A sample of Ajari Jomyo Tanaka's Shodo

Ajari Tanaka arrived for his annual visit to Vermont just last Wednesday evening.  Besides conducting a retreat and a dharma name event, he has been producing some very bold and distinctive brush work.  Here is a sample:

"The heart is the great artist"

"Peaceful face, lovely speaking"

"Emptiness"

"maitri"

(These last two are circa 2001 or 2002, but Ajari Tanaka just put the seal stamp on them today so are included here.)
















We are sure there will be more to come.  Enjoy and stay tuned...

An unexpected visitor...

A number of years ago Ajari Tanaka arrived for his annual September visit much like he had done many times before.  But not long after his arrival he began to tell of a good friend, Tamagawa-san who had spent his adult life working as an engineer for a telecommunications firm.  This friend was unique in that his hobby was hand carving statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors in the classic Japanese style.  Then to our surprise Ajari produced one of his friend's statues from inside a piece of carry-on luggage.  Piece by piece, each carefully bubble wrapped, Ajari removed the work of art.  After some unwrapping and cautious assembly, there sat a statue of Nyoirin Kannon (Cintamani Chakra Avalokitesvara), a six armed version of Kannon that holds an important place in the mandalas, symbolisms and practice of Shingon.  We were dumbfounded.

Since that time the statue has held the place of honor in our Burlington dojo.  This Nyoirin Kannon is our "honzon" or main image, the central figure of our dojo.  It sits in the center of our shrine installation surrounded by ritual implements, other sacred art and numerous offerings.  It has been the constant companion of our weekly group meditation for years.  As the time has passed, we have grown in our appreciation of its beauty and the "special something" it lends to our dojo.

A few weeks back, the couple who own the home where our Burlington dojo resides, both long-time students of Ajari Tanaka, began to receive letters and emails from Tamagawa-san suggesting he would be visiting "our temple" very soon.  We were not only surprised but dubious.  We had only heard of this person and had absolutely no previous contact.  Not quite sure what to think, we just waited.

As it turns out, Tamagawa-san showed up in Burlington last Thursday accompanied by his grand daughter who attends high school in western Canada.  It seems his visit to us was part of his visit to his grand daughter marking the beginning of her Junior year in high school.  Luckily our friends who live in Burlington had the day free as Tamagawa-san was looking for a full day of site seeing - Shelburne Museum, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, a Lake Champlain tour on a local ferry, a full slate.  Tamagawa-san also wished to attend our regular Thursday evening meditation practice.

That evening a group of us arrived at the typical time and met Tamagawa-san and his grand daughter.  With him he had a photo album of many of his works.  Some of us reviewed it with great interest.  He had carved dozens of beautiful pieces over the years, many of which are important symbols in Shingon - Fudo-myo, Jizo Bosatsu, Aizen-myo, Dainichi Nyorai, Daikoku-ten and many others.  All were beautiful and elegant in the classic Japanese style and Tamagaw-san told us each statue took about a year to complete.  Wow...

As warned Tamagawa-san attended our weekly mediation in which he both participated and took pictures of us.  Perhaps a bunch of Americans chanting the Heart Sutra in Japanese and sitting silently in meditation was too curious not to capture some proof.  It was very nice to have he and his grand daughter there and we finished our practice with the recitation of a mantra associated with our Nyoirin Kannon.

The night ended not long after our practice concluded as Tamagawa-san was tired from his big day and he needed to depart the very next day.  But before he left we were able to capture a picture of the artist with his creation.  Here is Tamagawa-san in our Burlington dojo:

Tamagawa-san's visit reminds us of something Ajari Tanaka will often hint at.  Ajari Tanaka always reiterates without ambiguity that our practice, if consistent and persistently done will bring a real happiness and relaxation into our lives.  But Ajari also suggest that our practice will bring wonderful things into our lives that we never quite imagined.  Experiences we would never have had and people we might otherwise have never met, enriching moments and events that surprise but are somehow meant to be.  Ajari will often say that visits like Tamagawa-san's show we have a strong connection to him, even though we did not know him previously.  Maybe practice sparks some magic in life.

Not long after Tanagawa-san's visit we received the following email, so thoughtful and touching that the story of his visit is incomplete without it:

After leaving from you, we went to Saltspring and Whistler at western Canada coast.  Then return to Japan without any trouble.  

At the time when we were in Burlington, we received your great favorable treatment.  Champlain Cruise, Shelburne Farms and Teddy Bear Company were much interested.  Your Shingon practice was also very impressive.  We should inform you much appreciation.  This travel will become my very good and impressive memory in my heart.

Mr. Tanaka will visit you in the next week, and will discuss with you future plan on your temple.  When completion of your new temple building, we would visit again to your temple with new Buddhist statue.  I hope to see you again.

Thank you.   .   

We were surprised to discover we will build a temple by next year, but maybe that's the next bit of unsuspected magic to come into our lives.  Despite that mystery, we too were filled with much appreciation and the memory of Tamagawa's visit will linger.