Natures Timeless Portrait
Today’s walk to Temple 44, (Taihō-ji) & Temple 45, (Iwaya-ji) is etched in my mind forever as the most green, lush, beautiful and nostalgic walk to date.
Yesterdays rain left the path through the forest saturated in smells and colors. With the low hanging clouds the atmosphere felt magical. Strolling though the sleepy wet forest was a dream.
On the way to Temple 45 we passed through a small town. In the distance a voice called “Wait. Come. Osettai”. A group of seniors stood outside a building waving for us to come to them. They had prepared a feast of fruit, bean cakes, and tea for passing pilgrims. Knowing that the upcoming 9.4 kilometers would be tiresome and lacking of food, their goal was to provide rest and fuel. Inside the building, the group set up tables and chairs. They served everyone who came in with smiles and enthusiasm. One of the elderly gentleman noticed our use of chopsticks and remarked that we were more skillful at using them then “those kids today”. Every generation has their gripes.
Knowledge of this walk from my previous pilgrimage in 2009 informed me that it would be arduous day, but today I wondered did my memory deceive me? It seemed no effort at all to make our way up and down the hilly trail. Our casual pace allowed plenty of stops for photography. Each scene encountered was even more breathtaking than the one passed.
Nature provides a timeless picture. The last few days have been an experiment in capturing the agelessness of the Shikoku pilgrimage by shooting images in back and white. Today however the saturated colors were off the chart. The switch to color had to be made.
Adaptability and staying in the moment have been lessons learned on this pilgrimage. Being open to the signs of the universe were a priority. I have to believe that this forest trail was one of those signs, but of what? Does there have to be a reason?
The markers leaving Temple 45 would take us back the way we came. This route is one of the few on the pilgrimage where you return in the same direction. Walking in the late afternoon sun our trail took us once again to the tops of mountains. The vistas reminded me of Poland and my heritage. This landscape was familiar. It was comforting. Two countries, two different adventures, one beautiful enduring planet.
May 7, 2016 - Temples 44 & 45
