A half day Mindfulness Session

On a request made by a group of officials from the Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde, a half-day mindfulness session was organized for the residents of Samdrup Jongkhar and Dewathang on 15^th June 2019, coinciding with the Saga Dawa Duechen (the Festival of Vaishakha) at Chokyi Gyatso Institute (CGI). There were more than 60 participants who took part in the session, led by the Thromde Executive Secretary (ES) along with the other officers, teachers, businessmen, farmers, local residents, and interested individuals.

A half-day session is to provide an essential platform for the introduction and foundation of mindfulness technique designed specifically for beginners based on the Annual winter mindfulness camp. The annual camp is a rigorous practice opportunity offered to Bhutanese educators and other interested individuals keeping intact the priceless tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. The session is aimed at giving a chance to look at the inner working of an individual’s mind in an authentic way.

The session is presided over by Khenchen Sonam Tashi of Chokyi Gyatso Institute. Khenchen talked about the importance of appreciating our own profound tradition of a meditation practice that is grounded on the grand motivation for the benefit of all sentient beings. Khenchen said the refinement of motivation is the first step that makes the practice profound and grand. Therefore, our invaluable traditional practice has the

se insights compared to the contemporary business-oriented mindfulness trend.

Khenchen also taught about shamata meditation, its importance, the body posture for the practice, and its technique. He also led a guided meditation practice and later an hour of the independent practice.

For Bhutan (Only a Vajrayana country in the world), we have many profound and deep meditation traditions that are authentic; however, these days there is a trend in which mindfulness practice is taught and introduced by outsiders to its land of origin and existence. This is a paradoxical situation. It appears that we are not aware of our own priceless tradition and possession we have. Therefore, Lhomon Education (LME), is spearheading to offer an authentic Mindfulness practice opportunity to all the interested Bhutanese and others.