Summer 2024 International Student

What brought you to Tassajara?
“About a couple of years ago, I was suffering from depression. One night, when my body was shaking and even breathing was difficult, I naturally crossed my legs and stretched my back. Then I felt my body and mind harmonize and a little moment of peace came over me. That was my first encounter with sitting meditation. Shortly thereafter, I started learning about Buddhism.
Before I [encountered] Zen, I first read the Dhammapada, one of the oldest Buddhist scriptures. I immediately felt that Shakyamuni Buddha's words were truth. As a sculptor and musician, I was interested in the shape and flow of our consciousness. Through practicing Zen, I was seeking something beyond all duality.
One day a close friend of mine lent me a copy of [Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s] Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Shunryu Suzuki was the embodiment of my virtue through his life. From then on, my life immediately became a Zen practice. I also learned about Tassajara from the book. This place, which embraces all kinds of people, reminded me of the original Buddhist landscape. That is why I decided to come to Tassajara.”
How did you experience kitchen practice?
“As a summer student at Tassajara, I worked in the kitchen. Chopping vegetables wholeheartedly gave me an important insight. One afternoon I was slicing scallions into thin strips to prepare dinner. Then I noticed, "A scallion one inch a head cannot be chopped!" Who in the world would pay attention to such a trivial and obvious thing? However, the realization accurately described my Zen mindset. I realized that all the little moments, or dots, make up an entire life and I can’t miss them. In the kitchen, in Tassajara, I started living a life! Even after returning to Japan, I continue to find the spirit of zazen in all the things I do.”
What have you learned at Tassajara?
“I went with my friends on a little hike during the summer. As we reached the waterfall, I was captivated by a flower at the bottom, where the water was slowly dripping from the waterfall; I watched as a dragonfly flew to it. There was a fine balance working there. To my eyes, it was a small metaphor of the world. "There is no self" is one of the most fundamental teachings of Buddhism. We all live in relationships. After seeing the scene at the falls, the water, the food, and my room looked different than ever. I realized that no matter where we are, it is a sanctuary for us.”