Visiting Engakuji Temple and a Zen Temple for Zazen
[Date & Time] Monday, November, 22, at 12:00~17:30
[Spots] On board the SAS, Engakuji Temple, and Chojuji Temple (Kita-Kamakura)
[Visitors] 21 participants, including SAS students, their professors, and their parents
[Attendants] 6 KSGG members
[Language] English
To begin with, the outline of Kamakura was explained and a lecture on “Zen and Bushido” was given on board by a KSGG member, and then the 21 students visited Kita-Kamakura. They were all young and lively. At Engakuji Temple, we explained its outline and, after that, strolling through its precincts full of beautiful red and yellow leaves, saw san-mon, or an inner gate, butsu-den, or a main worshiping hall, senbutsu-jo, or a temporary niche, and kojirin, a place for practicing zazen. The expressions they used to admire the beauty of nature were quite matured and how they enjoyed silent talks with its scenery was impressive.
Then we went to Chojuji Temple. After the tea ceremony was explained in detail by a KSGG member, we had sweets and matcha, a powdered green tea there. Finally, they moved to practice zazen. We interpreted the priest’s explanation and guidance, so that they could go smoothly into meditation. The priest said after the practice, “The way you practiced zazen was better than the way young Japanese people do.” I understand that some of them had experienced a similar medi
tation during their stay in India. They were really promising young people. Home-Visit Experience 1
[Date & Time] Monday, November 22, at 10:00～16:30
[Spots] 1 KSGG member’s home and Yokomizo Residence
[Visitors] 4 girl students from the U.S.
[Attendant] 1 KSGG member
At my home, I first explained zazen, and then showed them how to make and drink matcha or powdered green tea, using our matcha tea set. The girls tried to do it very actively as they were told to, and made a hub-bub laying out on the table the dishes they had bought. Their topics were food, travel, and their families and, unlike the boys, not any politics, economics, and jobs. After lunch we visited Yokomizo Residence nearby. Several surprising gifts, including the dolls in glass cases, had been prepared for them to pick whatever they liked, but they were half in doubt. In addition, matcha was served and they were allowed to pick persimmons in the backyard. They were awfully delighted by their wonderful home-visit like this.
≪Thank- you e-mail from Ms.A., one of the girl students≫
Thank you so much for allowing me to spend the day with your family. It means a lot to me.
I hope it was fun for you as well.
Thank you for participating in our HOME VISIT Program.
I hope to stay in touch! I left my address and promise to write when I’m back in New Hampshire.
Home-Visit Experience 2
[Date & Time] Tuesday, November 23, at 10:00～17:30
[Spots] 1 KSGG member’s home, Yokohama Landmark Tower’s Sky Garden, and Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum
[Visitors] 3 girl students and 1 boy student, all from the U.S.
[Attendants] 1 KSGG member
and her familyMy daughter and I met 4 students at Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal at 10 o’clock, and took them to my house. We arrived at our house at 10:30, and I introduced them to my husband. After tea, we had okonomiyaki, or a pancake on the hot-plate, sushi, onigiri or rice ball, and sandwiches for lunch. Above all, they liked okonomiyaki. After lunch they talked a lot over tea and sweets about their college life, the countries they had visited on the way by SAS ship, and so on. After visiting Landmark Tower’s Sky Garden observatory on the 69th floor and strolling through shops nearby, I took three students back to Osanbashi at 15:50. On the other hand, my husband took the boy student among the 4 students to Raumen Museum in Shin-Yokohama, because he suddenly said that he wanted to go to Raumen Museum after the strolling. They returned to Osanbashi at 17:30.
I had been concerned about their home visit, for we had never hosted any foreigners before. Yet I could enjoy myself sharing several refreshing hours with young university students from the U.S.—without any trouble.