How would you describe your experience during your Japan trip?
The experience was absolutely one of a kind, unforgettable, and remarkable. It was a lovely opportunity to get to see unique aspects of Japan, experience the fabulous Japanese vegan Zen cuisine and get to know closely fellow members of Zenways and Blue Cliff Zen Centre. We saw parts of Japan that are not necessarily listed in torist books. I have travelled to Japan before, but if I wasn’t with Zenways/Blue Cliff, I wouldn’t have been able to see these unique parts. The Zen cuisine is not accessible unless one dines at Zen temples. It is not accessible in North America. Every dish was set up like art with the most immaculate presentation. We had the good fortune of dining at the retreat centre for 6 days and enjoy the Zen cuisine for the duration of session.
What was the most impactful and insightful experience you had during the Sesshin?
This sesshin was very different than other sesshins, and I have been to quite a few Sesshins. My experience was releasing a lot of tension and toxicity from my body. I had less insights and more release of physical symptoms. I came to Japan from a period of 6 months of intense and insane work in a difficult work environment. I had lots to let go. My retreat experience was almost solely focused on the body and dropping or releasing tension from the body and relaxing the body. The retreat was unique because of its beautiful location, having access to the wisdom of two Roshis. Having access to Sanzen with both Daizan and Shinkai was remarkable. Each provided a different form of wisdom and I am very grateful for that. Being so close to Hozenji made the retreat very unique. We opened and closed the Sesshin with a visit to Hozenji. We also experienced a very unique waterfall practice at the end of the Sesshin. The waterfall was magical and a great end to the Sesshin. I ventured to go under the cold waterfall, not just once but twice. While under the waterfall, it felt like a new portal to different kind of energy opened up.
How did the environment and setting in Japan contribute to your overall experience at the retreat?
The days of the sitting had the beautiful backdrop of the fabulous sacred mountain, the forest and the bamboo grove. All day one could hear the music of the birds in the background. The weather was really beautiful with some rain, some fog, and some sunshine. The beauty of spring in the mountains was remarkable. We started and finished the Sesshin by visiting the Hozenji. I also took the opportunity to visit the Hozenji temple 3-4 times in some of my free time. Chanting Heart Sutra and burning incents at the temple was really special. Hozenji reminded me of many of the Zen writings. It is located on a sacred mountain and the atmosphere was unbelievably beautiful.
After the retreat, how do you think you integrated the practice in your mindset and daily habits?
It is still early days. I am still feeling the detox continuing and the practice integrating. However, today as I was teaching yoga, I realized my yoga teaching has much smoother flow, had softened and is a lot more relaxed. This shift is a direct impact of the retreat and my Japan experience.
What was the most memorable place you visited during your sightseeing week in Japan?
The highlight was the temple in Uji, where there is a memorial/ grave of Zen mater Dogen. I truly enjoy the writings of Zen master Dogan and seeing the temple that was build in his honor and is still a training monastery was remarkable. The peace and beauty of that temple was unbelievable. Another highlight was visiting Hiroshima, the museum of atomic bomb, and listening to one of the survivors of the atomic bomb. It was unbelievably difficult, but also an essential part of our practice. Knowing the darkest horrors of what humans can do to one another is critical for our practice. It reminds us why take the precepts and why our practice is important. It is essential and critical. Lastly, one of the best parts was being with a small group of Sangha members. I felt fortunate to get to know everyone a bit better and have deep conversations during the second week and the sightseeing with our fellow sangha members. We have a lovely community, and two genuinely kind and generous Roshis. Thank you Shinkai and Daizan for making this experience available.