KYONIN (and Jundo's) TRAVEL DIARY in JAPAN

[Ishin]

Yes, that is one reason. Also when they realized the size and fury of my loud voice (although coupled with a peaceful heart) when I heard they planned to turn you and some other folks out at 9am yesterday with the storm making landfall. I think I used words on the phone like 慈悲 (Jihi, Compassion) and inquired of their ほとけの心 (Hotoke no Kokoro, Buddha's Heart) to even think about putting people out in a massive storm, some of whom don't speak Japanese and have no idea where to go with no trains running! I think that realization, and my mention that it would look awfully bad when the story came out on Facebook, helped change their hearts too! What were they even thinking?




Oh, the skies are clear and cloudless here!

Gassho, J

STLah

Never mess with a Zen Lawyer!. Glad it worked out, and yes you would think under the circumstances such negotiations wouldn’t be necessary.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah

[Jundo]

Kyonin has written that he is now successfully on the Bullet Train ... but may have to stand for the whole trip of about 3 hours, as the train is mobbed.

I encouraged him to get off along the way, stretch his legs, and try a later train (they run about every 30 minutes). If he gets a seat, of course, we should yield for the elderly, ill and pregnant.

Someone posted online this selfie from inside a bullet train on such a crowded day. ANOTHER "REAL JAPAN EXPERIENCE" for Kyonin!!! It is kind of like being on a 727 ... but standing. The "Hikkari" train he is riding reaches speeds of 270 km/h (168 mph). (The somewhat faster Nozomi ... which costs more ... reaches 300 km/h (186 mph)).



I am guessing that the food cart won't be passing today? I wonder.



Gassho, J

[Jundo]

PS - Of course, Japan is now working on development of a replacement for the Bullet Train ... rather faster ...

What is the Maglev train’s top speed? In April 2015, a manned superconducting Maglev train broke two previous land speed records for rail vehicles. The train was clocked at 603 kilometers per hour or 375 miles per hour. This is much faster than the Maglev trains already operating in Shanghai, China ... which run at speeds of 268 to 311 miles per hour ...

SC Maglev, or superconducting magnetic trains, were developed by the Central Japan Railway Company and the Railway Technical Research Institute beginning in the 1970s. Maglev trains work on the principle of magnetic repulsion between the cars and the track. The word maglev is actually a combination of the words “magnetic” and “levitation.” The magnetic levitation, or floating of the train, is achieved through the use of an electrodynamic suspension system, or EDS.

You do get to your destination faster, that is for sure. The only small trade off will be, of course, that passengers are rendered incapable of having children. Folks with hip replacements may find themselves stuck to the floor. Oh, and those pesky earthquakes ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYvEP6tYvP0

I believe that they will run mostly through an underground tunnel, and the first leg will open in about 8 years if all goes to plan.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Meitou]

I was very anxious after following the news reports, so thank you for these reassuring updates Jundo and Kyonin, what a trip this has turned out to be.
Sitting today for all those suffering as a result of the typhoon, hoping that those people reported missing make their way home.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday

[Jundo]

Kyonin has boarded the Tsukuba Express ....

[Washin]

What a relief that all turned out well And what a journey for Kyonin to remember!
Thank you both for the latest updates.
Sitting today's Sunday sit for all affected by the natural events.

Gassho
Washin
ST

[Kotei]

What an adventure...
Metta to all affected by natural events.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Heisoku]

KYONIN (and Jundo's) TRAVEL DIARY in JAPAN

As Kyōnin said ..the Dharma works!
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jundo]

Kyonin has arrived!

In truth, we are luckier to have him here than I first thought today, as several of the Bullet Line train routes he would have taken are under water, and there are many people suffering tonight.

https://youtu.be/v-YiOp-MxSE

At the same time, Kyonin is cooking something called Chilaquiles Verdes for dinner in the kitchen, and we are just very grateful to be together with the storm passed.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Onka]

Metta to the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives, homes and loved possessions.
Glad Kyonin arrived safe. The footage here in Australia showed soooo much carnage and high speed trains under water.
Be well comrade Kyonin, you really have *experienced* Japan now lol.
Gassho
Anna

Sat today

Sent from my Lenovo TB-8304F1 using Tapatalk

[Junkyo]

Happy to hear Kyonin made it back safely!

Metta to all affected by the typhoon! I have seen a few pictures of the damage on the news here in Canada and it is quite sad.

Gassho,

Junkyo
SAT

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

[Nengei]

What an adventure this whole trip has been! Truly lifetime stories.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat.

[Cooperix]

Good images and story of the typhoon in today's NYTimes...
Blessings to everyone impacted by this storm.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/12/world/asia/japan-typhoon-hagibis-dead.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Gassho
Anne

~lahst~

[Meitou]

Thankful for Kyonin's safe homecoming and that you all, and our precious Zendo, withstood the storm.
Gassho
Meitou
sattodaylah

[Jundo]

On Kyonin's last day in Japan, we traveled a bit to some special Buddhist sites near Kamakura. Dogen visited Kamakura in 1247, and some of Zen's great monasteries are there or nearby.

Our first stop is not so famous, but an unusual site that I have taken people to many times: The Taya Caves.

Taya cavern is an extensive cave carved into a hillside on the outskirts of Kamakura by Shingon Buddhist monks from 1192 until 1720. It is located on the grounds of the Jousenji temple, and as it is rather off the beaten path, you won’t see many tourists at this fascinating historic site. Shingon is one of the early sects of Buddhism to come to Japan; history has it that it was first brought to Japan in 804 AD by Kukai, a Japanese monk who traveled to China and brought back the teaching. The word “Shingon” is the Japanese reading of the Chinese word, Zhēnyán (真言),which is a translation of the Sanskrit word Mantra, or “mystical words.” Shingon is the Japanese school of Esoteric Buddhism ... Visitors are given a small candle to help illuminate the carvings one sees along the way. I would recommend bringing a flashlight in order to better see the carvings. The passageways open up into 17 domed chambers with intricate carvings up the walls and around the domes. Natural streams trickle through the walls, and are channeled along the walkways in some of the chambers. Traditionally, Shingon monks would practice their austerities in the cave, and not leave- as they engaged in meditation, chanting, carving, and fasts- for days or weeks at a time.

Marks on the walls show that the caves and sculptures were all hand carved by Buddhist practitioners over a 500 year period, and that those practitioners would often shut themselves into the caves for long periods of time for a regime of carving, chanting, meditation and isolation. Here are some pictures of the inside ...



Next, we visited a Soto temple located on top of a hill featuring a peace memorial in the shape of a massive Kannon Bodhisattva's head rising over the town, as well as building stones that were at ground zero in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, still burned and black from the heat. 1000 Crane Origami (folded paper) chains can be seen in the background, created by people as a prayer for peace. A flame is kept burning said to be lit originally from actual fires that burned at Hiroshima on that day. The priest of the temple invited us to listen to his Sutra Chanting for peace around noon.



... to be continued ...