Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

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Bodhiquest
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Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

I would like to announce that starting from January 30, Ajari Jōmyō Tanaka will be teaching Shingon Esoteric Buddhism in English at Tokyo, once a month.
You can read a biography of the teacher written by his students at Vermont here: http://www.mandalavermont.org/tanaka-biography. For more information about Shingon, please see http://www.mandalavermont.org/shingon.

The first session will involve the sutras of the Shingon school, Ajikan meditation, and studying the life of Kōbō Daishi Kūkai (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%ABkai). The study topics will change every time, and the contents of practice will change over time as well. An English textbook for the ritual (mudras, mantras etc.) and meditation aspects has been prepared; it will be sold on the spot for 2000¥.

The location is the 8th floor of the Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai Center Building (仏教伝道センタービル), located at Shiba 4-3-14, Minato-ku, Tokyo (東京都港区芝4丁目3-14); a 7-minute walk from Tamachi Station (田町) or a 2-minute walk from Mita Station (三田). Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/VJnXWvAi6Fz.
The session will take place between 2-5PM. Because the rooms in the BDK building are rented, a 2000¥ contribution will be much appreciated to help cover the costs.

As opportunities to study and practice Shingon are still rare for English speakers, please do not hesitate to drop by if you have the occasion.

If you have any questions, please contact me here or send an email to [email protected]
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Bodhiquest
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

The second session will be held on February, Wednesday 27!

Two corrections regarding the original announcement:
  • The session is held on the 7th floor of the BDK building, not the 8th.
  • The contribution asked to cover for the room rental fees was actually ¥1000, not ¥2000. However, the textbook costs ¥3000 instead of ¥1000.
The study topic this time will be Kūkai & the esoteric meditation on Akasagarbha Bodhisattva called Gūmonjihō, the practice of which gave him his first taste of the truth of the Dharma and was immensely important in his life. There is no need to have attended the previous session to join.

There's no need to register anywhere, but if you plan on attending please let me know by sending an email to [email protected]
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

The third session will be held next week, on Wednesday 27.

A final correction first:

The contribution asked to cover for the room rental fees is ¥2000 after all.

The study topic this time will be sokushin jōbutsu, the Vajrayana principle of "attaining enlightenment in this existence" as elaborated by Kūkai.

Come along if you can!
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

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The third session will be held next week, on Wednesday 17 this time. Probably due to the unprecedented 10-day long Golden Week.

The study topic this time will be The Thirteen "Buddhas".

Come along if you can!
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

The fifth session (I realize I forgot to post about the fourth) will be held this week, on Wednesday 26.

The study topic this time will be the *gosōjōjinkan* (五相成身観), a meditation method based on the Vajrasekhara Sutra/Tantra, by which the practitioner aims at having a vicarious experience of Sakyamuni Buddha's experience under the Bodhi tree.

Come along if you can!
crazy-man
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by crazy-man »

Unfortunately, I do not live in Tokyo or Japan and have no opportunity to attend the event. is there any text, video, audio etc. material that is available?
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Bodhiquest
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

The sixth session will be held this week, on Wednesday 31.

The study topic will cover more about the *gosōjōjinkan* (五相成身観) again. Please refer to the previous post.

Come along if you can!
crazy-man wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:51 am Unfortunately, I do not live in Tokyo or Japan and have no opportunity to attend the event. is there any text, video, audio etc. material that is available?
Not for now, but we're working on a website.
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

This month's session will be held next week, on Wednesday 25.

The study topic will be the first on a series on the Udanavarga (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udanavarga), "an early Buddhist collection of topically organized chapters of aphoristic verses or "utterances" attributed to the Buddha and his disciples."

Come along if you can!

:anjali:
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Re: Monthly Shingon Buddhist practice sessions in English (Tokyo)

Post by Bodhiquest »

This month's session will be held next week, on Wednesday 20.

The journey into the Udanavarga continues.

Come along if you can!

:anjali:
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