A Minor Case of Meditation

May 9 cont...

Eventually Yamamoto San arrived, dressed up in his best monk finery – he looked very austere and impressive. He seemed very rushed and I had a feeling there was something in the communication with the stamp guy and him that I had missed.

I ran after him as he sped past the latest bus Henro. He may have been embarrassed to have a scraggly gaijin trailing behind him.
He led me to his car which had a driver. As we sped down the winding road I had earlier walked up, Yamamoto San made reference to me, and he and the driver shared laughs back and forth for the next 10 minutes with ‘New Zealando’ and ‘E san’ amongst the words I understood.

We drove for what seemed like an hour finally turning off and driving up narrow winding concrete roads that were more like footpaths raised between rice paddies. We finally passed a Temple and pulled in on the other side of it.

Yamamoto San ushered me around to the front. He knew no English whatsoever so there were a few laughs as he tried to show me where to put my things and what shoes to wear.
Once he had changed (I managed to get a photo before he did) he quickly rang someone, talked a bit, then passed the phone to me.

Yamamoto San in his finery

It was a woman called ‘Erico’ and she spoke English. She translated that Yamamoto San wanted to know if I ate Japanese food.
I said Yes but no meat.
After I got off the phone, Yamamoto San showed me around.

When we were in the main Temple, I made a reference to a mudra one of the deities had and before I could say Show Me The Cushion I was plonked on one of the many around the walls, and struggled to obtain a pseudo lotus position.

Yamamoto San was trying to explain something then decided I should sit across the room from him. He was quite fidgety. He must have got hot with his rushing around and jumped up to open the big doors. As he was, we both heard someone outside.

It was a kind looking Old Monk who I instantly wanted to keep forever.

He ushered him in and they both sat opposite me on cushions in lotus position obviously getting ready for meditation. I had a feeling this was going to be bad for me – or at least my body!!
Yamamoto San rang something, banged something then we meditated for half and hour. I became ‘transparent’ through the pain in my legs all the while trying not to fall asleep and keep a straight back (and face).

Suddenly there was a loud clang which jangled my nerves, clearly this meant meditation was over.

As I unfolded my legs, one of them was completely dead – no feeling at all. My legs often 'go to sleep' in bed, but this was the most complete deadness I had ever felt - my leg wasn't there.
We all laughed a lot as I tried to stand.
Eventually I started to get feeling back which inevitably was followed by severe pins and needles.