The Power of Pilgrimage with Francois Schick

Join us for this 1-hour talk followed by pizza and chat in the student lounge Discover The Power of Pilgrimage with François Schick, an experienced practitioner and pilgrim who has spent decades exploring the transformative potential of walking in sacred places. Drawing on his many pilgrimages throughout Asia, solitary retreats and deep Buddhist practice, François will explore how pilgrimage can become more than a physical journey — offering a powerful opportunity for reflection, practice and inner transformation. François Schick has been a walker since the age of 13. He has undertaken multiple pilgrimages in Asia, often trekking alone to find silence in the elements. His spiritual practice is rooted in the Gelug tradition. With over 15 years of training, he has spent more than a year in solitary retreat—including six months under the guidance of B. Alan Wallace—focusing on Shamatha (Calm Abiding). He currently teaches across Europe and at Kalachakra Center France, and is working on a book on Shamatha. He shares these teachings with a style that aims to be rigorous, yet accessible and lively for the modern practitioner. Francois is about to head off on a 1300km walk across the Australian wilderness, establishing a new Pilgrimage route in the west starting in October 2026. You can find out more here https://stupa.au/thestupawalk/