Introduction to the temple
A giant temple of the Sodo sect opened in 1394. It worships a tengu (a legendary creature with a long nose). A pair of geta (Japanese sandals), the largest in the world, are dedicated here. It is also famous for the hydrangeas that bloom from mid-June to mid-July along the approach.
Zazen
In this temple, Buddhism events at which many general people can attend are held. The Sunday zazen practice is held from 1:00 in the afternoon on the 2nd and the 4th Sunday. I hear that there are 200 or more members.
In the summer time, there are one night/two day zazen practices for children and two night/three day zen academic societies for people 18 or older. They provide training called Sanro for one night or longer stays for groups of 20 people or more.
Shukubo (temple stay)
On the 27th every month, they hold an Okomori (confinement) ritual at eight at night. You can stay for the Okomori event as an individual participant. The room is large and clean. They have a grand bath.
The priest who guided me was very kind. The rituals and morning prayer service in this lonely and quiet place were mysterious. I felt that my mind was purified and reborn.
I heard the sound of waterfalls, which made me feel comfortable even though it was a little early to see the leaves turn red and yellow.
A leader of the ascetic monks was ringing a bell in the morning. After morning zazen, we chanted sutra in the main hall and in the back hall. The duty was cleaning of the main hall.
The shojin vegetarian cuisine included a bowl of soup and three dishes and was amazingly delicious. It was an enjoyable one night and two days. As many participants were wearing samue (clothes worn by people working at a temple), I wanted a pair for myself too.
Try zazen
In the zazen meeting, they gave me a kind explanation as I was a beginner. Because of the staff’s kind advice, the other members also seemed to be relaxed.
The zazen practice was conducted twice. As we were beginners, we learned how to behave beforehand and entered the room together with the members. Seemingly remodeled recently, the zazen room was very neat and comfortable. There were 50 or more seats.
Each practice lasted for 40 minutes, but I felt it was longer. While I was meditating, the vertical lines of the frame of the shoji screens began to look like “a waterfall.” I was supposed to exhale twice as long as I inhaled. As I learned to do this rhythmically, a knot on a cedar board in the room began to look like Buddha’s face.
These days, my mind has been busy, and I could not calm myself down, but after zazen , I felt good and light-minded. I was thankful for the zazen meeting, which was kind even to beginners.
