Looking after things and giving them a regular clean can really help you appreciate them. I had the chance recently to help clean Daishobo pilgrim lodge’s Shinden, which is three separate alcoves full of any number of sacred objects. Some of the things there would be over 100 years old, but they have been lovingly looked after the whole time, with regular cleaning by many generations of Yamabushi who came before me.

This means that I was able to see first hand the craftsmanship and care that went into making these artifacts. Cleaning them made me really appreciate the artifacts for what they are. I think I understand the whole wax on wax off thing now, well at least a little bit.

If you take the time to care for something, you find that it can also care for you in a metaphorical way.