In the strong wind, Mr. White dashed elegantly all the way to Mejiro.
The chief priest has become quite elderly, and only God knows what will happen in the future. Engaging in temple duties and listening to sermons, time passes quietly, ever so quietly, despite being in the midst of a bustling metropolis.
I told him about my desire to do woodworking after moving to Kanagawa. The chief priest said it's about bringing life out of wood.
As we receive life from living trees, I reflected on the need to work slowly and carefully.
He taught me a Buddhist term, 'Shōnyū', which relates to interactions with others.
There are things we miss in our busy lives, things we see but do not notice.
Humans can be quite troublesome creatures, but cherishing the moments of inner peace and stability is crucial.
It takes time to truly understand this.
He also instructed me about relationships with horses. We should match our breath to the horse's. Eventually, reaching a unity of horse and rider.
One should not expect the horse to match the human's breath from the start. Instead, humans should adapt to the horse.
It's all about breathing techniques.
Understanding breath is like understanding the universe.
Regrettably, I can confidently say that I have not yet reached that state...
Phew!