The end of another amazing day. We have now moved into the mountains for 3 days of peace and tranquility at the Ekoin Temple in the isolated hilltop town of Koyasan.
There are more than 20,000 temples, pagodas and shrines at Koyasan which is the centre for the Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism. There is no place like it in Japan.
The Rotary Club of Koyasan has arranged for us to stay at the Ekoin Temple with some trainee Buddhist monks. I am writing this entry perched on the upper floor window ledge with one foot on the roof below and dressed in my Yukatta. It is raining heavily but the temple roof overhangs so much that I can’t feel it. All the surrounding buildings below me are of ancient Japanese style with paper lanterns blowing gentle in the rain. It is dark and there are some people bustling about before the 10.p.m. curfew. Cool.
The monks brought us a meal a few hours ago and a few Japanese beers and the five of us have spent the rest of the evening lying around on one big futon bed sorting out the problems of the world, and space on this occasion.
We will be summoned to go to prayers at 6.30 a.m. so an early night would be good.
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