noodles and rice
I know 8-(
very small portions
with the miso soup
it was very nice
small pieces of fish
a piece of lobster
and some greens
I’m giving it my best
my willpower is being tested
I shall persevere
PL Precept #20 Live maintaining equilibrium
between mind and matter..
Oyashikiri
as I walk past you today
I hear only the cicada chirping away in the branches
the black bird has flown out o sight
but I can feel him watching
you see ALL
you have changed so much
over the years,
yet you still look as majestic
as you did three years ago
I told you then I’d be back
it took three years, but here I am
I am changed as well
I feel like I will live with you forever
I know in my heart
that we are ONE
that forever is NOW
that tomorrow will really never come
cuz when I wake
it will be today
so just like now
this moment,
here and now
we are forever bound
PL Precept # 11 Always be with GOD
Oyashikiri
Remember when we could talk on the phone for hours on end, the receiver held to our ear while we tried to find a comfortable position on a hard chair, bench or wherever we could find a space to have some privacy. Maybe some of you won’t remember those days, but I do. Today life is so different, people have personal conversations everywhere, and seem oblivious to the fact that someone, likely a total stranger is within hearing range. Some conversations, and language could be X rated and some.
At the airport during my trip, I had long waits, and would try to find a quiet place to simply rest, read, whatever to I could do to distract myself over the many hours.. there is only so much run way activity you can watch. What I found most interesting was the very loud and often angry voices that would erupt from the most unexpected sources. Other passengers would try to avert their eyes, but it was hard not to hear the verbal abuse someone was getting.
For the travel weary, an airport is not a warm and fuzzy place, nor does it have “comfort zones” For the most part, I found people I had to deal with were friendly, courteous and more than willing to lend a helping hand, or engage in social conversation. it was people on their cell phones that were simply in their own “room”… and they didn’t hold back.
With the old phones, we could walk over and pull the plug… well ok, I wouldn’t do that… but people would be in a phone booth, or talking on phones attached to a wall, not wandering and screaming into their phones where-ever they were going, sitting or happened to be. Washrooms included.
I found myself wondering how sound proof an elevator would be. That said, just try to take my techie stuff away from me… Just try. Going back to an IBM electric would not be my idea of fun…
Happy start to a new week everyone. I’m over my little rant, it wasn’t all that bad. I tuned it out. I just focused on getting back home as quickly as I could.. and now I’m back…=^_^=
Namaste Oyashikiri
Pl Precept # 16 All things progress and develop.
These were the doors that we went through every day. To classes, lectures, meals, and these are the same doors that we came through for our refuge. Our time out, our time away from “activity. We were 12 ladies in this room. yet, it is amazing that when in the room, in your own space, if you wanted to just lie and be quiet, tend to your whatever… you had that space. Even though many of us were in some way strangers, we co-existed with a sense of harmony that was “extra-ordinary”. Somehow, we knew when to communicate, exchange and when to simply “be” That is an “art” in itself.
Every morning, many woke early to make the journey to this sacred place to pray. Some would do it several times during the day. When we had the torch ceremony, many marched there from the residence carrying a torch. This was a sight to see as darkness fell, and all one could see was the torches walking in unison towards the First Founder’s Tomb (Okutsuki) Usually I would be in the procession, this year, due to my jet lag condition, I got there by bus, so for the first time, I saw the flames coming towards us, it was awesome to see. The feeling of being part of such a devout ceremony was moving.
There are no words that can fully describe the journey I was on. Yes, my body did not like the jet lag, and had me lying low at times, but the energy and the positive interaction of everyone around me made the experience one I will never forget. There were times where my thoughts drifted in and out of a tired overworked mind. I did some of my most brilliant thinking during some of those “out of body” moments, too bad, the memory cells were on vacation.
PL Precept # 18 Each Moment is a Turning Point
Pl Precept # 7 Everything exists in Relativity
my heart is filled with gratitude
for the experience
and the new friends made while in Japan
Oyashikiri
Gratitude and Prayers
Rev. Eisuke Inagaki, a friend who looked out for me every step of the way
Rev. Mamaru Itagaki -another friend who made sure I was alright, and for his wonderful Shikiri before I left
Rev. Atsushi Tsuji – I would have been sad to have missed the time with you
Rev. Fukito Kimura – how wonderful it was to meet you once again
Rev. Ichinen Furuichi – a new friend, with a Hawaiian background, I look forward to more discoveries
Rev. Misuo Michishita who I was honored to meet with for a consultation
Rev. Toyomi Hirayama who translated for us
Rev. Maruyama Noboru and his wife Akiko – what a happy moment to discover he spoke fluent French (Paris)
Rev. Ise Kouji whose generosity will always be remembered =^_^=
Rev. Higashigata, Arturo if only I could speak more Spanish =^_^=
-My apologies that I can not name all the wonderful people who made this visit so special – You aer all in my thoughts and prayers with much GRATITUDE
oops can’t forget Rev. Eugene who made sure I had all my meals booked.. =^_^= and recruited “sitters” to look out for me.
I showed you this door a couple of posts back. If someone hadn’t told me, I would never have guessed that behind that door was a sauna. A good size one too. The doors in Japan. in the Japanese hotels, not the tourist ones, but the hotels where Japanese stay when traveling, are not very high. I found everything to be cozy. But then I am 5’3″. =^_^=
The faucet you see on the sink, swivels to fill the very deep tub. Once you are washed and cleaned, you can then fill the tub and enjoy a hot to your liking soak. Western style toilets, often have heated seats, and on the arm you see there, are the buttons, to activate the various functions performed by the “toilet” Most hotels provide you with shampoo, body wash, and conditioner. I have only ever stayed in the Japanese hotels, so cannot comment on the “tourist” accommodations.
Oyashikiri
a couple of my needle felted personalities
PL Precept #1 Life is Art
Jet lag- stuck in two realities, your body is physically in one place, but the mind,spirit and other sundries are the void somewhere between the two. In Japan I was up in the wee hours because back home it was daytime. Now I’m back home and I’m up in the wee hours because in Japan it is daytime. PL Precept # 15 All is a Mirror
I travelled miles, spent hours in the airports, wandered what seems days from one terminal to another. I was in a constant state of “now” yet days later, after finally touching ground and being back on familiar ground, my “now” is still in Japan. PL Precept # 7 Everything exists in Relativity.
Is this the answer at 2:26 in the morning, spaghetti with anchovies, garlic and olive oil. NO. One thing that was made clear to me in Japan, was that I needed to cultivate a healthier way of eating, for me that is portion control.
hmmm, I think its time for me to try to go back to bed and find the door to slumber land. Or I could stay here and be silly with you. For sanity all around, I will go try to catch some zzzzz’s. Although my mind is turning over with thoughts on how jet lag is so much like a state of being in another world, one that is parallel to the one we are in. If only it could be as simple as walking from one room to another, the two worlds are so similar, yet so different. they really are worlds apart. NOW I’m embraced by both, and physically I can only be in one place at a time.
Namaste – Oyashikiri
clip files social media
Knowing it would be a while before I would once more be in Japan, I surveyed the available restaurants well before I decided on where I would eat. No fast take away, or the airport versions of western food, believe me the dishes all looked good, I was hungry.
I had plenty of time, I decided on a venue that had a more traditional feel (for me). I saw it as my last meal … and made the most of it.
I obviously have a lot to tell you about, once I’m over this jet lag, I’ll talk more of the benefits of eating healthy, the talk I had with the doctor in Japan, (re. being diabetic) The Japanese cultural history is world known for promoting good health and longevity. (Food)
Being without internet, social media, television, etc. for an extended period is very self revealing.
PL # 15 All is a Mirror
Oyashikiri
The sign points the way to the ladies bathing area
this time around, I didn’t get the sliding doors into the area
once inside, we remove our shoes
and put them in the slots allotted for guests
On entering into the first room, there are sinks on the left
to the right an area to remove and put your clothes in a designated shelf box
once you have removed all your clothes
you can enter into the bathing area,
it is again through a pair of sliding doors.
the chair you see in the back corner
is a massage chair,
I regret to say, I never had the opportunity to try it
on entering there is one north american type stall
next to it is a sauna,
which again, I did not get to use
the next picture will show you the most popular way
to shower and remove the day’s “grime”
I have found that this is the most comfortable and practical
way to wash. You do your hair, and rinse off well
before you can get into the bath itself.
Soaps, shampoo and conditioner is provided
Once you are all cleaned and rinsed off,
only then, do you enter the bath.
then it is back to the dorm
refreshed and relaxed
ready to roll out your futon
and tuck yourself in
This picture was taken after
some of the participants had gone
we were 12 to a room
what you see is what was in front of me,
from my little “home” while there
this little nook, is where we could get hot/cold water
or cold drinks (vending machines)
just outside our room. Where the two ladies
are looking is into another smaller bathing area
International visitors are welcomed once a year
we came from North American, Brazil, Argentina
Spain, and, and….. the North American participants were from the States
except for moi, the only Canadian.
This delightful woman was like our “den” Mother, she
and her crew, manned the International Office,
took our keys, gave out the keys.. rooms were always
locked when no one was in the room
The staff worked from the wee hours till late into the evening
answering questions, helping with our needs,
ensuring we got to meals on time
We always knew we had them there to look out for us.
Even though the majority of them could not speak English
it is amazing how efficient they were
and how we all managed to communicate
it is a VERY long journey from where I live
to Osaka, Japan, and from there to PL headquarters, about another hour away.
was it worth it
yes, every minute, second of the pilgrimage
was a blessing
my sincere gratitude and love goes to all
who shared this journey with me
making it an unforgetable experience.
Oyashikiri
In life, if we are present in our daily activities, we soon discover that all in life is a mirror. When we are faced with a choice, the easiest way is not always the choice that will make you happy. Just because you think you know something, doesn’t mean that you do.
I took my camera to Japan, intending to come home with pictures galore. I barely had time to think of having my camera out, nor had I the inclination when time was available to me. C’est la vie. I had a wonderful time, even though the long traveling time and the change in atmosphere/weather proved to be a challenge for me. More once the jet lagged has moved on. With no internet I have missed your visits, I will look forward to catching up when I can.
Till soon
Oyashikiri
dymoonblog 