Our Form of Walking Meditation

The monastery land, with a difference in elevation of nearly 1000ft, is a consecrated site for walking meditation.  The huts are off-the-grid and uninsulated while providing protection from rain and insects.

If one has memorized the 27-syllable mantra of Fudo Myo-O, which is transmitted during an initial 3-day visit to the monastery, then he may participate in walking meditation during subsequent visits.  He may practice either as a householder bodhisattva in Shugendo or as a monk bodhisattva in Tendai.  The type of walking meditation known as kaihogyo starts with repeated 5-hour circumambulations of Cobb Mtn under the guidance of one of the resident monks. 

Advantages of Walking Meditation

These words of Shakyamuni Buddha are found in the Numerical Discourses:
"Monks, there are five benefits of walking meditation.  What five? One becomes capable of journeys; one becomes capable of striving; one becomes healthy; what one has eaten, drunk, consumed, and tasted is properly digested; the concentration attained through walking meditation is long lasting.  These are the five benefits of walking meditation."

Repainting a Statue of Fudo-sama

This unusual statue of Fudo Myo-O was donated by a Tendai believer who owns an antique shop in Kyoto.  It was solid black in color, but when the priest Douken stripped it to prepare it for repainting -- surprise!! -- it was originally emerald green.  Below is shown a stage in the repainting.

The painting is nearing completion.

Buddha on Loan

Not a Buddha, rather a statue of a Buddha, symbolic of a Buddha.

2500 years ago, when a monk wished to draw a likeness of Shakyamuni so that the monk could keep the Buddha in mind at times when he was meditating at a distant place, Shakyamuni said "No, but you may draw an image of the Bodhi Tree to keep me in mind."  Thus started the tradition of symbolic rather than lifelike images of Buddhas.  Here he is shown with the vitarka mudra, representing discussion of the Dharma.

Icons which were made for meditative purposes in temples were subject to theft, plunder, and profitable trade at a later date.  The 31st of the minor bodhisattva precepts urges the bodhisattva to redeem such treasures.  However 1500 years after the formulation of those precepts, the cultural context is no longer relevant.  Images are produced commercially for decorating homes, gardens, and businesses.  Such is the case here, this statue being accurately and artistically produced, later purchased by our local dentist, and stored in his garage.  So he then lent it to us indefinitely rather than have it languish in storage, and we are happy to give this Buddha a temporary home.