Priests-in-training returning from daily begging rounds, Soji-ji temple, Yokohama, Japan, 1998, by MichaelSome people walk on water
Some people walk on broken glass
Some just walk round and round in their dreams
And some just keep falling down ...
... And you? You're no one
And you? You're falling
And you? You're traveling
Traveling at the speed of light ...
Some people walk on broken glass
Some just walk round and round in their dreams
And some just keep falling down ...
... And you? You're no one
And you? You're falling
And you? You're traveling
Traveling at the speed of light ...
--Laurie Anderson,
from "Ramon"
from "Ramon"
7 comments:
Rest and be well! We all need a respite at times.
Thanks, Patry!
Thanks, g. Takuhatsu (begging rounds) make for good photos.
Hi Tamar,
Thanks for bearing with me! I think I'll be up to posting this weekend.
Michael,
Glad you are back with us. I would like you to see these wonderful cherry blossoms at the foot of mount Fuji...Everyday I go to sit with a Shingon priest and friend in a remote very old Soto Zen temple that was built on top of a small mountain 1000 years ago, An Yo ji. Hakuin visited it as it was once a Rinzai temple. Huge trees surround the site, a clear stream and countless ageless statues give the visitor a warm and mossy welcome. The abbot is about my age and he sits diligently following the tradition of Sawaki Kodo. The Sodo is very peaceful and yet vibrant, alive. A dream of a place. More beautiful and touching than many temples I have seen. Very unpretentious.
I ll be soon in Kyoto being thrown bad words, backets of water and rubbish ( apparently some people take advantage of the fact that monks have to practice equanimity and express a lot of anger). Anyway, takuhatsu for an guy like me is the best thing to do. I don t know why though. A friend was asking what I was expecting to get/learn from takuhatsu practice. The only answer that came to me was "nothing".
Love to you, Michael, be well.
Hello Pierre,
It's great to hear from you! I'm glad you made it safely to Japan. Anyo-ji sounds like my kind of temple.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Shingon-mikkyo. I would say that next to Zen, its the Buddhist school I've studied most. I've been to Koya-san several times, where a friend of mine is a priest and teacher at Koya-san Daigaku.
I'll be sending my good thoughts and best wishes to you as my spiritual contribution to your takuhatsu.
Please keep in touch!
I've been enjoying your site silently thus far, but thought I'd say hi. I'm a friend of Kim's, got into blogging through her. Your travels... I'm quite envious.
Peace,
Kohai
Hi kohai-ny,
Thanks for stopping by, and also for the very kind words! Any friend of Kim's is a friend of mine!
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