2015年09月25日21:04
Friday, September 18
The cluster amaryllis flower is known as “Higan-bana” in Japan, because they begin to burst in to blossom a few days before “Higan-e”(the Buddhist services and practices held for a period of seven days over the equinox).
Every year at this time I find them bursting out here and there, I am amazed at how exactly they announce the coming of “Higan-e”.
According to the old Buddhism teaching , “Higan”(the other shore, Pure Land of Utmost Bliss）exists in the west very far away. While our real world is called “Shigan” (this shore).
Therefore, from old times, Japanese people have made special services and practices expecting the distance from Shigan to Higan should be the shortest during Higan-e when the sun sets due west.
The supporting members of my temple are also accustomed to coming to the temple and cleaning their stone graves thoroughly and putting flowers in front of them during Higan-e. So, I should clean up the temple to welcome them.
Therefore, I asked Mr.Ikegawa, the master of weeding and cleaning, to help us clean up the garden. As soon as I saw him again, I asked him how to weed the lawn, because I had admired his work to weed the lawn very beautifully and quickly last time. He showed me how to weed it slowly.
His way was very simple and practical. He is really the master of weeding and cleaning the garden.
I think there are many other kind of masters in Japan and they all support our country well.
“Higan-bana”
カテゴリー
Friday, September 18
The cluster amaryllis flower is known as “Higan-bana” in Japan, because they begin to burst in to blossom a few days before “Higan-e”(the Buddhist services and practices held for a period of seven days over the equinox).
Every year at this time I find them bursting out here and there, I am amazed at how exactly they announce the coming of “Higan-e”.
According to the old Buddhism teaching , “Higan”(the other shore, Pure Land of Utmost Bliss）exists in the west very far away. While our real world is called “Shigan” (this shore).
Therefore, from old times, Japanese people have made special services and practices expecting the distance from Shigan to Higan should be the shortest during Higan-e when the sun sets due west.
The supporting members of my temple are also accustomed to coming to the temple and cleaning their stone graves thoroughly and putting flowers in front of them during Higan-e. So, I should clean up the temple to welcome them.
Therefore, I asked Mr.Ikegawa, the master of weeding and cleaning, to help us clean up the garden. As soon as I saw him again, I asked him how to weed the lawn, because I had admired his work to weed the lawn very beautifully and quickly last time. He showed me how to weed it slowly.
His way was very simple and practical. He is really the master of weeding and cleaning the garden.
I think there are many other kind of masters in Japan and they all support our country well.
2015年09月10日21:13
Sunday, September 6
At about 4:30am, I went out to Okuyama Hokoji (one of the head temples of our Rinzai Zen Sect) by car to join the morning zazen and chanting of the laughter yoga session, which my friend, Kunihiko Hirano leads.
I went north on the non-signal road of Tenryu river bank and took the Sintomei highway which opened several years ago. It was only a 40-minute drive to Hokoji from my temple. Looking over the sky east from Hokoji the upside of a hill was reddening and lightening.
We finished a short laughter yoga, zazen and chanting at 7. I guessed that my master Oi Roshi would have finished breakfast and would be just relaxing at that time. It should be good timing to meet him privately. I went to the Roshi’s room to greet him with a little souvenir pudding from Osaka. He was sitting on the bed in a nightgown.
When I met him at the New Year, he appeared to be a little run down, but recently he is very well.
“You are welcome, thank you for coming to see me.”
“Thank you Roshi, please take good care of yourself.”
I felt happy to make eye contact with him and see him smiling. There was no need to say anything else, soon, I left his room with joy.
Now Roshi is 100 years old, keeping good health and working as the top Zen leader of Hokoji. I have practiced the Zen way for 48 years under his guidance. Roshi has been the real Zen master for me like a mountain exists with dignity and in peace. Every time I meet him, I can feel the pure Zen spirit. It is simple and powerful, therefore I will meet him once a week without saying anything.
My master
カテゴリー
Sunday, September 6
At about 4:30am, I went out to Okuyama Hokoji (one of the head temples of our Rinzai Zen Sect) by car to join the morning zazen and chanting of the laughter yoga session, which my friend, Kunihiko Hirano leads.
I went north on the non-signal road of Tenryu river bank and took the Sintomei highway which opened several years ago. It was only a 40-minute drive to Hokoji from my temple. Looking over the sky east from Hokoji the upside of a hill was reddening and lightening.
We finished a short laughter yoga, zazen and chanting at 7. I guessed that my master Oi Roshi would have finished breakfast and would be just relaxing at that time. It should be good timing to meet him privately. I went to the Roshi’s room to greet him with a little souvenir pudding from Osaka. He was sitting on the bed in a nightgown.
When I met him at the New Year, he appeared to be a little run down, but recently he is very well.
“You are welcome, thank you for coming to see me.”
“Thank you Roshi, please take good care of yourself.”
I felt happy to make eye contact with him and see him smiling. There was no need to say anything else, soon, I left his room with joy.
Now Roshi is 100 years old, keeping good health and working as the top Zen leader of Hokoji. I have practiced the Zen way for 48 years under his guidance. Roshi has been the real Zen master for me like a mountain exists with dignity and in peace. Every time I meet him, I can feel the pure Zen spirit. It is simple and powerful, therefore I will meet him once a week without saying anything.