KYONIN (and Jundo's) TRAVEL DIARY in JAPAN

[Nenka]

Anna, thanks for posting that video. Now I really understand how awesome it is that Kyonin was allowed to come practice for so short a time.

Gassho

Jen

ST

[Onka]

Anna, thanks for posting that video. Now I really understand how awesome it is that Kyonin was allowed to come practice for so short a time.

Gassho

Jen

ST

You are very welcome


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[Kyonin]

Hi guys! I am writing this from my phone while riding the train bound for Kyoto. Please forget the typos and misspellings. I can't type too much with this gorilla fingers of mine on the Android keyboard.


First of all I have to express my gratitude to Muho and all the people of Antaiji. They were super kind, patient and willing to admit a total stranger to their family. Thank you, thank you, thank you.


So I am out from Antaiji after a 5 day Sesshin with Muho and his merry band of mountain monks. And oh boy they are hardcore! For 5 days it was all silence. No one was allowed to speak. And they have this perfect and elegant dance of rules for everything. From sitting on the zafu to brushing your teeth, attention to detail and form is a must if you don't want to meet an angry Muho face.


Sesshin consist of 15 zazen sessions of 50 minutes each, with a 10 minutes kinhin. You can go to the bathroom during those 10 minutes. Yes, 15 sessions. You begin at 4 Am and go to bed at 9 Pm. Breakfast is always oryoki and lunch is a little more “relaxed”. Then off to clean up everything and to keep on sitting.


The night before Sesshin, Muho offered a talk that resonated with me. He said “When sitting Sesshind, you die on the zafu”. If we assume the illusion of self is already there, then you stop fighting and resisting. To me, with that súper fat ego I carry everywhere, was an important teaching. So I tried hard to die in the zafu. And I mostly failed!!


I realized that my mind wasn't struggling at all with the idea of sitting. It was my knees and some tight muscles. By day 2 I was really in pain. I was lucky that Muho understood that I needed an extra cushion because of my height. I am 186cm/6.1 in tall but he is taller.


Don't tell Jundo, but I had had to stop sitting in half lotus position and just did crossleg because of the pain.


My other important teaching is: ego is a big obstacle for whatever you want to do in Buddhism. It's true that ego is what brings us to this practice, but at some point we have to let go so we can walk the bodhisattva path.


And to remain silent and still is a must.


Like I said I am now going for Kyoto. I'll keep you guys posted on our adventures there.


Look at me, writing a full essay on the phone. Sorry for the super long post.


PS. And the food in Antaiji. Oh man. Every single thing I tasted was delicious. Tenzo is a Master!

On the pictures you can see my room, one of the halls and the oryoki table.

Enviado desde mi SNE-LX3 mediante Tapatalk

[Onka]

Gassho
Anna

stlah

Sent from my Lenovo TB-8304F1 using Tapatalk

[Washin]

Thank you, Kyonin, for sharing this wonderful though tough experience of yours
And for the beautiful photos too.

Gassho
Washin
ST

[Kotei]

Kotei sat/lah today.

[Jakuden]

Wow! Just wonderful. Deep bows, Kyonin. It will be difficult to not want to add “I Sat Sesshin at Antaiji” to your ego dialogue [emoji4] At least I know it would be for me. Thanks for writing.

A note for Spanish speakers: if you follow “@chocobuda” on Twitter, there are more photos and links to videos of Kyonin’s experiences! I can’t understand most of it, but it’s cool anyway.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Kokuu]

Sesshin consist of 15 zazen sessions of 50 minutes each, with a 10 minutes kinhin. You can go to the bathroom during those 10 minutes. Yes, 15 sessions.

That is hardcore!!!!

Great pictures, Kyonin. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Tairin]

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

I am with Jakuden. There needs to be an “I sat Sesshin at Antaiji” tshirt.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Kevin M]

A note for Spanish speakers: if you follow “@chocobuda” on Twitter, there are more photos and links to videos of Kyonin’s experiences! I can’t understand most of it, but it’s cool anyway.

Cool.

Also

http://www.budismosotozen.org

There's a Chocobuda link on the header menu to Kyonin's blog as well.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat

[Shoki]

Deep bows and thanks for sharing this Kyonin.

Gassho
Sat Today (for a mere 25 minutes)
lah
James

[Nenka]

Wow. Just wow!

Gassho

Nenka

ST

[Jundo]

Just a word on our visits today as Kyonin recovers from Antaiji ...

Our first pilgrimage was to a hall that is the most moving place l have ever visited in Japan, a world treasure I believe. 1001 life-size statues of Kannon Bodhisattva fill a single hall, each statue the same yet, on close examination, each with its slightly different facial features and personality. The oldest are from the Kamakura period, and the main image happens to have been created in the same year of Dogen's death (although it is not a Zen temple, but Tendai). It is called the Sanjusangendo ...

Kyoto's spectacular Sanjusangendo Temple, established in the twelfth century, houses 1001 carved wooden statues of Kannon set in ranks in the main hall: 500, in ten rows of 50, on each side of the seated figure of Senju Kannon. Sanjusangendo is the only such Sentai Kannon-do (one thousand-Kannon hall) left in existence. The 1001 images are around 167cm tall and were made using a technique called yosegi, which allowed a number of craftsmen to work on one statue

It is meant to express the power and presence of Kannon. And in a like fashion, Kyonin and l then paid our visit to a modern effort to do the same, the Android Kannon. Some people have difficulty to relate to this Kannon of metal and silicone, but Kyonin and i both agreed that it is much more impressive in person, and succeeeds in conveying a powerful message on the meaning of "non-self" (the topic of the Dharma talk that it offered ...

https://youtu.be/mJDf1GXaF-w

A robot modeled after Kannon Bodhisattva and designed to explain the teachings of Buddha in plain terms was unveiled to the media at Kodaiji Temple in the city of Kyoto on Saturday.

In a dimly lit hall of the temple, the robot — named Mindar — gave a speech on the Heart Sutra and humanity with English and Chinese subtitles projected on the wall as music played in the background.

“If an image of Buddha speaks, teachings of Buddhism will probably be easier to understand,” said Tensho Goto, the chief steward of the temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward, during a news conference. “We want many people to come to see (the robot) to think about the essence of Buddhism.”

Another official linked to the temple expressed hope that the robot will “help people who usually have little connection with Buddhism to take an interest” in the religion.

More tomorrow ...

Gassho, J

STLah

[Seishin]

Deep bows Kyonin. Thank for the update, photos and your practice.

Sat

[Onkai]

Thank you, Kyonin and Jundo, for sharing the events of Kyonin's trip and the photos. I look forward to the coming updates.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/LAH