Kyoto

Vermilion Genkoan Temple, Kyoto

Window of 'Spiritual Awakening' and 'Troubled Minds'

Takako Sakamoto Sep 10, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>What I saw from the 'Window of Satori (Spiritual Awakening)' was brilliance</p>

<p>I meditated on the 'Window of Mayoi (Troubled Minds)' in a Zen-like trance</p>

<p>Autumn leaves ablaze under a high, blue sky</p>

<p>Looking up at these beautiful red leaves made me speechless</p>

<p>These vermillion leaves look like a blind that shuts out the outside world</p>

<p>Luscious, graceful...I don't have the proper words to describe this wonderufl autumn foliage</p>

<p>The bright beams of the setting sun add gloss to these luscious leaves</p>

<p>They even look like a sultry lady!</p>

<p>I returned to the two windows...what a splendid day it was!</p>

<p>Even the fallen leaves are enticing!</p>

I visited Genkoan Temple in Takagamine, Kyoto, around November 20th last year. The best time to see the autumn leaves differs each year, so it's quite hard to determine when to go! In short, you just have to take your chances and go when you can. You may be lucky, or unlucky. I was VERY lucky when I visited here; the autumn foliage was at its peak of beauty - perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime chance of good luck for me. It might never happen again my entire life.

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...