We had a zazen tour last Sunday at Chokoji in Numazu. This temple belongs to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai Sect. All of the participants tried zazen for the first time. Some of them were worried about whether they could sit in the lotus or semi-lotus posture or not. We prepared chairs for the people who might have difficulties or find it hard to get used to. We use Japanese flat cushions (zabuton) and a pillow-like round cushion which make it easier for us to keep a good posture for zazen.
Since we are beginners, Reverand Matsushita explained various details. We live in a very stressful society. Many people are suffering mentally and physically. Zazen can be one of the solutions for it. He showed us a Daruma doll. In fact a famous Daruma festival is going on in Fuji City. We have to sit like Daruma or Mt. Fuji. We have to breath slowly and deeply and concentrate on our mind. We hold power at the point called Tanden which is located around 3 centimeters below our bellybuttons. The priest used an air pump for bicycles to show us how to breathe properly. This breathing method can be a key to stay healthy and to be successful.
After zazen we relaxed with confectionary and powdered green tea. We enjoyed the scroll painting and talked about it. Usually at tea gathering, the scroll and the arranged flower constitute a message from the host to the guests. Today’s scroll was Mt. Fuji.
Then we moved to a nearby restaurant named Garden Bells. The owner is a great chef. Today she made a Buddhist’s meal. In zen’s teaching, eating is a kind of training. They have certain rules to have meals and we got to know a little. As they chant sutra we serve food by ourselves. It’s a kind of busy but fun.
We give a lot of thanks for the food and the people who prepared it and reflect if we are really worthy of it. We consider the meaning of eating and try not to devour the food greedily.
The food was so delicious that I devoured it . I’m sure the food I had was too good for me. I feel like talking about the restaurant to many people but on the other hand I’d liketo keep it as a hidden diamond.
We’ll have the same kind of tour on June 21st and 27th. If anyone feels like coming, please contact me.
Responses to “Zazen Tour”
March 10th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Hi Elisa
Thank you for coming. I’m very glad to know you enjoyed youreself at the tour.
We are planning this kind of zazen tours on 21st and 27th of June. If you or your friends are interested in them, please join us.Or we might organize a gourmet tour at Garden Bells. Let’s have fun.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:55 am
Hi Yumi, thanks again for organising this tour! Zazen meditation was something I’d always wanted to try, but never had the opportunity to. I really liked how Reverend Matsushita used everyday objects, like the bicycle pump and the kettle, to convey Zazen teachings to us. His explanations were interesting and easy to understand. Meditation was a bit of a challenge for me, but I’ll work on it
Having a little taste of the life of a Zazen monk was definitely a worth-while experience.
The tea and sweets were also really delicious. I liked the explanation about the scroll too - interesting and informative, as now I know it’s sort of etiquette to appreciate a host’s scroll (and that usually the scroll is chosen to fit the occasion or with whatever is going on at the time, such as the season or events).
And the food at Garden Bells was soo delicious. I hope I can go back again soon! I could easily eat the food “monk style” (i.e. silently) cause I was so focused on consuming and enjoying as much food as possible haha
Meditation, tea, and good food was a pretty nice way to start the day - I left feeling very relaxed and happy.
Thanks again for organising this wonderful “Japanese” experience!