Kyoto I-- Ninnaji. 仁和寺

Kyoto, this ancient city of Japan, holds an inexplicable attraction for me. 

Since we first met years ago, 
I have always wanted to re-visit her again and again, 
for being with my inner self and for reflection.

最近一次去京都是去年秋天，葉子剛剛開始變色的那幾個星期。自小一直理所當然地認為秋天是個豐收的季節的我，有天莫名思考起秋天的季節屬性。到底該是個歡喜慶豐收的季節？還是個更新的時節？不管哪個行業，每次收成後也會做個評估，以今年計劃為本，去蕪存菁一番，調配明年的執行方案吧。若照這樣想的話，秋天著實是個更新，讓能量轉換的好時節。A season for renewal 這個想法讓我決定要一遊秋天的京都。



I have long regarded autumn as a season of harvest, a time for festivals.  But it just occurred to me that autumn should also be a season for renewal.  We normally conduct a review when a project is completed.  We then make adjustment, fine tune it, and get ourselves ready for the next one.  Accordingly, it is appropriate to consider autumn as a season of renewal.  That got me thinking and planning a trip for renewal in Kyoto in autumn.

雨天，來仁和寺喝茶聽雨。方丈院前。  Ninnaji on a rainy day.

在京都時，我會去賞櫻名所仁和寺走走。這兒雖有來來去去的日本國內旅行團，在此逗留的人往往不多。我喜歡坐在方丈院前看銀砂海洋和假山池水。什麼都不管地沈浸在這靜謐空間。想著這城市這寺院究竟有什麼魔力能讓人心如此平靜，讓人想放下一切紛紛擾擾投奔她的懷抱。而這城市這寺院究竟能耐有多大，可以包容擁抱世間形形色色想向她傾訴尋求撫慰的人們。包括我，如此渺小的我。我不禁問自己，自己是否也能這樣對待自己與所愛的人？

one should comb/massage his/her mind everyday like this

京都寺院裡往往刻意用耙子在銀砂海洋上耙出花紋。僧人們每天得耙上好幾回。人的心若能每天也如是這般按摩梳理，大概可以減少氣血淤塞失調吧。

Ninnaji is a temple that I like to visit and spend some time there to immerse myself in the serene environment.  All frustrations I have do not matter any more, struggles that I face are all gone once I am here.  Everything here looks naturally and ordinarily, but its effect is incredible, magnificent and inexpressible. I probably would never be able to fathom the wisdom and energy of Kyoto and the temples there.



後記：

邊寫邊覺得很療癒，原本沮喪的心情也很快恢復了，這又是京都的一種魔力吧。我要謝謝 MissLK 再次問及我的京都遊記，讓我有動力開始寫。Thanks, MissLK! :)

All photos were taken by me.