Minori Shizen

Just be receptive and work hard.

Thank you very much for the 6 days and 5 nights. And thank you for the many insights.

It all happened so fast.
Before I knew it, I seemed to have blisters on both thumbs, and there were marks where the skin had peeled off, and I suddenly wanted to laugh, wondering if I had been working so hard that I hadn’t even noticed them. It was a week in which I simply and honestly embraced the programme, which was filled with the compassion of the monk Taigu, who seemed to be saying, “Try this, you will transform.”

As a result, day by day my body became less tired and my mind lighter, and even though wiping a hall with rags on the floor was painful at first, the last day I didn’t feel much pain. Of all the cleaning tasks, the one that impressed me the most was wiping the tatami mats. One of my problems is that I usually think about other things during important talks and cannot concentrate, or I get into delusions or negative thoughts, but when I was wiping the tatami, I kept my breathing steady and only thought about the next visitors. I realised that if you train your body, your mind changes too. After wiping, I felt refreshed and felt that this kind of daily cleaning was also important for the dignified atmosphere and fresh air I felt when I first visited.

And in the evening, zazen and FMT body stretching reduced my fatigue. I was impressed by the treatment given by the teachers: there were many people who snored and fell asleep, some whose pains disappeared and others whose pains were alleviated.
Starting the day with the bell ringing at 4:45 in the morning, when it was still dark, was the extreme, but it also felt very luxurious.

Also in the evening, I was able to listen to the honest stories of Monk Eiko and the other disciples, which made me feel closer to them and the warmth of their compassion. I also appreciated the story told by Monk Eiko in the morning session. I will try to be aware of my five senses when my bad parts seem to come out. I also learnt that my patience can have a negative impact on others.

Then, all the meals were delicious, and I was constantly impressed by how they could produce this taste, how they were made, what these vegetables were, and so on. I would like to go there to train.

The problem is when I got back to my home. But the warmth like a lamp is still in my heart since I saw the YouTube of Monk Taigu three years ago. With the light as a driving force, I want to create a stir with what I can do with a heart of compassion. For example, a tofu shop that is particular about its ingredients? I don’t know yet. There are fewer and fewer good tofu shops in my local area. Even if it’s just a pebble, I would like to try throwing a stone with compassion…
I was lucky to meet the monk Taigu. What he said at “The Temple for Adults” touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I’m grateful.

And thank you to all my fellow Zen friends. I was able to do things I couldn’t do alone, but because everyone was with me, I was able to have fun. I am grateful for this connection. Thank you very much for your help.