Koyasan Monestry Inc. (Rengejoin) 08/04/07

The monesteries on the mountain of Koyasan were founded by Kobo Daishi, who changed his name to Kukai - which translates as sea of void.

It feels strange to pay buddhists money to stay with them and pray. I smoke and drink. I felt like I shouldn't be there - like another zen tourist - untill I discovered that the monks themselves love a piss up. At the monestries you stay in shikubos - little rooms with heated tables and T.V.s! - and can eat and drink waited on by trainee monks who are catching a glimpse of another world while they bring you bottles of beer and ashtrays. You can attend morning service at the ungodly hour of five A.M.

Why do the monks charge for board? Did they used to put up travellers but now the outside world has forced them to need money? Spiritually they don't. Is it upkeep? Buddha must be rich. Some of the prayer beeds cost thousands of pounds to buy. They used to sustain themselves, but now probably go down the cable car to shop at Asda.
"Oi! Sea of Void. It's your turn to do the shop."
"Oh, man. I replaced the paper in the fax last. Its your turn."
I imagine a monk in the cable car humming to himself carrying plastic bags full of shopping.

No beginning, no end, no footprints.

In a town famous for its buddhist monestries, with all the peace and non-violence that entails, I saw an advert recruiting for the Japanese army.


You're never just doing nothing
You're always doing something
Be it breathing, waiting, or just aging