I Shin Den Shin: from master to disciple, from heart to heart

I Shin Den Shin: from master to disciple, from heart to heart
Tribute day in memory of Keiko Sensei, master of Sogo Budo
Granddaughter of a samurai, Keiko Wakabayashi practiced traditional Japanese martial arts from a young age, pursuing them alongside studies of piano and operatic singing. She studied Aikidō with Kissomaru Ueshiba, son of the famous Morihei Ueshiba, and Kashima Shinryū with Kunii Zen’ya, until becoming a Master of Nihon Budō Kenshū at the prestigious Meiji Shinto temple in Tokyo. Over the years, she achieved, among others, the ranks of 3rd dan in Jūdō, 5th dan in Aikidō, 8th dan in Nihon Budō and in 2019, at age 88, she was awarded the 9th dan in Jūjutsu. Since 2001, she lived in Italy in Cecina, where she ran her dojo, taught Sono Budō – defense techniques – to Folgore paratroopers, and often accompanied Maestro Bagnulo in Jūjutsu seminars in Italy and abroad. She was the martial arts teacher of Lama Michel Rinpoche. She passed away on October 20, 2023.

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Programme

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Heart Sutra: teaching and practice with Lama Michel Rinpoche (main gompa streaming)
The perfection of wisdom, the Prajnaparamita, is contained in the Heart Sutra of Wisdom. This Sutra is at the heart of Mahayana Buddhist teachings and is practiced in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Tibet. The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, in a large assembly of monks and sages, answered a question from the sage Shariputra on the correct way to perceive the five aggregates. The five paths to enlightenment, the twelve links of dependent origination, the four noble truths, and the profound transcendental knowledge of emptiness were thus explained, from both relative and absolute perspectives.

3:00 PM – Planting of the Shidarezakura – 枝垂れ桜 – Weeping Cherry Tree (in the garden)
Symbolic moment in memory of Keiko Sensei

3:30 PM – Heart Sutra: teaching and practice with Lama Michel Rinpoche (main gompa streaming)

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Sogo Budo session (Japanese martial art) with Davide Benaglia, Lorenzo Brasi and Cristina Bonomi, disciples of the Master – open to all (yogaroom not streaming)
Wear comfortable clothing

8:30 PM Talk on Japan: exploring culture, customs, and fascinating secrets with Flavia Milesi, yamatologist, scholar of Japanese culture (Tara Gompa not streaming)

The Dharma is precious and has no price. Therefore, in accordance with tradition, an offering can be made for this activity according to each person’s possibilities and choice.
You can make your offering at the reception of the Centre or at the following link