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.
