"It is better to travel well than to arrive"
- Buddha
Frequently, I would pack up my suitcase and venture off into the unknown, craving something that my soul was secretly searching for and with each destination came diverse feelings of happiness and gratitude. As it just so happens, the last place I travelled to was Kyoto, Japan. As some of you may know, Kyoto is a city nestled on the island of Honshu and was once the capital of Japan. It is widely known for its ancient Buddhist temples and shrines. I must admit, this destination brought about an incredible sense of calm and amazement.
On my days when I ventured off and explored the city, I visited the famous Zen Buddhist Temple Kinkaku-Ji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion). Burnt down initially in the early 1950s, it was rebuilt years later mirroring the extravagant Kitayama culture, with each floor a different style of architecture and the top two levels entirely covered in gold leaf. ????
During my visit, I was taken aback by the unique architecture and surrounding gardens, whilst discovering the Zen Buddhist way of life and how Zen devotees seek to live in the present reality, without hope or fear. As I sit at home and reflect on all my travels, whilst being faced with the current pandemic, I feel a sense of ease and contentment, knowing that I should not be consumed by fear. To restore oneself, continue living in the present by taking each day one step at a time. ㊙️
"ikkai ichi dousa"
Translation: One thing at a time. ????????
TIP: At the end of the trail, there's a large open-plan teashop, where you can rest and sample the traditional-style teas. The gold-infused green tea actually has drinkable gold flakes and the sesame ice cream is amazing!
