The Japan International Meditation Centre was organized in the late 1970's
to promote the practice of Buddhist Vipassana meditation as taught by the
late Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The practice is aimed at developing a calm mind
leading to the realisation of Nibbana.
From the time of the Buddha, over 2500 years ago, Buddhist meditation has
mainly been practised within the monastic order.
Sayagyi U Ba Khin encountered the teachings as a layman and realised the importance of Buddhist meditation to modern man. He had a unique ability to teach lay people meditation. Sayagyi U Ba Khin became a highly respected meditation teacher in Burma (Myanmar). He taught students from all over the world until his demise in January 1971.
From then until her demise in January 2017 his leading disciple, Mother
Sayamagyi, carried on the tradition. She taught meditation for more than
fifty years and established further International Meditation Centres worldwide.
Weekend and ten-day residential meditation courses are held throughout the year in Kishiwada and the Aomori area of Tohoku. They usually begin on a Friday evening and end early on a Monday morning. The courses are led by regional teacher James Emery under the auspices of the International Meditation Centre, United Kingdom where Mother Sayamagyi lived and taught for forty years.
Anyone who comes with an open mind can gain the necessary confidence in
the technique and benefit from the experience.
The students who attend the meditation courses are from all walks of life, professions, religions and cultural backgrounds.