[Date & Time] Wednesday, February 22, at 13:30~15:45[Visitors] 2 officers of the Yokosuka U.S. Naval Base
[Attendants] 3 KSGG members
Soon we entered hojo or a priest chamber (Ryuoden) where zazen was to be held. First, the priest taught us how to sit when we meditate. Then we meditated twice, taking intermission. In the third zazen, we once walked around along the boarded corridor which encloses this hojo, joining our hands in prayer. When we walked around, we found a garden created by Rankei Doryu who had opened this temple, which reminded us that this was a Zen temple. We were moved by the beauty of nature and the severity of the Zen sect, seeing the pond which delineates a kanji character, kokoro (heart,), and then we went back to hojo.
After we could calm ourselves in zazen, we drank powered green tea in another room. The chief priest and other priests gave wonderful explanations about zazen and powered green tea in fluent English.
As we could refresh ourselves in zazen at a Zen temple, we enjoyed the fragrant odor of Robai or a kind of Japanese apricot and early bloomers of Japanese apricot on our way back to the station and said goodbye to each other in a friendly atmosphere.