A four-day series of guidance talks on the close-placement of the four mindfulnesses

At the request since a few years back by Lha Charitable Trust, Institute of Education and Social Services, Dharamshala, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a four-day (16 – 19 April 2018) series of guidance teachings on the close-placement of the four mindfulnesses, to an audience comprising of some 80 people from 25 countries. Convened in the hall of Lha’s Ahimsa House, the teachings, given in English, were livecast and viewed by many.

In the teachings His Eminence pointed out that: the phrase “close-placement of mindfulness” comes from Sanskrit language, and it is a method of spiritual meditation taught in Buddhist philosophy. It needs to be differentiated from the Western usage of the word “mindfulness.” The mindfulness explained in Buddhism is a practice where awareness and introspection are conjoined and the practice has the wholeness of the three: preparation, the actual and the conclusion.

Just as the external body is sustained by food, clothing and shelter, likewise, to sustain the mind in peace and health is the purpose of meditation. A beginner needs to know the stages of meditation, maintain a noble motive during all phases of meditation, and at the end to dedicate the merits for the welfare of all sentient beings.

Over three days His Eminence explained in great details the correct ways of meditating on the close-placement of the four mindfulnesses.

The fourth day was set apart for Q/A. His Eminence Rinpoche gave clear and detailed answers to the questions.

The attendees to the teachings thanked for the precious teachings and told the organisers that the teachings had been greatly beneficial to them, and they made emphasised request to organise similar teachings often in the future.