Buddhist Flowers & a Shinto Circle
- At July 06, 2020
- By admin
- In Annes Letters
0
July 6, 2020
Dear Family and Friends,
It is now the rainy season in Japan. Unlike in tropical climates, where storms thunder down, regular as clockwork, and then exit until the following day, here the season means clouds and very wet weather for almost six straight weeks. For us humans, it can become very heavy and draining, but the rice loves it. And so do the hydrangeas, renown here in Japan.
Even though Queen Corona is more-or-less under control here, we still take every precaution possible. That means, for one, most university classes are still online. My students and I are getting used to it, even when the system does not work very well and we can only get muffled voices and blurred faces on the screen. We are learning tolerance, probably they more with me, as I stumble along blindly, often asking for their help.
When I have a day ahead facing the computer, I like to bracket that focused, eye-straining experience with something that soothes. So, in the early morning I try to surround myself with beauty. I am fortunate to live near a Buddhist temple that at the moment is like a basket overflowing with huge round flowers. The varieties and colors are breathtaking. Even though I have been going there for years, many times a week in this season, I am always humbled by the sheer abundance and beauty of these gems. Nature can be so generous, give so freely. After wandering though corridors of these flowers, I return home calm and ready for the day.
In the evening, I most often have a headache, so am delighted to head out once again. This time I go down small side streets, enjoying gardens and the quietness of places off the beaten track. I usually swing up to a Shinto shrine that is on the other side of my home from the morning’s temple. It has a big red Tori gate, a long flight of stairs, two fierce guardians to pass between, and finally the main shrine. This evening I was confronted with something unexpected, a large circle made of bamboo and grasses. I have seen these before, but very rarely, usually for special occasions only. Of course, I went to inspect.
There was a sign.
Love,
Anne
Dear Family and Friends,
It is now the rainy season in Japan. Unlike in tropical climates, where storms thunder down, regular as clockwork, and then exit until the following day, here the season means clouds and very wet weather for almost six straight weeks. For us humans, it can become very heavy and draining, but the rice loves it. And so do the hydrangeas, renown here in Japan.
Even though Queen Corona is more-or-less under control here, we still take every precaution possible. That means, for one, most university classes are still online. My students and I are getting used to it, even when the system does not work very well and we can only get muffled voices and blurred faces on the screen. We are learning tolerance, probably they more with me, as I stumble along blindly, often asking for their help.
When I have a day ahead facing the computer, I like to bracket that focused, eye-straining experience with something that soothes. So, in the early morning I try to surround myself with beauty. I am fortunate to live near a Buddhist temple that at the moment is like a basket overflowing with huge round flowers. The varieties and colors are breathtaking. Even though I have been going there for years, many times a week in this season, I am always humbled by the sheer abundance and beauty of these gems. Nature can be so generous, give so freely. After wandering though corridors of these flowers, I return home calm and ready for the day.
In the evening, I most often have a headache, so am delighted to head out once again. This time I go down small side streets, enjoying gardens and the quietness of places off the beaten track. I usually swing up to a Shinto shrine that is on the other side of my home from the morning’s temple. It has a big red Tori gate, a long flight of stairs, two fierce guardians to pass between, and finally the main shrine. This evening I was confronted with something unexpected, a large circle made of bamboo and grasses. I have seen these before, but very rarely, usually for special occasions only. Of course, I went to inspect.
There was a sign.
It said that the purpose of this sacred item was to pray for those suffering from the Coronavirus and for the earth’s healing from this terrible unwanted intruder. It gave clear instructions how to perform our walking, weaving prayer. We were to bow, pass through the circle, turn left, and back to where we started. Then do the same, going right, praying the entire time. We go left again. And finally, we bow, clap twice, step through the circle a final time and carry our prayers out into the world.
I do not know if this will encourage any physical cures. But I do trust that such sincerely performed rituals change energy fields, bringing us into greater inner harmony so we can deal with life with greater equanimity, courage, and hope.
Love,
Anne
