But somehow a squash ended up growing here. And these are the only two squash I got, it turn you also have to help these plants pollinate, probably around week 12. Odds are the tag said that too.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Garden (week 15 I think)
This is a good example of actions speaking louder then words. Back around week 2, I thought I purchased a watermelon plant (because that's what I thought the tag said).
But somehow a squash ended up growing here. And these are the only two squash I got, it turn you also have to help these plants pollinate, probably around week 12. Odds are the tag said that too.
But somehow a squash ended up growing here. And these are the only two squash I got, it turn you also have to help these plants pollinate, probably around week 12. Odds are the tag said that too.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sendai Zazen
As mentioned below, this past weekend I visited the city of Sendai, about an hour and a half north of Tokyo on the bullet train. I always thought, since I'm in Japan, it would be good to try meditation, also known as Zazen. Sendai gave me the opportunity to do this, but not before getting advice from my interpreter, here the conversation we had over e-mail about Zazen, I thought it was kind of funny:
Me: I might try this:
Wikipedia: Rinno-ji Temple (輪王寺), 1-14-1 Kitayama, Aoba-ku. +81 22 234-5327 (bus: “Kitayama - Shiheimachi line,” get off at “Rinno-ji mae”). Zazen (meditation) meetings are held every Sa 6:30PM-8PM. Instruction is given in English and participation is free. Wear loose fitting clothing.
Interpreter: Zazen… I am not sure if you can stand it or not...
Me: That's a good point, what is Zazen? One second.
Wikipedia: Zazen (坐禅; Chinese zuò chán pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. The aim of zazen is just sitting, "opening the hand of thought". blah blah blah.
Me: Soooo, the aim of zazen is just sitting. I can do that.
Interpreter: It is not only sitting, but also you can't move. If you move yourself, you will get hit by some kind of wood bar on your shoulder. Sometimes it takes 1 hour
Me: I will hit that guy back, ask him to stop. How do you say "please stop smacking me in the head" in japanese?
Interpreter: あたま を たたかないでください But that is his job. You are not suppose move. He will smacking on your shoulder.
That conversation more or less convinced me to go, same as the bell below this was at Rinno-ji, here is the temple outside:
Here is the temple inside, although meditation was not in this room. I was unable to take photos of the meditation room.
And here is the temple donkey:
I never got a clear answer what the donkey is for.
First of all, Wikipedia said classes are in english. This is far from the truth, no one spoke any English. We can also define some of the terms from the above conversation. 'some kind of wood bar' is a 3 foot long wooden stick about 1 wide and 1/4 thick. 'you can't move' is simply that, no movement, no noise. 'smacking on your shoulder' turns out is kind similar to how Barry Bonds smacks a ball out of Comerica park.
So I did not get hit in the shoulder, I was able to sit still, and it was really cool. There was about 40 people and during meditation and no sound. The only thing you heard was the monk walking around and birds. The donkey added an interesting dynamic, it made noise twice and it was difficult to keep focused when the donkey started acting up. Through out the hour, when ever there was an un-expected sound, it was quite jolting. The monks ended meditation by ringing a sharp sounding bell, that even caused me to jump a little bit beacuse I became so use to the quiet.
Someone did move though, once, about 25 minutes in. When this happen, you can hear stuff going on behind you, but in this room you are sitting on a tatami mat and facing the wall. You can only see the rice paper wall. I heard the person move, then the monk walking across the room the the sound of the stick slicing through the air, kind of like that of a golf club about to drive a ball. Then that sound quickly ended when the person who moved stopped the swing of the stick with their shoulder. Even worse, the monk made sure the person who moved knew he meant business by smacking that person 2 more times. This only reinforced that I could not turn around and look at what's going on. This event really scares you into peaceful meditation.
Overall it was a very good experience both mental and physically channelling. Although I did not reach the level of enlightenment I was hoping for.
Me: I might try this:
Wikipedia: Rinno-ji Temple (輪王寺), 1-14-1 Kitayama, Aoba-ku. +81 22 234-5327 (bus: “Kitayama - Shiheimachi line,” get off at “Rinno-ji mae”). Zazen (meditation) meetings are held every Sa 6:30PM-8PM. Instruction is given in English and participation is free. Wear loose fitting clothing.
Interpreter: Zazen… I am not sure if you can stand it or not...
Me: That's a good point, what is Zazen? One second.
Wikipedia: Zazen (坐禅; Chinese zuò chán pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. The aim of zazen is just sitting, "opening the hand of thought". blah blah blah.
Me: Soooo, the aim of zazen is just sitting. I can do that.
Interpreter: It is not only sitting, but also you can't move. If you move yourself, you will get hit by some kind of wood bar on your shoulder. Sometimes it takes 1 hour
Me: I will hit that guy back, ask him to stop. How do you say "please stop smacking me in the head" in japanese?
Interpreter: あたま を たたかないでください But that is his job. You are not suppose move. He will smacking on your shoulder.
That conversation more or less convinced me to go, same as the bell below this was at Rinno-ji, here is the temple outside:
Here is the temple inside, although meditation was not in this room. I was unable to take photos of the meditation room.
And here is the temple donkey:
I never got a clear answer what the donkey is for. First of all, Wikipedia said classes are in english. This is far from the truth, no one spoke any English. We can also define some of the terms from the above conversation. 'some kind of wood bar' is a 3 foot long wooden stick about 1 wide and 1/4 thick. 'you can't move' is simply that, no movement, no noise. 'smacking on your shoulder' turns out is kind similar to how Barry Bonds smacks a ball out of Comerica park.
So I did not get hit in the shoulder, I was able to sit still, and it was really cool. There was about 40 people and during meditation and no sound. The only thing you heard was the monk walking around and birds. The donkey added an interesting dynamic, it made noise twice and it was difficult to keep focused when the donkey started acting up. Through out the hour, when ever there was an un-expected sound, it was quite jolting. The monks ended meditation by ringing a sharp sounding bell, that even caused me to jump a little bit beacuse I became so use to the quiet.
Someone did move though, once, about 25 minutes in. When this happen, you can hear stuff going on behind you, but in this room you are sitting on a tatami mat and facing the wall. You can only see the rice paper wall. I heard the person move, then the monk walking across the room the the sound of the stick slicing through the air, kind of like that of a golf club about to drive a ball. Then that sound quickly ended when the person who moved stopped the swing of the stick with their shoulder. Even worse, the monk made sure the person who moved knew he meant business by smacking that person 2 more times. This only reinforced that I could not turn around and look at what's going on. This event really scares you into peaceful meditation.
Overall it was a very good experience both mental and physically channelling. Although I did not reach the level of enlightenment I was hoping for.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Asking for Trouble
I made a weekend trip to a city called Sendai, north of Tokyo and found this sign at Rinno-ji temple... it seems to identify the most fun thing to do here.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Garden (week 11)
The harvest has started, and I'm not even in Nagoya to enjoy.
I'm still in Utsunomiya and a friend is keeping an eye on the apartment, taking care of the garden and enjoying all this good food.
Although we are still waiting for the watermellon, the garden is actually growing much better then I ever though it would. Currently I'm only using about 1/3 of the total garden space. Next year I will have to plant more things and try to use up to all the space.
I'm still in Utsunomiya and a friend is keeping an eye on the apartment, taking care of the garden and enjoying all this good food.
Although we are still waiting for the watermellon, the garden is actually growing much better then I ever though it would. Currently I'm only using about 1/3 of the total garden space. Next year I will have to plant more things and try to use up to all the space.
Koinobori Magoi
Normally you would see something like this in Japan, around May 5... Cinco De Mayo, to celebrate Children's day, or a day set aside to respect children's personalities and happiness. But now, you can see the koi more often then that in Barryton.
I find this really funny, a little slice of Japan in central Michigan. The fish was a present for my parents when I visited Detroit earlier this month for my brothers wedding.
I find this really funny, a little slice of Japan in central Michigan. The fish was a present for my parents when I visited Detroit earlier this month for my brothers wedding.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Garden (week 9)
My garden is blowing up, it's actually making food. So far, there are two egg plants ready to eat, Chilies, tomato's and cucumber growing and watermelon flowering.
Ironically, I'm not really taking care of it, I've only been home for 36 hours this month and not much more last month. A friend is apartment-sitting and will ultimately enjoy all these vegetables.
Next steps will be to prop up the tomato's.
Ironically, I'm not really taking care of it, I've only been home for 36 hours this month and not much more last month. A friend is apartment-sitting and will ultimately enjoy all these vegetables.
Next steps will be to prop up the tomato's.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Nikko
This past Sunday I made a day trip on a very rainy day to Nikko. The shrine at Nikko is a beautiful place, here are some photos, I will write more later.
This is the original hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil carving.
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I can never tell if the lions are suppose to be scarry or cute.
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Bling... one of three most gold covered shrines in Japan. 
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Larger view of the monkey carving.
Looking towards the forest from the front of one the shrines... most of those are the Japan national tree
This is the original hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil carving.
*
*
*
*
*
I can never tell if the lions are suppose to be scarry or cute.
*
Bling... one of three most gold covered shrines in Japan. 
*
Larger view of the monkey carving.
Looking towards the forest from the front of one the shrines... most of those are the Japan national tree
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