionally indicates widowhood, though. In the heat white has a good feel, and it looks good as long as you have enough changes of clothes with you.

Jun 4th, 2009, 05:22	#1
JayhooRay Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 3	Buddhist Pilgrimage Clothing?? Anybody have any experience with what Buddhist pilgrims wear? Do they even care? I have heard white but if anyone knows anymore about it I would love to hear it. I'm especially wondering if I can just buy or have made the clothing once I get there. I'm thinking particularly vajrayana Buddhists.

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Jun 4th, 2009, 07:59	#2
thirdreel Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Detroit, MI, USA Posts: 283	Buddhist pilgrims come from around the world, so you see all kinds of clothing. If you study Vajrayana Buddhism under a particular guru, you might ask your guru what he/she suggests, but other than that, just go for comfortable and modest.

Jun 5th, 2009, 17:55	#3
atala 8 years in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 978	There is no compulsion about which clothes to wear to be on pilgrimage, or even when staying at a Buddhist monastery as a live-in guest. White is indeed the color worn by Theravada Lay Buddhist, typically on Uposattha days (half, full, new moon days when visiting a monastery to give dana (gifts) to monks and renewing vows) and often also on pilgrimage in India. I do not recall having seen Tibetan Lay Buddhists wearing white at for instance Bodh Gaya. If you did need a white dress, you could easily get it made for you with any tailor. Male Westerners often choose to wear white when in India, independent of their religious orientation; with ladies it traditionally indicates widowhood, though. In the heat white has a good feel, and it looks good as long as you have enough changes of clothes with you.