As the ship came to Yokohama via Kobe, most students got off the ship in Kobe to visit Kyoto and elsewhere and came to Yokohama by bullet train early in the next morning, the day when they visited Kamakura with us. I saw them trying to fully enjoy a short 2-day-stay in Japan themselves.
☆Zazen Experience for the Semester at Sea
[Date & Time] Friday, April 13, at 10:00～17:45
[Spots] Engakuji Temple and Chojuji Temple
[Visitors] 30 participants from the Semester at Sea, including 1 child
[Attendants] 7 KSGG members
It was a fine and perfect day to have zazen experience. About 30 students and teachers gathered in the spacious event space on the ship to have an orientation of Kamakura before we went there. The guests, who are intelligent and curious students, listened with interest to the presentation about the history of Shogunate and Buddhism which was provided by 1 KSGG member.
At Chojuji Temple, after they had experienced tea ceremony for about 15 minutes, they experienced zazen (sitting meditation), which they had most wanted to do. Before starting zazen, they listened to the chief priest's explanations of how to cross their legs, maintain a good posture, take breath, and set your mind through an interpreter. In silence, 4 mediators asked the priest to strike them on their shoulders with kyosaku (encouragement stick), who looked nervous and were satisfied with a solemn atmosphere. We felt purified, and after having the honor of seeing its beautiful garden, we finished the experience tour in total contentment.