Well its here. My final sleep before leaving Japan! I’m spent the 36 hours in Kyoto on a mission to decompress brain and get a bit of zen back into my life.
Its going well! News from Oz at about 2pm Japan time that Tonto has arrived safely and was now at Eastern Creek in row 4! (yes it does sound abit like a cell block).
Headed of to Nanzenji then to start the disengaging mental gears. Today a call with Tonto carer and confirmation that all is very well, so off for more relax!
Been up the top of Mt Hiei (Hieizn) wandering in gardens, Sugi forests and temples. Finished the day with a soak in the pool to restore body temperature to normal and dinner with a friend in town.
I have one more morning left which will be at Daitokuji which has many famous Zen temples and is basically ‘hardcore’ Zen! I’m ready for it now, mental gears are free spinning, the internal mental voice is just a whisper if at all (and I’m not hearing voices – Yet). The bell at the nearby temple is just ringing in 9pm and its a perfect synergy to the calming energy that pervades through Kyoto.
The time of year is perfect as well as the main summer holiday rush is over so the crowds are gone, everything has been at peaceful pace, just what a tired soul needs.
I was asked today if I leave with any regrets, and I’ve been asked by many will I miss Japan.
Its a question that needs to be answered carefully. To rush to the answer of course I’ll miss Japan is being dishonest, conversely blurting out that I won’t miss Japan is disrespectful.
My journey in Japan has had some very big bumps, the most recent just this year with a second fight with cancer. And during these bumps I’ve had some people exhibit the very worse characteristics of humanity. But by taking time to reflect and review this has also given me the opportunity to see things in very different ways.
My life has been enriched by being in Japan, I’ve made some very good friends and acquired a four legged companion. I’ve learnt some very hard lessons, and lost a few bits of anatomy. I have scars visible on the outside and inside. I faced a few demons and walked away. I’m not sure where the road will take me next, it certainly would have been a different road without being in Japan. Enough said.