Category Archives: Zen

On Like Totally Living in the Now in Japan, You Know?

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

Japan probably has more temples, shrines and gardens per capita than garbage cans or benches.

Posted in Homesickness, Shrines, Thinking, Uncategorized, Zen | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

On Obon: Japan’s Homecoming Game, with Ghosts.

Posted on August 10, 2011 by

There’s an old Buddhist story about a monk named Mahamaudgalyayana – let’s call him Mokuren, for short – who was doing alright, as monks go, and had finally developed the skill of peering into the world of the dead.

Posted in Fun, Shrines, Thinking, Tradition, Uncategorized, Zen | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

On Walking On Fire in Japan

Posted on June 1, 2011 by

The most difficult part of walking on burning coals during a typhoon was finding the right train.

Posted in Shinto, Shrines, Thinking, Tradition, Uncategorized, Video, Zen | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

On Japanese Funerals

Posted on March 28, 2011 by

My first conversation about the earthquake was a week and three days after it struck. In the office, we talked about the peripheries of disaster: Blood donations, fundraisers, TV coverage. We didn’t talk about victims. When the media focused on … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Photography, Shinto, Shrines, Temples and Ruins, Thinking, Tradition, Uncategorized, Zen | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Audio: Dazaifu Jinko-Shiki Ceremony

Posted on September 28, 2010 by

A downloadable/streaming audio recording from Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu, Japan. Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Shrines, Temples and Ruins, Zen | 1 Comment

On Ruins | 城跡

Posted on September 12, 2010 by

In which a tourist from America has a “mystical experience” in Japan brah, and totally writes about it in his blog. Continue reading →

Posted in Temples and Ruins, Thinking, Uncategorized, Zen | 8 Comments