Pilgrimage in brief

Dear friends,

Well, we are all back safe and sound in our various countries and homes. What an incredible experience to be able to go on pilgrimage together. The following is an overview of the trip, written by yours truly. May this find you well and happy,
Love,
yuko.

This August 35 western Buddhists from the United States, Canada and Germany traveled to Japan on pilgrimage for the sixtieth anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The pilgrimage was the culmination of an over two-year effort to gather 270,000 images of Jizo Bodhisattva to bring to Japan as a peace offering. The images of Jizo, many of which were drawn of cloth and sewn into quilts and peace flags, were contributed by people from every state within the US and from many countries of the world, and each continent. By the time the pilgrims left on their journey, the number of Jizos totaled nearly 500,000.

The pilgrimage, organized and led by Jan Chozen Bays, Hogen Bays and Kaz Tanahashi among others, began with the travelers assembling in Kyoto. The days in Kyoto were spent visiting temples, shrines and other sacred sites. As western Zen practitioners it was meaningful to see the ancient roots of the practice we share with our brothers and sisters across the water. The profound grace of Kyoto with its countless temples and bright bustling downtown full of shrines tucked into every corner set a tone for the rest of the trip which lasted throughout.

From Kyoto we followed the heat and humidity southward to Hiroshima. There we were kindly received as guests at Zensho-ji. Staying at a family temple was an experience that allowed us to take part in a life we would never have been able to know otherwise. Many pilgrims realized that most who visit Japan may only see the outside of a temple, but that given the nature of our trip, we were allowed into the workings of daily temple life – the bells, samu period, simple and delicious oriyoki meals. We were grateful for this during the whole pilgrimage.

In Hiroshima, the Peace Park and museum were spots of pilgrimage. Although many of us had prepared for this trip by studying the history of the bombings, the war and its aftermath, there was no way to prepare ourselves for the effect of actually being at the site of the devastating bomb. In the peace museum there are cases of objects belonging to victims of the bomb: shreds of clothing, book satchels with holes burned through them, lunch boxes of children seared black. Somehow seeing these items and then walking outside to the actual place that witnessed and suffered under the bomb silenced our hearts and brought the reality of why we were there to life.

The Annual Hiroshima Peace Day was a large gathering of individuals and various groups championing the peace cause. There was a “die-in” at the time the bomb was detonated, where everyone dropped to the ground from where they stood. In the evening countless paper lanterns were sent down the river by the park, and on each lantern was written a prayer for peace.

After continuing on to Nagasaki by train, the group of us visited more sites of pilgrimage, and attended the Peace Day in Nagasaki Peace Park. The Jizos for Peace Project had a presence at most of the day’s activities, ranging from interfaith religious ceremonies to a colorful peace parade in downtown Nagasaki.

One of the most important aspects of the pilgrimage was that of personal connection. We were able to meet with hibaksha in senior homes as well as on the peace days, friendships were forged between the western pilgrims and our excellent companions/guides from the Soto-shu, and everyone returned home with memories of brief, strong encounters with people everywhere we went. The common desire for peace in the world transcends language, age and nationality. This was apparent on our pilgrimage, where people from many different backgrounds were able to connect with one another in the common goals of practice, and peace.

The Jizos for Peace pilgrimage was an honor to take part in. At our last group meeting before returning home, we acknowledged that much of the processing of this trip will happen over time. The spirit of pilgrimage is one of open-handedness – open hands for giving, and for receiving. The effects of what we attempt to give to the world can never be known, but the gifts of kindness, insight and peace which we received from so many people during our time in Japan are shining jewels which have been brought back with us to our distant homes.