Noriaki Kobayashi

Perhaps my heart became more tolerant, as I found myself giving way to people in a hurry in hallways, and I was surprised to find myself doing this naturally.

This was my first time to participate in a Temples Stay. It was not a “hospitality” like a shukubo, but really a “training dojo”. We were given strict instructions on the rules of eating and manners, as well as the formality of traditional ceremonies.

Cleaning up the dishes and sweeping up the floor was not mere work, but an act of consideration for all people, and there was no unconscious behavior at all. I asked myself what kind of insights I could gain through this process. I was astonished at how many things we do unconsciously in our daily lives without thinking deeply about them. During the training, I felt my own naivete many times.

I was surrounded by nature, without the use of PCs or smartphones, away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, and the sounds of birds, animals, and trees blowing in the wind were soothing and stress-free.

I learned a lot from the advice given to the participants by the monks, who were very compassionate and caring, rather than using high-pressure, direct language.

The meals were very healthy and delicious. The food was very healthy and tasty. It was gentle to my tired body and seemed to be absorbed into each cell. The amount of food was just right, and I realized that I eat too much in my daily life.

I had been squatting while weeding until the third day, which was quite difficult because I was not used to it, and my legs and back were fatigued. It was an interesting discovery that the mind affects the body, or the body affects the mind.

On the way home, I was surprised to find myself not getting so irritated at the train station and other places where people were passing by, and I was able to be more tolerant, giving way to people in a hurry, and doing so naturally.
Normally, I would have said in my head, “Give way, there! I usually would have clucked my tongue in my head and said, “Yield!

I wake up in the morning, change the water for the flowers on the Buddhist altar, and offer incense, but since my mother’s Buddhist name is Nichiren Buddhism, I am thinking of adding the chanting of the Myōhō Renge Kyō Nyorai shimai chanzai to my morning routine.
I am trying to remember to chant “Gokan no Ge” anytime, anywhere before meals.

I will try to put myself in the other person’s shoes, think about what is in my heart, put it into words, and then act accordingly. I would like to think about how I can prepare my mind for this and how I can learn to be skillful, and I will devote myself to putting them into practice in my daily life. The experience at Temple Stay is an asset for me.
I would be happy if you could see how I have grown and changed again in my training at Temple Stay.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the friends I spent time with at Temple Stay, to the monks who provided enthusiastic and kind guidance, and to the Taigu Osho who led me to this realization.

Gasshō.