My cousin, Larry sent an email inviting me to a zazen (meditation) lesson at the Nuuanu Soto Mission temple.
Art and I had taken my mother and aunt to Eiheiji, one of the two main Zen temples in Japan four years ago and did learn some basics about zazen from some young priests who we still remember fondly.
However, we haven't done much here in Hawaii so we thought it would be interesting to try zazen again. Besides, Larry said his wife was now a fabulous vegan chef and would be helping to serve a vegan Buddhist meal afterwards.
When we got there, it felt a little surreal because this is where Art and I were married some 41 years ago. That's us at the top of the stairs after the ceremony.
In fact while my grandfather was serving as a priest in Kaunakakai on the island of Molokai, he brought my grandmother to this temple so she could safely give birth for the first time.
This is mom on the steps of the temple a few days after her birth in 1929. I think that's my grandmother in the center.
I was looking at that 85 year old photo of mom and wondered why the temple looked different. I looked online and found these photos. I discovered the temple was rebuilt in 1953. It's amazing what you can find on the web.
Well... I was only going to write about the zazen session and my mind started wandering which might show you how difficult I find this exercise.
With my foot still recovering, I asked for a chair to do the zazen. I asked for a chair for Art also since he is NOT flexible and I didn't want him to be in too much pain. Normally, zazen requires you to sit in a lotus position with your legs crossed.
Twenty minutes of sitting quietly and trying to empty your thoughts is not easy, but we (sort of) managed it.
We then went down for the Shojin Ryori (vegetarian meal). I was stunned. I did not expect such a beautiful meal waiting for us.
Except for the rice with corn kernels and miso soup, I wasn't positive what everything was. It looked so beautiful.
Dinner is at the top, dessert is at the bottom.
We had to eat in silence which was definitely different. You began to appreciate every bite, be conscious of each morsel's taste and texture.
Again, this wasn't easy for me because I was dying to make a comment about each dish.
The shojin ryori was prepared by Veganista Hawaii which explained how very professional the meal looked and tasted.
I'm now trying to convince mom and the aunties to try this. Mom said no, but I've got Auntie Grace half way convinced to going. We'll see.
I can always ask for chairs for them, too.
Art and I had taken my mother and aunt to Eiheiji, one of the two main Zen temples in Japan four years ago and did learn some basics about zazen from some young priests who we still remember fondly.
However, we haven't done much here in Hawaii so we thought it would be interesting to try zazen again. Besides, Larry said his wife was now a fabulous vegan chef and would be helping to serve a vegan Buddhist meal afterwards.
When we got there, it felt a little surreal because this is where Art and I were married some 41 years ago. That's us at the top of the stairs after the ceremony.
In fact while my grandfather was serving as a priest in Kaunakakai on the island of Molokai, he brought my grandmother to this temple so she could safely give birth for the first time.
This is mom on the steps of the temple a few days after her birth in 1929. I think that's my grandmother in the center.
I was looking at that 85 year old photo of mom and wondered why the temple looked different. I looked online and found these photos. I discovered the temple was rebuilt in 1953. It's amazing what you can find on the web.
Well... I was only going to write about the zazen session and my mind started wandering which might show you how difficult I find this exercise.
With my foot still recovering, I asked for a chair to do the zazen. I asked for a chair for Art also since he is NOT flexible and I didn't want him to be in too much pain. Normally, zazen requires you to sit in a lotus position with your legs crossed.
Twenty minutes of sitting quietly and trying to empty your thoughts is not easy, but we (sort of) managed it.
Except for the rice with corn kernels and miso soup, I wasn't positive what everything was. It looked so beautiful.
Dinner is at the top, dessert is at the bottom.
We had to eat in silence which was definitely different. You began to appreciate every bite, be conscious of each morsel's taste and texture.
Again, this wasn't easy for me because I was dying to make a comment about each dish.
The shojin ryori was prepared by Veganista Hawaii which explained how very professional the meal looked and tasted.
I'm now trying to convince mom and the aunties to try this. Mom said no, but I've got Auntie Grace half way convinced to going. We'll see.
I can always ask for chairs for them, too.
That food does look delicious, Kay. And what a touching photo of your mother as a baby!
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience, and your photos are such personal treasures. I guess I can see why people take photos. They are not so important to have for the moment but to have as keepsake for the future. I should learn zazen...would definitely help me go back to sleep in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteL...w
I love photos... maybe because I have such a poor memory. We just finished putting together the two Costco photobooks for our trip to SE Asia. I love looking back to see everything we experienced.
DeleteI liked seeing the places your mind wandered throughout this post. The photo of your mom at the temple is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like quite an interesting and unique experience. Eating in silence is something that is culturally different from what many of us are used to. We are often socialized to "talk about our day" during dinner. I may try this someday :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. Dinner was always the time for us to have our children talk about their day.
Deleteonce again, you guys do the coolest stuff!!! silence? hmmmm...i don't think so! i am such a talker!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place, and such a personal connection. It's amazing what you hear in the silence. And that food looks divine!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a bit amusing--the wanderings of your mind as you write about a meditative experience.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by that picture of your mom as a baby. What a precious gift is that picture. And I use a little kneeling bench since I can no longer sit cross-legged. My knees are lower than my pelvis, making it easy to sit upright and not slouch, like I often do when sitting in a chair. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet picture of your mom and grandmother. I love to meditate, but it does take regular practice to quiet one's mind enough to enjoy it. And what fun to have that good food to look forward to afterwards! I hope your mom joins you
ReplyDeleteAny kind of meditation is special---and something we ALL need to add as part of our busy lives. Looks like you had a great time --and that vegan meal looks good --and healthy!!!! I'm a 'meat' person myself --but I try these days to eat mostly fish and chicken.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
what an interesting visit and a photo from 1929! Great condition.
ReplyDeleteThis post is FULL of riches! The photo of your grand mom is wonderful. I can see her face in yours. How wonderful of you to share living history and culture of Hawaii with us, all wrapped up in your personal things. How generous you are, Kay!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu-side
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Amazing photos. I eat by myself at home, so when I go out with buddies, we manage to talk for 3 hours! DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteI really find it difficult to eat in silence among other people. It's a whole different experience for me which I've only done twice in my life.
Deletethat's pretty cool that you have picture from so long ago. I don't even have a picture of my paternal grandfather, funny enough he was actually older than your mom. He died in the 1970s, but if he was still alive he'd be 102. I was the youngest child of his youngest child, so the difference in generation gap got fairly large on my paternal side.
ReplyDeleteYou and I are the opposite. I am the eldest child of the eldest child of the eldest child. :-)
DeleteThe experience of emptying your mind sounds like something I need to do. You make a comment on eating the food in silence and sensing the food more.
ReplyDeleteI will find zazen difficult too because if I sit quietly to meditate I often end up falling asleep. Good for you and Art to do it. The meal is really beautifully presented. Why did your mother say no?
ReplyDeleteShe isn't interested in doing the meditation and I think there's a multitude of reasons that I haven't figured out. A lot of times she feels the pressure of being the eldest child of a Buddhist priest and had quite a bit of expectation placed on her to behave properly. She always felt people were watching her to see if she was doing everything perfectly. Here in Hawaii (if we attend a temple), she'd rather we not tell people who her father was.
DeleteInteresting! Sort of like some PKs I've known (Preacher's Kids) but much more so.
DeleteThanl you. I can sort of understand the pressure - something like being the teacher's kids.
DeleteYou have such a treasure in the form of the picture of your mother as a baby and your grand mother..thats just amazing..and the picture of the food looks yummy..
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed seeing the photo of your mother as a baby. I practice Buddhism and have been to a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh and found it amazing and intense. The eating experience is also different. We ate in silence and at intervals a bell rang to bring us back to the moment and to thinking of all the people who had done something to make the meal possible. The food makes me want to see it better and taste it, too! Have you ever watched "Cooking with Dog"?
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't seen "Cooking With Dog". It must be on a cable channel and we don't have cable. How fabulous that you were able to attend that retreat. A dear friend of ours in Illinois gave us a book last year by Thich Nhat Hanh called You Are Here.
DeleteIt's on the internet. I think it might amuse you! Just google the name.
DeleteWill do. Sounds like fun!
DeleteI like that idea of the bell .
DeleteOur family dinners would knock the socks off those in the quiet and dignified temple meals.
ReplyDeletelooks lovely…and yummy. meditation is difficult for all us modern people.
ReplyDeleteIt must be strange to be so much a part of this tradition and yet at odds with it too. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteLovely post Kay. Dianne
ReplyDeleteThe wedding pictures and your mother's baby picture are precious!
ReplyDeleteGood onya for going to sit zazen, although I can't imagine it on a chair. You were not allowed to lean on the backrest, I assume?
I loved the silence during meals and work when I volunteered with the contemplative community of Protestant nuns. I never have anything to say anyway.
This is a great post, Kay, so much in it. I even love the beautiful stone chopstick holders.
Thank you, Dina. You're right. No slouching. Your back needs to stay upright and straight and your hands are clasped on your lap with thumb points touching.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, as always!
ReplyDeleteI loved that you shared these photos with us! The photo showing where you were married, and that it was the same temple where your mother as a baby was photographed. And you are so right, it is so amazing what you can find on the internet!
What a beautiful meal, I am sure it was wonderful.
Wow, Kay! You have done it again, this is such a wonderful post. I'm so glad I got here today in time to see it and read all about this nice experience. Thank you for sharing this with us, I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of the Unitarian-Universalists at the church I attend are Buddhists, and a meditation group meets at the church regularly. I think this post has convinced me to give the meditation group a try. Unfortunately, I don't think they serve any wonderful meals like the one you enjoyed.
ReplyDelete