For the first time, Lhomon Education successfully organized a three-day Wakefulness Program in Thimphu, West Bhutan. The program provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage in discussions, self-reflection, and contemplation concerning the nature of the mind and its practice, drawing upon Bhutan's rich wisdom tradition and teachings from Venerable Khenpo Sonam Phuntsho.
A diverse group of attendees, including educators, youth, community leaders, parents, elders, and individuals actively participated in the program. Throughout the program, there was a strong emphasis on the importance of contemplation and the cultivation of awareness as fundamental aspects of our minds. Every session began with the establishment of a positive intention and selfless motivation, guided by the practice of taking refuge and cultivating bodhichitta. This framework draws deeply from Bhutan's Buddhist heritage and plays a pivotal role in the cultivation of selflessness. This set the stage for various meditation practices, including sitting, gazing, walking, and working meditation, all rooted in the foundations of the dependent arising view.
We have also discussed that in contrast to the significant time and energy we dedicate to caring for our bodies, we often fail to recognize the most powerful asset we have, called the Mind. The program challenged participants to recognize the immense power of the mind and how paying attention to it could potentially contribute to making the world a better place.
In conclusion, the Wakefulness Program in Thimphu served as a transformative experience for its participants, fostering a deeper understanding of the mind's nature, its importance and practices, and most importantly, the unique and profound view it offers on meditation as compared to many contemporary mindfulness programs, which are often worldly and for mundane purposes.
