Kencho-ji Temple in Kita-Kamakura, Japan

According to the documentation distributed, “Kencho-ji is the first-ranked of the five great Zen temples of Kamakura, and is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan.”  This particular temple use to be located in Kyoto, which is south of Kita-Kamakura.  It was moved to Kita-Kamakura hundreds of years ago.

Entrance to the temple.
You get purified each pass through the center.
I went through a couple times... because well you know!

I did not drink from this fountain at all!

Monastery grounds are beautiful...

Inside the Shrine

What an incredible day.  I had the opportunity with a few friends to practice ZaZen in a Monk monastery. They performed the entire service in English just for us.  Along the way, I observed the great little pond with a bridge surrounded by the modern technology of subway trains, little shops that served Japanese cuisine, sold small Japanese made trinkets, and even stood before a 1,000 year old shrine that is no longer in use.

Kellie, Jeannelle, Hannah, Katie

Pond on the way

1,000 year old Shrine 

The idea of ZaZen is to be present.  That seems simple, but we spent 2-hours trying to completely clear our minds and “think of nothing”.  Just be present and in the moment was the mantra of the day.   That means that for 15-20 minutes we sat lotus style (or with just crossed legs for those of us whose feet don’t do that anymore…LOL!) with perfect posture, in complete silence and relaxed as we tried to clear our minds.  I “think” I got it during the last 20 minutes of our 2-hour session.  It is so challenging to not consider all the things you have to do when you leave this place, tomorrow, next week and ooo yeah and the holidays are upon us.  But I am glad I took the time to go, relax, and attempt to focus and harness my energy on the present.

Only Katie can do the Lotus Position

After Zen...why do my eyes look so weird-LOL!

I like the idea of being in the moment.  I am truly trying to do that while I am here in Japan.  I feel like when I was in the states, I did not enjoy the here and now because I was constantly thinking about what was next.  I especially want to be present when I am with my family and friends.  Moments can be so fleeting, children grow so quickly, family members pass on and the people we meet and call friends will soon move on to other opportunities in life.  So I am purposing to listen more closely, celebrate with more vigor and love with fervor. 

Not only did they allow us to participate in the ceremony, but we also had tea with the Monks who performed the services.  This is highly unusual and rare.  Most people never get to practice ZaZen with the Monks and certainly not have tea and chat with the Monks.  We were able to ask questions of any nature and they answered them all without reservation. 

Monk and Me

Turn the bowl three times in your hand and then drink the tea with both hands.
Allow the bowl to cover the face as you drink.

Question and Answer with the Monks...
Hannah is recording everything on her  IPhone...LOL!
We might need to refer back to this one day.

Rested after a focused Zen session.

Ocha and a tea cake.

Jeannelle at the Emperors Entrance.
You know this is where I think I should enter too- LOL!

I truly think we looked rested when we finished the ZaZen session.  Good stuff for sure.