Travel to Magome-juku

My Visit To Magome-juku Village

Today, my in laws and I had a wonderful trip to Magome-juku village which is located in Ena city area. The weather was perfect for this trip. I took many picture on the way to and in Magome-juku. We wanted to climb the hill to have a closer view of Mount Ena. Before we climb the hill, my mother-in-law bought some local snacks (mochi). I thought it was to boost up our energy so that we could easily climb the steep hill. Indeed we climbed the hill quite easily. After reaching the top of the hill we sat there for a while to view the Ena mountain which appeared close and huge. 

On the way down hill we stop at a local soba restaurant for lunch. The soba soup was delicious and filling. After finishing the meal I felt relaxed. Then we slowly walked down the hill till we reached the parking place for our car. Soon after we got in the car,  I easily fell in sleep. Later when I woke up I noticed that we have almost approached our hometown. After arriving at home, I started to upload some of the pictures which are now posted here to share with my blog readers. I hope you'll enjoy viewing them. Perhaps, my blog readers have any feedback to my travel photos and story, you are welcome to post them at the bottom of this page, in the comment box . Your feedback will inspire me to write stories and post photos again.  Thank you. 

メディテーションクラスの皆様へ 疑問、質問がある方はこちらのコメント欄へご自由に投稿ください。

Track Your Meditation - Recognize the Obstacles - Kani City, Gifu, Japan, April 02, 2018

Coming up Meditation classes in Kani city, Gifu, Japan - April 2018. Space is limited, so please register in advance. Those who couldn't get registered in April, can book for classes in May. Thank you.

Dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Experts from various scientific fields

Location: Kyoto, Japan
Organized in collaboration with the Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University.

Participants: Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama; Richard J. Davidson; Jay L. Garfield; Roshi Joan Halifax; Yoshiro Imaeda; Atsushi Iriki; Thupten Jinpa; Barry Kerzin; Shinobu Kitayama; Shigefumi Mori; Makoto Nagao; Shinsuke Shimojo; Junko Tanaka-Matsumi; Arthur Zajonc

Description: The nature of the human mind remains one of the most profound unresolved questions we face as a species. While the mind’s ultimate nature may forever elude us, we can nonetheless carefully study the mind’s characteristics, capabilities, and associated phenomena. We have mapped the human genome, the night sky and the fundamental particles of the physical universe, yet that which is closest to us – our mind – has still to be adequately mapped. An important missing element in the study of the mind is the failure of contemporary science to critically engage with the inherited wisdom of the contemplative traditions, for example, the many insights to be found in Buddhist philosophy concerning the mind. In this Mind & Life/Kokoro dialogue, we brought together experts from the Buddhist contemplative tradition, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, with experts from modern psychology, philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and other relevant disciplines from Japan and North America in order to comprehensively consider the nature, characteristics and operations of the mind.

Gifu Meditation Class, Japan, Day 4

How do we meditate on Loving kindness for loved ones?

9. How do we meditate on Loving kindness for loved ones?

Before we meditate on Loving kindness for loved ones, please meditate on the following outlines:

9a. Think sincerely about our parents or friends kindness. (1 minutes)

9b. Remember how parents and friends kindness have contributed your life. (1 minutes)

9c. Remember some difficulties that your parents or friends have sacrificed for you. 
     (1 minutes)

9d. Develop a genuine intention to meditate on Loving kindness meditation to honour or repay their kindness. (1 minutes)

9e.Once we have an understanding why we need to meditate on loving kindness for loved ones, then we will do some meditation on inhaling and exhaling the breath. (approx 5 minute)

9f. Next, we will combine the breath following meditation with tonglen, giving and taking attitude practice for loved ones (approx 10 minutes)

Make sure your eyes are gently closed. Imagine a halo light at your heart as a symbol of your loving kindness mind. Briefly imagine your parent sitting in your front, and then imagine siblings, relative, friends, or people who are important to you, are sitting around you.

Firstly, as you breathe out, send your parent or important person, a comforting light from your heart that has a feeling of your Loving kindness. Then as you breathe in, imagine you are slowly taking out their difficulties in the form of smoke or grey clouds and bring them towards you along with your breath and feel that the smoke or grey clouds has disappeared into your self cherishing heart. Imagine now that your parent or your important person has felt a greater sense of comfort.

Secondly, imagine from your loving kindness heart, sending out food, clothes, money, houses, gardens, whatever he or she may need.

Thirdly, imagine from your loving kindness heart, sending out your loving kindness wishes, compassion, strength, whatever he or she may need.

Fourthly, imagine his or her needs were generously provided and he or she now feels safe and loved.

9g. Now, repeat the following four line prayers for three times, while dedicating it to your loved one. As you repeat the prayers, also focus on the meaning of each line.

May you be happy

May you never separate from happiness

May you be joyful

May you know peace (3 times)

Notice To All The Gifu Meditation Attendees

Dear Gifu meditation attendees,

Please accept my apology that I haven't been able to post the Session 3 meditation instruction. I will post the meditation instruction on the coming up Sunday-August 27, 2017. Until than I will be out of town. Thank you for your patience.

By the way, I have posted here my chant - about 7 minutes long, hoping you may find it interesting.



Have a nice week and weekend!

Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim

Gifu Meditation Class, Japan, Day 3

# 37 "Lojong Nyima'e Oser", A Tibetan text on Loving Kindness Meditation Instruction, authored by Namkha Pel,  a 14th century - Tibetan contemplative master. August 19, 2017  

# 36  Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim giving instruction on how to meditate on Loving kindness for Loved Ones by using the Tonglen practice, Sending and Receiving Mind Training Technique. August 21, 2017

# 35  Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim giving instruction on how to meditate on Loving kindness for Oneself by using the Tonglen practice, Sending and Receiving Mind Training Technique. August 21, 2017

# 34 Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim giving instruction on how to meditate on Tonglen practice, Sending and Receiving Mind Training Technique. August 21, 2017

Launch day for Guelph Mindfulness and Meditation Classes

# 28 Participants are having conversation over tea and snack - November 21, 2015

# 27 Food and beverage for the participants - November 21, 2015

# 26 Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim is taking question from the audience - November 21, 2015

# 25 Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim is giving introductory talk on coming up Guelph Mindfulness and Meditation Classes - November 21, 2015

      # 24  Flo is giving opening speech on the coming up Guelph Mindfulness and Meditation Classes on its opening day - November 21, 2015

# 23 Flo is giving opening speech on the coming up Guelph Mindfulness and Meditation Classes on its opening day - November 21, 2015

Gifu Meditation Class, Japan, Day 2

# 22  Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim is explaining the overview of four week meditation classes to the students - August 14, 2017

# 21 Erika Nakajima is interpreting the overview of four week meditation classes to the students - August 14, 2017

# 20 The summary points for Day 2 meditation class - August 14, 2017

# 19  A diagram for 4 week meditation class topics and their progressive order - August 14, 2017

# 18 Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim is demonstrating the yoga postures before leading the students into the guided meditation session - August 14, 2017

# 17  Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim is answering to the question over the tea and snack time - August 14, 2017

Gifu Meditation Class, Japan, Day 1

#16 Geshe Lobsang is giving brief introduction to meditation to the students before leading them into the guided meditation session, 
Gifu, Japan - August 07, 2017  

#15 Geshe Lobsang Tshultrim is explaining meditation postures before leading them into the guided meditation session, 
Gifu, Japan - August 07, 2017

#14 Erika Nakajima is interpreting the meditation instruction to the students, Gifu, Japan - August 07, 2017