We’ve been to a lotus fields in a hill for a walk this afternoon. There were bunch of lotus flowers… the atmosphere was fragrant with the sweet scent which I love. In Japan, the lotus is a flower for Buddhas. You might have seen Buddha statues sitting on pedestals formed a lotus flower.
In Buddhism as a folk belief in Japan, people will turn into Buddhas almost automatically when they die. And in August, Buddhas come home from Heaven and stay for four days with their family. It’s called “O-BON”. It’s a Buddhism observance. People come home town from cities and stay with their family and relatives.
People opens their family buddhism alters and decorate them with flowers, sweets and fruits. Lotus was used a lot in the past, but as lotus fields are decresing in numbers, people often use chrysanthemums.
I think lotus buds are much more beautiful than flowers. What a shape. They are pointing Heaven straightforwardly.
It is the deepest part facing the woods. Doesn’t it look like a gate to the land of Perfect Bliss(Buddhism Heaven)? Tough Wolf was so pleased and jumped off the car to run through the paths of fields, he suddenly turned here and rushed back for the exit. There might be a bear as I smelled of a beast slightly. Japanese black bear doesn’t harm people as long as we don’t scare them.
By the way, in many folklore, the woods are gates to another world. And the beasts are the gate guards. It should be. Anyway, we had a big time in a lovely summer afternoon.
- Reiko
Very interesting, thanks!
Hi Simon, I’m glad you like it!