Design For/From Pray-The Building Process of Virtual Pilgrimage Site

This study explores the process of constructing a virtual pilgrimage site, aimed at providing an immersive pilgrimage experience for believers who cannot personally visit sacred sites. Virtual pilgrimage not only offers believers the opportunity to participate in religious rituals but also provides young people from different religious or cultural backgrounds with a way to understand and appreciate religious culture. By using the Minecraft platform and Virtual Reality (VR) devices, this study has constructed a virtual environment of the Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal, offering a space for pilgrims to perform rituals. The study employs “Kansei Design” theory to explore the correspondence between human feelings and specific objects. Under the collective prayers of a group of people, the researcher conducted a literature review and on-site observations. The study has designed sensory experiences for the virtual space and provided a space for ritual practice for pray. The preliminary results from Tibetan Buddhist practitioners’ experiences indicate that the design can serve as a support for daily practice for believers, helping people understand the meanings conveyed by Buddhism. Additionally, the practitioners believe that the Minecraft interface is user-friendly for the younger generation, which is beneficial for the dissemination of Dharma. Future research will continue to explore the experiences of Buddhists, using observation, interviews, and questionnaires to validate the possibility of collective virtual pilgrimage.