Shingon Buddhist practice in English (Tokyo)

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Bodhiquest
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Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:39 am

Shingon Buddhist practice in English (Tokyo)

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Ajari Jōmyō Tanaka will be leading Shingon Buddhism study and practice sessions once a month between May and October at Tokyo, in English and Japanese. You can read a biography of the teacher written by his students at Vermont here: http://www.mandalavermont.org/tanaka-biography. For an overview of Shingon, please see http://www.mandalavermont.org/shingon.
  • What it's about:
Learning basic practice methods of the Shingon school and understanding the principles of the Dharma as taught by the Buddha through a study of the Dhammapada, one of the oldest and most foundational texts of all forms of Buddhism.
Participation entails no commitments and anyone with an interest in Buddhism is welcome. An English textbook for the ritual and meditation aspects that will be covered in the practice section has been prepared and will be sold on the spot; please get it after your first session if you plan on attending more.

o A note on Shingon practice:
The Shingon school is a form of Vajrayana or Esoteric Buddhism. Initiation and basic training in the esoteric aspects is maintained within institutional transmissions offered in temples of the Shingon school and requires special commitments such as training at a temple. Please understand that no such training will be provided in these gatherings. What Ajari Tanaka teaches is intended to be for Buddhist study and practice in daily life as well as familiarizing people with basics of further Shingon training. Individuals with a serious interest in formal training should inquire further.
  • Other:
Sessions will be held between 14:00 to 17:00.
An acquaintance of Ajari Tanaka is lending us the place. The building is not in active use but is regularly maintained and kept operational, so a 2000¥ contribution will be much appreciated to help with maintenance costs.
The textbook will cost 3000¥ .
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
  • Schedule and contents (Dhammapada chapters to be studied):
  1. May 15:
    1: Twin Verses 2: Awareness 3: The Mind
  2. June 19:
    4: Flowers 5: Fools 6: The Wise 7: The Arhat
  3. July 24:
    8: Thousands 9: Evil 10: The Rod
  4. August 21:
    11: Old Age 12: Self 13: The World 14: The Buddha 15: Happiness
  5. September 18:
    16: The Dear 17: Anger 18: Rust 19: The Just 20: The Path 21: Miscellaneous
  6. October 16:
    22: Hells 23: The Elephant 24: Craving 25: The Monk 26: The Brahmin
  • Location:
5-chōme-2-1 Ikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0021
Sanpo Bldg. 2F (formerly a church, has big stained-glass windows and crosses on its face)
1 min. walk from Fukutoshin Line Ikebukuro Station, exit C3 Rikkyo University way (立教大学方面).
The building is diagonal to a Family Mart and in front of a coffee shop called Dream Coffee. It's very close to the station.
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