Chapur Rinpoche teaches Tibetan Keksel Yoga.
Tokyo: Tibet House Japan hosted an online yoga class to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21. Yoga enthusiasts from all over Japan participated in the class. Geshe Chapur Rinpoche from the Gyalshen Institute in California led the yoga class based on the ancient teachings of Dzogchen (pronounced Zog-chen).
Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, representative of Tibet House Japan, welcomed the participants and introduced Geshe Chapur Rinpoche and interpreter Yuri Takeshita. He explained that yoga is deeply rooted in Tibetan indigenous Bon and Buddhist practices, but until recently it had not been made public and remained esoteric among religious practitioners. He added that yoga, being both a science and discipline of the mind and body, has great potential to enhance practitioners’ mental and physical wellbeing.
Chapur Rinpoche taught the Tibetan yoga practice known as Keksel (Tibetan: Khegusel) and the nine breathing exercises. He began the class with an explanation of the importance of understanding the Tsa, Lung and Tigre (meridians, wind and spheres of light) and introduced the three meridians of the human body, the Right White Meridian, the Left Red Meridian and the Central Blue Meridian. He explained how, through these nine breathing exercises, we can purify negative emotions such as attachment, anger and ignorance. The five Keksel exercises aim to open and activate the five chakras (Tibetan: Khorro) in a person’s body.
Participants asked questions about breathing techniques, the location of meridians, and the function of the five elements within the body. Rinpoche explained how as we breathe in, we visualize the colors of the five outer elements (earth, water, fire, wind, and space), which in turn stimulate the five inner elements (mind, breath, heat, blood, and flesh), which ultimately nourish the five sacred elements in our body (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen).
Tibet House Japan organized the yoga classes in response to frequent requests from Japanese people who are familiar with yoga practices but are interested in receiving yoga instruction directly from a Tibetan master.
Chapur Rinpoche is a distinguished Geshe from Menri Monastery in Dranji, India. He has written several books and teaches Bon, Dzogchen and Buddhism in the U.S. He is the founder and spiritual leader of the Gyalshen Institute and the Chapur Foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.
Report submitted by the Tibet Japan Office
Representative Dr TG Arya addressing the participants.
Screenshot of the online class: Rinpoche, representative, and translator.
