May 14, 2011
We began our morning at six by joining the Buddhist monks in meditation at the Fukuchi-in Temple. Kneeling in front of the chanting monks and priest, we were awed by the gilded lotus flowers and decorations, which were slowly lit by the sun's soft light, filtered through the screens behind us. Toward the end of meditation, one monk opened the screen and revealed a beautiful Japanese garden, a combination of raked sand, rocks, and plants. It was truly breathtaking. Although the service was in Japanese, the chanting was both calming and refreshing, starting our day with a peaceful yet interesting experience.
After an elegant breakfast, Bernice and Piper, who were relieved to arrive at Koyasan after three days of attempting to catch up with the group, finally joined us. Once the group was reunited and fed, we spent several hours capturing images of the Kondo, the main hall of Koyasan, and its surrounding pagodas.;)
We then left the Koyasan precinct through the Daimon and followed the Women's Pilgrimage Path up the mountain and around Koyasan. The Women's Pilgrimage Path, accented by breathtaking mountain views, was built once women were allowed to enter the temples. After a few relaxing hours, we had another vegetarian meal and returned to the Kondo and surrounding halls to practice night photography.;)
Finally, we took part in a sutra-copying class at Fukuchi-in. We were given calligraphy pens and instructed to trace over Japanese symbols, which formed a traditional prayer. We learned how to form the symbols as we progressed, our hands learning how much pressure to apply and how quickly to make the brush strokes. This relaxing experience closed a full day at Koyasan.