Live from Japan!

On Monday we travelled to Kyoto with one of Aaron’s supervisors to enjoy a day of sightseeing. The first stop we made was at Ryoan-ji, another world heritage site (wow, we really seem to be hitting a lot of these).

Ryoan-ji is a zen temple located in Northwest Kyoto. One of the temples more prominent features is the traditional rock garden which is thought to have been built in the 1400’s.

The rock garden has the traditional raked gravel ground cover and 15 moss covered boulders. The boulders are placed in such a way that any one time a maximum of 14 boulders can be seen. This was an intentional part of the design. Aaron’s supervisor explained to us that the boulders cannot all be seen because the garden designer wanted to make the point that there is always something beyond our sight, something left to imagine.

I really like this image. Especially in these modern times, I think it is difficult for us to accept that there is something beyond us, something beyond this physical world in which we are living. This garden challenges that idea, that perception. And as you sit and contemplate this thought, you are forced to imagine what that 15th stone is like.

Aaron’s supervisor also explained the proper way to view this rock garden. We sat down on the ledge starting at the left-hand side and moved down the ledge as space opened up. This allowed us to observe the garden from many different angles and to contemplate the way that the garden revealed itself to us.

Once we had viewed the entire rock garden and since I always like a challenge, I stood up and worked hard to see if it was possible to find a place where every boulder could be seen simultaneously. As it turns out, it is possible. On the far right side, if I was standing on my tip-toes, I could see all 15, although the 15th boulder on the far left didn’t necessarily look separate or distinct from this vantage point. I simply remembered what it had looked like, and knew it was there. If I hadn’t already seen it, it would have been easy to mistake those two boulders for one.

Wikipedia explains that it is traditionally said that only those who reach enlightenment are able to see all 15. Perhaps that was true before extremely tall gaijin started visiting the temple. Surely, I am far, far from enlightenment, despite seeing all 15.