We had strong winds blowing during the night, but no major rain falls. Fortunately, the bamboo construction on which the rice is hanging was not affected either. This moth, Tobi is teaching us Yoga every morning at 4am. Doing zazen after warming up the body and waking up the mind isn’t a bad idea.
It is harvesting season in Antaiji. A typhoon is scheduled to pass through here tomorrow, therefore we decided to cut the rice in the second field today. Tobi from Berlin and Tsukan from Oregon push the binder that cuts and binds the plants so that the can be hung on the bamboo construction to dry … Read more
Almost 30 degrees Celsius! In the southern rice field, the water canal was dug deeper. Tsukan moves the rocks from the bottom of the canal to the area where we are building a new stone wall. Tobi and Eko have a look at the “binder” that will be used tomorrow to harvest the “Shinden” rice … Read more
Behind the monastery is an old, small shrine, that is taken care of by a Buddhist temple in Hamasaka that belongs to the Nichiren sect. On this day, many people that used to live in the village that once existed in this area came to celebrate the reopening of the small shrine, taht had been … Read more
On the evning of the last day of sesshin, Jinen, Yoshin und Hakue received lay ordination in the main hall of Antaiji. We started with reciting the Heart Sutra: Senior monk Gusho leads the three through their movements.
Tonight I will give a tallk on “Fukanzazengi”. Tomorrow starts the 5 day sesshni, and on the last day of sesshin Jinen-san (J), Yoshin-san (AUS) and Hakue-san (Mexico) will receive lay ordination. In the evening, if the waether is fine, we will have a camp fire. See you again on the 6th!
Today is the free day before the next 5 day sesshin. I am taking a walk with my son Izumi, who is one and a half years old now. We end up in the empty Zen hall, where Izumi is drawn to the bell which signals the beginning and end of zazen. Maybe one day … Read more
Discussing the area and content of the activities of the group with group leader Eko-san. For the neaxt three years, we will tryt o clean up the forest surrounding Antaiji but cutting dead trees and removing the spreading bamboo. Trying to decide what needs to be done first and which our preferences are for the … Read more
Last day of the yoga event in Hakone. In the morning, I sat zazen with two ladies from Germany at the lake in Hakone, and from 10:30 I gave a talk on bodhi-mind with about 15 Japanese participants attending. Because it was done on a pier on the lake, the right side of my face … Read more
I led two courses today, “Introduction to kinhin” held at a local shrine in the early morning, and “Just sitting” in the evening. Thanks to the sponsorship by MINI, the event could take place at the top of the mountain. Here I am talking to Andreas from Germany, who introduces their new model (in English!): … Read more