Sam created this Ikebana arrangement |
Meditation at Kyoto Temple |
By Sam
Today we got to see the giant buddha statue in Nara. at the front of the park, there was a natural section filled with tourist boutiques and deer that you could feed for a price.
Of course, the deer were so used to tourists that they followed anybody with a clenched fist around, thinking there was food inside. also outside the temple was a sacred incense pit. legend has it that any part of your body that the smoke touches will be blessed.
The buddha statue itself was enormous!! the statue was about five stories tall, with a three-story companion on each side, and many two-story guardians. there was also a support pillar with a hole through it, and the hole was the same size as the buddha's nostril. it is said that if one could fit their entire body through the hole, buddha would bless them. of course, the hole was open for anyone to take a shot, and everyone in our class who tried was indeed able to fit through.