While some portions of our route stayed on the paved roads, other parts cut between t he roads and followed paths, and stairs, through the low hills.
Just after an old woman on a bicycle stopped and gave us each 200 yen as settai (we put it in the donation box at the next temple), we passed this rather bright building. It was a privately funded memorial to someone's son. I don't remember all the details, and did not understand many more, I am sure, but this was certainly the most garish Buddhist related building we saw. There were indications that it was Chinese rather than Japanese.
This is the stair way up to Temple #14. The second flight (going off to the left behind the person) is cut into living rock. When going up or down, a pilgrim must devote full attention to each step or risk a nasty fall. The ability to apply and hold this attention is one of the things that is strived for in meditation. The stairs demonstrate that in a very real way the entire pilgrimage is a meditation.
The main hall is on the left and it is placed on living rock. The area between the buildings, which in most temples is sand, gravel, or pavement, is bare rock.
A variety of stone structures and the bell tower in the rear. The metal box in the front, that looks like a trash receptacle, is for storing walking sticks while the owner goes through the sutra routine.
While some portions of our route stayed on the paved roads, other parts cut between t he roads and followed paths, and stairs, through the low hills.
Just after an old woman on a bicycle stopped and gave us each 200 yen as settai (we put it in the donation box at the next temple), we passed this rather bright building. It was a privately funded memorial to someone's son. I don't remember all the details, and did not understand many more, I am sure, but this was certainly the most garish Buddhist related building we saw. There were indications that it was Chinese rather than Japanese.
This is the stair way up to Temple #14. The second flight (going off to the left behind the person) is cut into living rock. When going up or down, a pilgrim must devote full attention to each step or risk a nasty fall. The ability to apply and hold this attention is one of the things that is strived for in meditation. The stairs demonstrate that in a very real way the entire pilgrimage is a meditation.
The main hall is on the left and it is placed on living rock. The area between the buildings, which in most temples is sand, gravel, or pavement, is bare rock.
A variety of stone structures and the bell tower in the rear. The metal box in the front, that looks like a trash receptacle, is for storing walking sticks while the owner goes through the sutra routine.
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