Hasu Transitoire (The Transient Lotus)

Today is the 21st, which marks the monthly market held in honor of Kukai's death anniversary at Tōji temple, just south of my house. Last month my friend Lili and I came late in the afternoon as everything was closing up for the day. This time, I biked down around 11am to see the market in full swing. Wow, was it! Shouts of welcome, come see this, come taste that, rang throughout corridors of stalls selling what I can only conclude is everything a person might possibly need, ever. Flowers, food, antiques, bicycles, spices, shoes, clothing, hardware, DVDs, everything! It also happened to be a marvelous autumn day. I ended up buying great holiday gifts, along with dried figs, molasses with turmeric, honey with ginger, fried chicken, and a piping hot pancake filled with sweet bean paste (I waited in line about twenty minutes for this, and it was worth every second!).

Each Day In Life is Training Training For Myself Though Failure is Possible Living Each Moment Equal to Anything Ready for Everything I am Alive - I am This Moment My Future Is Here and Now For if I cannot Endure Today When and Where Will I? - Sôen Ôzeki The day is Monday, November 18. I am the only person at Daisen’in , one of Japan’s most famous Zen rock gardens. It was made close to 500 years ago and the garden, quite small in fact, creates a three-dimensional painting using rocks and plants. Some say the whole of existence is symbolized in this small space.  Others say it's a gardening wonder. We all bring our own imaginations (or lack thereof). For me it is both things, and a good visualization of a clear and calm mind (meticulously groomed and cared for). It took me more than three months since living in Kyoto to visit this place that holds such a special place in my heart. I suppose I wasn’t ready to come back? Besides the garden, m

Oh, Kyoto, we still have so much to learn of one another. I find myself lost at times, a stranger in your well-trodden lands with no map and a raw bleeding heart. I find myself found at other, embraced like never before by your terrific magic. As the Siberian air pours down from the north and your trees light up in fancy once more before retreating to winter's beckon, all of your city is bundling up and preparing for a bitter spell. But I've seen your true warmth and it knows no seasons. New though I may be to your enchanting and enigmatic ways, I know now forever that I could never tire of… Your sunsets through the windy streets, sometimes a peak here and there - medicine for the lonesome heart - but others a full on view of sheer majesty…always refreshing, illuminating, healing. Your smells of freshly baked bread, roasting tea, aging wooden structures, temple incense, burning stoves, family meals. Your sounds of trains, bicycles, cars, chatter, construction

Kyoto is full of secrets, hidden gems, tiny corridors, and delicious everything!!! My dear friends, the Otani's, decided to drive down from the mountains to see my photo shows, but unfortunately they both ended the previous day! Still, they came and we met for lunch and an afternoon of gallery hopping. They took me to Hale (pronounced 'hare,' as in shining sun - they told me the owner's name had that character 晴 in it), a treasure hidden inside Nishiki market (see previous post on this market). We got lost trying to find it, even though the Otani's have been there many times and the restaurant also has a small gallery in front and sells their ceramics. One sharp left and down a very narrow corridor (even for Japanese standards!) and we arrived. It was quiet, peaceful, beautiful, and they serve organic food! A sunken kitchen and bar, enclosed by large bottles of sake, shochu, and fermented rice mash (the white jar) looked out on a quaint but spacious renovat

Morning meditation             calm, grateful, sunlight through shoji Bicycle weaving             delicate yet daring dance Ceramics and lacquer and textiles oh my!             dream work, dreamy light Pie lined Kyoto Station corridor one delicious meeting point Seasonal cuisine, steaming noodle soup             drank every last drop,              meal and conversation Crimson teasing leaves             can call me autumn…if you want to Sweets shop meandering             hot tea, chestnut filled soft gooey  Picturesque shrine photoshoot lurking             stealthy capture necessary Windy alleys             windblown hair and laughs Buddhist statue shop Magic in the making Woman walking a pig through             nothing to see here…             Friday in Gion Tall, thin dogs dressed as high fashion French ladies            my, what gait they have Matching suited, cell phone dangle