[Date & Time] Wednesday, December 12, at 13:00～16:00[Place] Kenchoji Temple
[Participants] 2 Foreign Students of Tokai University from Bulgaria and Italy, 1 German Student from NTT Corporation, and 4 American Master Sergeants from Yokosuka U.S. Naval Base
[Attendants] 2 KSGG members.
At Kenchoji Temple, more than 30 participants who wanted to experience zazen gathered in hojo (a head monk’s quarters). Zazen started under the guidance of a Buddhist monk in fluent English. An American guy sitting next to me was struck with a wooden stick by the priest twice, because he couldn't manage his thick and long legs. The Buddhist monk said that we should put strength into the lower abdomen during zazen, which made my muscle pain more than I had expected. I admire the Great Buddha who has been sitting still for almost 800 years. After experiencing zazen, we listened to the priest’s lecture and had a question and answer session. As it was a cold day, hot powered green tea served at the end made us feel relieved.