Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is the place to be if you like to write and share Japanese poetry forms like haiku and tanka. It’s a warmhearted family of haiku poets created by Chèvrefeuille, a Dutch haiku poet. Japanese poetry is the poetry of nature and it gives an impression of a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water. ++ ALL WORKS PUBLISHED ARE COPYRIGHTED AND THE RIGHTS BELONG TO THE AUTHORS ++ !!! Anonymous comments will be seen as SPAM !!!
Welcome at a new episode of our Kai, but before I start with this episode I have to apologize for not publishing last weekend. There were circumstances in private life that needed my attention so I hadn't time to publish our weekend meditation last weekend.
Today I have a more informative episode for you all about the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the pilgrimage that is our theme this month.
The Shikoku Pilgrimage or Shikoku Junrei is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims (known as henro still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic, pious, and tourism-related purposes.
In addition to the 88 "official" temples of the pilgrimage, there are over 200 bangai — temples not considered part of the official 88. To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order; in some cases it is even considered lucky to travel in reverse order.
The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles, or motorcycles. The walking course is approximately 1,200 km long and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete. "Henro" is the Japanese word for pilgrim, and the inhabitants of Shikoku call the pilgrims o-henro-san, the o being an honorific and the san a title similar to "Mr." or "Mrs.". They are often recognizable by their white clothing, sedge hats, and kongō-tsue or walking sticks. Alms or osettai are frequently given. Many pilgrims begin and complete the journey by visiting Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kūkai and remains the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The 21 km walking trail up to Koya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.
mysterious Island dedicated to the Path of Enlightenment four countries* as one
Maybe you can remember our earlier Shikoku Pilgrimage months back in 2012 and in 2017, we became Henro (as the pilgrims are called) and walked this wonderful pilgrimage along the 88 temples on Shikoku Island.
This month we are going again to walk this pilgrimage together hoping that Shikoku Island will bring us the inspiration for our Japanese poetry. The Shikoku pilgrimage is a once in a lifetime to do pilgrimage for Buddhists ... so this month we will be Buddhists, Henr-o that walk the pilgrimage along the 88 temples established by Kobo Daishi (774-835).
One of the 88 temples on Shikoku Island, the Sakura Temple
Are you with me this month?
first cherry blossoms winter is running towards its end -- a new day rises
I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend full of inspiration ... and peace of the soul and heart. I hope you are all okay and into a new week of CDHK. This month we are pilgrims, our theme "an act of devotion" describes what pilgrims feel when they are on a pilgrimage.
A few days ago I told you a little bit about the "Hajj", the once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca for our muslim neighbors. A same once in a lifetime pilgrimage is the Shikoku pilgrimage, a pilgrimage on the Island Shikoku along 88 temples. This is a once in a lifetime pilgrimage for Buddhists.
Maybe you can remember that we walked this pilgrimage together back in February and March 2014 and it was really a wonderful (digital) pilgrimage.
Logo Shikoku Pilgrimage 2014
The Shikoku Pilgrimage or Shikoku Junrei is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims (known as henro still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic, pious, and tourism-related purposes.
In addition to the 88 "official" temples of the pilgrimage, there are over 200 bangai — temples not considered part of the official 88. To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order; in some cases it is even considered lucky to travel in reverse order. The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles, or motorcycles. The walking course is approximately 1,200 km long and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete. "Henro" is the Japanese word for pilgrim, and the inhabitants of Shikoku call the pilgrims o-henro-san, the o being an honorific and the san a title similar to "Mr." or "Mrs.". They are often recognizable by their white clothing, sedge hats, and kongō-tsue or walking sticks. Alms or osettai are frequently given. Many pilgrims begin and complete the journey by visiting Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kūkai and remains the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The 21 km walking trail up to Koya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.
pilgrims chanting the Heart Sutra to honor Kukai - cry of a Vulture breaks through the serene temple - pilgrims chanting
This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until September 22nd at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on. For now ... have fun!
I have to apologize (again) for not publishing yesterday, but sometimes ... time is not at my side. Today however I had time to create a new episode of this wonderful pilgrimage month.
As I told you earlier this month the Kumano Kodo (Ancient Road) is a complex of five different pilgrimage route and today I love to take you on another Kumano Kodo trail ... The Kohechi trail.
Let me tell you a little bit about this Kohechi trail: Kohechi connects Kumano with Koyasan. This mountaintop route is long and challenging, and consequently should not be undertaken without careful preparation. Inns are rarely found without zigzagging up and down the mountainsides into valley towns, greatly increasing the distance traveled. Kohechi was used mainly by Buddhist monks from the temple complex of Mount Koya.
a fallen cocoon in the first rays of the morning sun - a butterfly rises drying it's young blue wings to live fully
About the temple complex of Mount Koya there is a lot to tell but of course that;s not possible, but I just had to tell you a little about it.
Mount Koya (Kōyasan) is the center of Shingon Buddhism, an important Buddhist sect which was introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai), one of Japan's most significant religious figures. A small, secluded temple town has developed around the sect's headquarters that Kobo Daishi built on Koyasan's wooded mountaintop. It is also the site of Kobo Daishi's mausoleum and the start and end point of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
Garan Temple
Kobo Daishi began construction on the original Garan temple complex in 826 after wandering the country for years in search of a suitable place to center his religion. Since then over one hundred temples have sprung up along the streets of Koyasan. The most important among them are Kongobuji, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism, and Okunoin, the site of Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.
pilgrims chanting the Heart Sutra to honor Kukai - cry of a Vulture breaks through the serene temple - pilgrims chanting
Here we make a connection with one of our earlier pilgrimages here at CDHK ... the Shikoku pilgrimage. Back in 2014 we digitally walked this pilgrimage for two months visiting the 88 temples on Shikoku Island. The above tanka I wrote back in those months.
I have wonderful memories of that Shikoku pilgrimage and I hope, you my dear Haijin, have those memories too.
deep meditation high up in the mountains chanting Buddhist monks
What an awesome feeling this episode gives me. Here we can feel how all the post on CDHK are connected with each other ... isn't that awesome?
This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until March 27th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new episode later on. Have fun!
In our CDHK history we have done exciting things all along the virual road. We made several journeys and we have walked pilgrimages all over the world. Back in 2014 we went to Shikoku Island, Japan after our journey straight through the former USSR. On Shikoku Island we visited, like millions of other O-Henro, the 88 temples converted to Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai). The Shikoku pilgrimage is to Buddhists what the Hajj is for the Muslim. The Buddhists have to make this pilgrimage once in a life time and so it was our duty, as haiku poets, to visit Shikoku.
Today I have chosen one of the temples on Shikoku Island to inspire you with. This temple is named Ryuko-ji and is devoted to the Buddha of Compassion. One of the main ideas of Buddhism. In that episode (HERE) I also told you a little about the "State of Zen" in haiku and I remember that I told you a little bit more about "wordlessness".
"Wordlessness" is (in my opinion) one of the pillars of haiku. Look at our haiku. Three lines, approximately 17 syllables and around 15 or 20 words. It's a very short poem, but in that poem the strenght is the scenes that are tols about without words. So "wordlessness" is part of haiku.
As I am preparing this episode I remember that I experimented with the haiku form last month and I think those experimental haiku are the best "image" or "example" of wordlessness in haiku. Nice to realize that. I hadn't thought about experimental haiku in the way of "wordlessness". Awesome.
Here is an example of what I call "experimental haiku", I think you will remember this one from last month.
This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7:00 PM (CET) and will remain open until October 17th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new episode, nakedness, later on.
Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers, Yesterday I told you about our journey straight through the former USSR and at the end of that journey we took the airplane to Japan, to finally arrive at Shikoku Island were we took part in the pilgrimage along the 88 temples. Today we are re-visiting the Zentsu-ji temple in Zentsu-ji Kagawa Prefecture. This temple is built in the early 9th century and is built in the birth place of Kobo Daishi. This temple was built by his father, Zentsu Saeki.
The Shikoku trail is based on the life and actions by Kobo Daishi (or Kukai) and is established in honor of him. This Shikoku Pilgrimage is for Buddhists, what the Hajj is for the muslim. It's a once in a life-time to do pilgrimage for the Buddhists. We followed this trail of Kobe Daishi for two months (February and March 2014) and it was a very uplifting and inspirational pilgrimage. We met other O-Henro (the name for the Shikoku pilgrims) and learned at lot about Buddhism and ourselves. in deep silence
monks cleaning up their garden - willow leaves fall
(c) Chèvrefeuille
It was really a joy to do this Shikoku Pilgrimage together with you and I recall that we also followed the Road to Santiago de Compostela by following Paulo Coelho in is novel "The Pilgrimage". As I look back to the last two years I only can say "we have seen and learned a lot". (By the way ... I am behind with commenting. I hope to catch up a.s.a.p.)
This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until October 27th at noon (CET). I will publish our next episode, Kite (April 2014), later on. For now ... have fun!
Dear O-Henro ... Haijin, visitors and travelers, Today is a special day we are visiting the Zentsu-ji temple in Zentsu-ji Kagawa Prefecture. This temple is built in the early 9th century and is built in the birth place of Kobo Daishi. This temple was built by his father, Zentsu Saeki.
The Shikoku trail is based on the life and actions by Kobo Daishi (or Kukai) and is established in honor of him. This Shikoku Pilgrimage is for Buddhists, what the Hajj is for the muslim. It's a once in a lif-time to do pilgrimage for the Buddhists. Zentsu-ji is devoted to Yakushi Nyorai or the Buddha of Healing and Medicine. Starting in
the 7th century in Japan, Yakushi was prayed to in the place of Ashuku
(Akshobhya). Some of Yakushi's role has been taken over by Jizō (Ksitigarbha),
but Yakushi is still invoked in the traditional memorial services for the dead.
Older temples, those mostly found in the Tendai and Shingon sects, especially
those around Kyoto, Nara and the Kinki region often have Yakushi as the center
of devotion, unlike later Buddhist sects which focus on Amitabha Buddha or
Kannon Bodhisattva almost exclusively. Often, when Yakushi is the center of
devotion in a Buddhist temple, he is flanked by the Twelve Heavenly Generals (十二神将 Jūni-shinshō?), who were twelve yaksha generals who had been converted
through hearing the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaiḍūryaprabhārāja Sūtra:
"Wherever this sutra circulates or wherever
there are sentient beings who hold fast to the name of the Medicine Buddha
[Yakushi Buddha] and respectfully make offerings to him, whether in villages,
towns, kingdoms or in the wilderness, we [the Twelve Generals] will all protect
them. We will release them from all suffering and calamities and see to it that
all their wishes are fulfilled." (Source: Wikipedia)
Buddhist monks think and believe that Kobo Daishi isn't dead and that he still is alive hiding in the mountains, especially on Mount Koya. They bring food to this place for Kobo Daishi to keep him healthy and comfortable.
Buddhist Monks bringing Kobo Daishi food on Mount Koya
On Mount Koya a temple is once built named Kongobuji and a village, Koyasan, was established around it. Koyasan has become a small town during the centuries and was until 1872 only a place for male monks. In 1872 Koyasan became also open for women. Since then Koyasan has grown and in 2004 it became an UNESCO World Heritage. It's now the headquarters of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism and the Kongobuji temple is the heart of their religion.
Kongobuji tempel has one the worlds greatest rock gardens in which they practice Zen-Buddhism.
What a wonderful garden full of Zen and spirituality must be a joy to walk through it.
in deep silence monks cleaning up their garden - willow leaves fall
(c) Chèvrefeuille
What a joy this must be ... to have such a Rock Garden and meditate in it while cleaning it up ...
chanting their mantra broomstick and rake in hand true meditation
(c) Chèvrefeuille
This episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until March 26th 11.59 AM (CET). I will try to publish our new episode, Sanuki Kokubun-ji (temple 80), later on. For now ... have fun, be inspired and share your haiku, senryu, tanka, kyoka or haibun with our Haiku Kai.
Today we will enter Kochi Prefecture, the ''second country'' on Shikoku Island were we are walking in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi (774-835) along the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. And we have a little celebration today, because this is our 400th episode of Carpe Diem ... another mile-stone in our young life as a haiku-family. What a joy you all have brought me and still bring me as I read all your wonderful haiku, senryu, tanka, kyoka and haibun shared here with us all. I feel proud and humble, because I may be your host here ...
Four hundred episodes ago I started with this daily haiku meme and we have evolved to a wonderful and loving community in which everyone can feel free and save. Thank you all for being here, thank you all for being part of this haiku-family.
feeling proud one single red rose on a vase - everlasting love
(c) Chèvrefeuille
Hatsumisakiji (Temple 24) is devoted to Kokuzo Bosatsu or the Buddha of boundless space, of wisdom and emptiness. Kokūzō is
especially important to Japan’s Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyō 密教). Kokūzō symbolizes the "vast and boundless" Buddha wisdom
that permeates the universe. In Japan, believers pray to Kokūzō to grant them
wisdom on their quest toward enlightenment. They also pray to Kokūzō to improve
their memory, technical skills, and artistic talents.
With arriving at Hatsumisakiji we have entered Kochi Prefecture in the city called Muroto which is on the shores of the Island and very well known for it's Cape Muroto.
Cape Muroto (Kochi Prefecture Japan)
Kochi Prefecture is an old part of Shikoku and in the 17th century it was known as Tosa Province. Kochi has a rich history and here in this prefecture one of the only 12 Japanese castles which are left in Japan is situated here on Shikoku in the Kochi Prefecture.
Kochi Castle
So next to the Hatsumisakiji temple there is more to see here in Muroto in Kochi Prefecture, but we are on a pilgrimage and do we have time to visit those sides ... of course we will have time, because walking through this beautiful ''country'' is a pilgrimage already. Pilgrmages are not always just for visiting churches and temples ... the roads and paths between them are more important. On the roads and paths you can meditate and contemplate about all things happening around you. Be aware of the nature around you. See the beauty of Mother Earth, seek for her inner beauty ... just remember ... be like a child. A child can be happy with just a wonderful flower, a nice leaf or just a smile. Let the child inside you come out and enjoy the pilgrimage chanting, dancing, laughing and weeping ... the path will lead you ... think about what you are longing for while you are on this (virtual) pilgrimage and what your final goal is which you want to accomplish ... silence ... only the song of a bird and rustling leaves (c) Chèvrefeuille This episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until February 16th 11.59 AM (CET). I will (try to) publish our next episode of Carpe Diem's Shikoku Pilgrimage, Kongochoji (Temple 26), later on today.
Youkoso at Shikoku dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Today we start with our Shikoku Pilgrimage and so I started this episode with "Youkoso", which means "welcome''. From this day on we will make a pilgrimage along the 88 temples on the Isle of Shikoku and will trod in the footsteps of thousands of O-Henro (pilgrims on Shikoku-route) and in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi (774-835).
So from today on, until the end of our pilgrimage next month, we will be O-Henro or pilgrims along the Shikoku temples-route. As O-Henro we have to wear special clothing as you can see in the photo hereafter.
And we have to learn the Heart-Sutra, which has to be sung at every temple.
[Leader]
Maka Hannya
Haramita Shingyo
[Everyone]
Kanjizai
Bosatsu Gyo Jin Hannya Haramita Ji
Sho Ken Go Un Kai Ku Do Issai Ku Yaku Sharishi
Shiki Fu I Ku
Ku Fu I Shiki
Shiki Soku Ze Ku
Ku Soku Ze Shiki
Ju So Gyo Shiki Yaku Bu Nyo Ze
Sharishi Ze Sho Ho Ku So Fu Sho Fu Metsu
Fu Ku Fu Jo Fu Zo Fu Gen Ze Ko Ku Chu
Mu Shiki Mu Ju So Gyo Shiki
Mu Gen Ni Bi Zets' Shin I
Mu Shiki Sho Ko Mi Soku Ho
Mu Gen Kai Nai Shi Mu I Shiki Kai Mu Mu Myo
Yaku Mu Mu Myo Jin Nai Shi Mu Ro Shi
Yaku Mu Ro Shi Jin Mu Ku Shu Metsu Do
Mu Chi Yaku Mu Toku I Mu Sho Tokko
Bodaisatta E Hannya Haramita
Ko Shin Mu Ke Ge
Mu Ke Ge Ko Mu U Ku Fu
On Ri Issai Tendo Mu So Ku Gyo Nehan
San Ze Sho Butsu E Hannya Haramita
Ko Toku A Noku Ta Ra Sanmyaku Sambodai
Ko Chi Hannya Haramita Ze Dai Jin Shu
Ze Dai Myo ShuZe Mu Jo Shu
Ze Mu To Do Shu
No Jo Issai Ku Shin Jitsu Fu Ko
Ko Setsu Hannya Haramita Shu
Soku Setsu Shu Watsu
Gyate Gyate Hara Gyate
Hara So Gyate Boji Sowa Ka
Hannya Shin Gyo
When a
sincere truth seeker attains the wisdom of enlightenment, he realizes that all
the five senses are empty and he transcends every suffering.
Listen: All things are no different from emptiness; emptiness is not different
from all things. Form is emptiness; emptiness is form. Feelings, perceptions,
impulses, consciousness are also like this.
Listen: The original nature of all things is neither born nor extinguished.
There is no purity, no defilement; no gain, no loss.
In this world of emptiness there is no form, no feelings, perceptions,
impulses, or consciousness. No eye, ear, tongue body, or mind. Therefore, no
color, sound, smell, taste, touch, or thought. The world of form does not
exist, nor the world of the mind or of ignorance; no old age and no death.
Yet there is continuous ignorance, old age, and death.
There is no suffering, no cause of suffering, no cessation of suffering; no
wisdom and no attainment because there is nothing to be attained. The
compassionate truth-seeker depends upon the wisdom of enlightenment.
When the mind does not become attached to anything, there are no obstacles and
fear does not exist. This mind goes beyond all disruptive views and attains
Nirvana. All the Buddhas of the past, present and future depend upon the wisdom
of enlightenment--and so attain the supreme, wisdom of enlightenment as the
great unexplainable true word, the great shining true word that is able to
remove all suffering. It is true, not false. This true word of wisdom says:
Gyate Gyate
Hara Gyate Hara So Gyate Bodhi Sowa Ka.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Of course none of the O-Henro, a few maybe, knows these words completely from his/her mind, so we will meet O-Henro who are chanting the Heart Sutra with a little booklet in their hands and maybe ... that's what we have to do too.
Well ... as we are prepared now I say again "Youkoso" and I bow for you. In my heart I chant the Heart Sutra to become in tune with Shikoku. We are on our way and will start at the first temple Ryozenji at Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture. It is here were the pilgrimage starts.
Ryozenji Temple is also known as "Vulture Peak" which refers to one of the sermons the Buddha once gave on a mountain with the same name. It was on that mountain that Buddha started with his religion and wrote the Heart-Sutra and e.g. the Lotus-Sutra. So this first temple is in every way the start of our Shikoku Pilgrimage.
In the upcoming episodes of our Shikoku Pilgrimage I will try to tell you all more about Buddhism as one of the roots for our beloved haiku. As you maybe know ... in the classical rules of haiku is said that there has to be a Buddhistic layer in haiku. Of course I will use haiku examples written by the classical haiku-poets and sometimes written by modern haiku-poets.
OK ... let us start with our Shikoku Pilgrimage and I love to share my first haiku for this new month with you and I am looking forward to all our new insights and wonderful haiku.
cry of a Vulture breaks through the serene temple -
pilgrims chanting
Well ... I hope you like this 'kick-of' haiku and I hope to read wonderful haiku written by you all my dear O-Henro ...
This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until February 2nd 11.59 AM (CET). I hope to post our new episode, that will be our first Special episode of this month in which we will follow in the footsteps of Paulo Coelho as he is on "The Way of St. James" (The Pilgrimage to Santiago De Compostela, Spain).
PS.: This month I will have no Tan Renga Challenges for you, because the posts about Shikoku and Paulo Coelho's Pilgrimage will take a lot of my time.
Tengri was
the chief deity worshipped by the ruling class of the Central Asian steppe
peoples in 6th to 9th centuries (Turkic peoples, Mongols and Hungarians). It lost its importance when the Uighuric
kagans proclaimed Manichaeism the state religion in the 8th century. Tengri was
the main god of the Turkic pantheon, controlling the celestial sphere.
The most important contemporary testimony of Tengri worship is found in the Old
Turkic Orkhon inscriptions, dated to the early 8th century. Written in the
so-called Orkhon script, these inscriptions record an account of the
mythological origins of the Turks. The inscription dedicated to Kul Tigin
includes the passages (in the translation provided by the Language Committee of
Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan): "When
the blue sky [Tengri] above and the brown earth below were created, between
them a human being was created. Over the human beings, my ancestors Bumin Kagan
and Istemi Kagan ruled. They ruled people by Turkish laws, they led them and
succeeded" (face 1, line 1); "Tengri creates death. Human beings have
all been created in order to die" (face 2, line 9); "You passed away
(lit.: 'went flying') until Tengri gives you life again" (face 2, line
14).
"Tengrism" is the term for a revival of Central Asian shamanism after
the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In
Tengriism, the meaning of life is seen as living in harmony with the
surrounding world. Tengriist believers view their existence as sustained by the
eternal blue Sky, Tengri, the fertile Mother-Earth, spirit Eje, and a ruler who
is regarded as the holy spirit of the Sky. Heaven, Earth, the spirits of nature
and the ancestors provide every need and protect all humans. By living an
upright and respectful life, a human being will keep his world in balance and
maximize his personal power Wind Horse.
It is said
that the Huns of the Northern Caucasus believed in two gods. One is called
Tangri han (that is Tengri Khan), who is thought to be identical to the Persian
Aspandiat and for whom horses were sacrificed. The other is called Kuar, whose
victims are struck down by lightning.
Tengriism
is actively practised in Sakha, Buryatia, Tuva and Mongolia in parallel with
Tibetan Buddhism and Burkhanism.
Tengrism, is also an theme in one of the novels by Paulo Coelho. In his novel "The Zahir", he's on a quest to find his beloved wife who has left him without letting him know where she is. His wife, in the novel a war-correspondent, has left him to find herself back. He meets Michael, a young charismatic man, who is telling stories about love and performs rituals with a few other friends of him. During the story Paulo and Michael become friends and finally they decide to go on a quest together. Michael returning back to his Mongolian roots taking Paulo with him. As they arrive in Mongolia Paulo learns about Tengrism and finds his beloved wife back somewhere in a village on the steppes.
As we already have find out during our journey with the Trans Siberian Railroad ... Tengrism uses Shaman-rituals and initiations and it also is familiar to Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhism is one of the main backgrounds for haiku and that's why we will soon start our pilgrimage on the Japanese Isle of Shikoku. This pilgrimage is similar with the Hajj of the Muslim. The Muslim have to go to Mecca, a Hajj, once in their lifetime. To Buddhists that's why they go on a pilgrimage along the 88 temples/shrines situated on Shikoku once in a lifetime. It follows the path of the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi or 'Kukai'.
flying high above Khan Tengri cry of an eagle cry of an eagle resonates through the temples - Shikoku Island Shikoku Island pilgrimage to Enlightenment - becoming a Henro Not a strong set I think, but I think it says what the post says in just a few words. With this post we have entered the realm of the Pilgrim ... our first step to become a Henro (Shikoku pilgrim).
This episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and it will remain open until January 30th 11.59 AM (CET). I will (try to) publish our next episode, Pilgrim, later on. Have fun, be inspired and be prepared to start our pilgrimage along the 88 temples/shrines in tribute to Kobo Daishi on Shikoku Island.
I love to give you all a Sneak Preview into the first quarter of our new year 2014 ... soon to come. Next December I will introduce to you a young talented musician which will provide us with his musical prompts (as we did earlier this year with the music by Karunesh). Adrian Von Ziegler is a great artist and I like his music a lot, but that's enough ... let us take a look at our prompt-list-ideas for the first quarter of 2014.
In the first two months we will undertake a pilgrimage, a once in a lifetime Buddhistic pilgrimage. We will visit the island Shikoku, where Buddhist monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, once lived.
Kobo Daishi (or Kukai), founder of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism
Kobo Daishi
(774-835) is a Buddhist Monk.His
original name is Kukai and the name Kobo Daishi was given to him
posthumously.Monk Kukai is the founder
of Shingon Sect (Shingan-Shu) of Buddhism and responsible building the sacred
temple complex on Mt. Koya (Koyasan).
Many Buddhist temples in Japan are dedicated to Kobo Daishi, including large
temples like Kawasaki Daishi Temple in the Kanto region.
At an early age, instead following prevailing Buddhist teachings such as Taoism, Monk
Kukai goes on a self awareness mission to China in 804.During this trip to China, he studies
Zhenyang doctrine under the direction of the monk Huiguo and became a master of
esoterism in 806. After
coming back to Japan, he started his own set of Buddhist teachings, which were
later transformed into Shingon sect (Shingon-shu).The teachings of Monk Kukai preach that each
person will be released from secular illusions and have his "mind's
eye" opened.He then will be an
awakened person to the actualities of life.He will then become a Buddha with his present body.
He was given the permission by then Emperor of Japan, (Emperor Saga) to build a
temple complex on Mt. Koya (Koyasan) in the Wakayama prefecture and part of the
Kii Peninsula.Under his leadership
Koyasan has flourished as a grooming place for thousands of buddhist monks in
the teachings of Shingon-shu.
Emperor Saga honored Monk Kukai with the directorship of Toji Temple in Kyoto
city and gave it the official name Kyo-o-gokokuji, which means the temple that
guards the capital (Kyoto city during the Heian period) and the land by virtue
of Ninno-gokoku-kyo (the main teachings of the Shingon Buddhism).Kukai made Toji the central seminary of
Esoteric Buddhism and added various other buildings to it.
Monk Kukai spent most of his later years in Mt. Koya (Koyasan) and he was later
laid to rest in Koyasan.Monk Kukai's
mausoleum is now a major destination for Buddhists and non Buddhists alike on
Koyasan.Known as Oku-no-in, it is a
must visit place for all followers of Buddhism.Monk Kukai,
for his times, is considered as a renaissance man by Japanese people.He was known to have invented and developed
the Hiragana (Japanese script language) and the first dictionary of Japanese
words.He also devised the 88 temple
pilgrimage of Shikoku (Shikoku Henro), which is considered as the fore father
of all the temple pilgrimages in Japan.
This Shikoku pilgrimage is the deliverer of our prompts in the first two months of the new year. The 88 temples will all be in the prompt-list and the first prompts of the new year I will use the 13 rules of Zen Buddihism to give you all a ''back-pack'' to fullfill the Shikoku Pilgrimage like real Henro (pilgrims). To give you all an idea I love to share a You Tube Video here:
The Shikoku
Pilgrimage (四国遍路
Shikoku Henro?) or Shikoku Junrei (四国巡礼?) is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples
associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku,
Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and
with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims (known as henro (遍路?)) still undertake the journey for
a variety of ascetic, pious, and tourism-related purposes.
In addition to the 88 "official" temples of the pilgrimage, there are
over 200 bangai — temples not considered part of the official 88. To complete
the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order; in some
cases it is even considered lucky to travel in reverse order.
The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use
cars, taxis, buses, bicycles, or motorcycles. The walking course is
approximately 1,200 km long and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to
complete. "Henro" (遍路?) is the Japanese word for pilgrim, and the inhabitants of Shikoku call
the pilgrims o-henro-san (お遍路さん?), the o (お?) being an honorific and the san (さん?) a title similar to
"Mr." or "Mrs.". They are often recognizable by their white
clothing, sedge hats, and kongō-tsue or walking sticks. Alms or osettai are
frequently given. Many pilgrims begin and complete the journey by visiting
Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kūkai and remains the
headquarters of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The 21 km walking trail up to
Koya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.
In April 2014 we will have a month full of Special haiku written by the classical haiku masters for your inspiration.
I am looking forward to the first quarter of 2014, hope you all do so ....
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