山伏
キウイ
Unforgiving and forgiving at the same time
Today I spent the day climbing Mt. Haguro with my friend, who is actually my student who I have been teaching for I think more than five years now. He is doing a project where he has to introduce where he lives, and he reached out to me and asked to learn about Yamabushi.
So naturally we went up Haguro. One thing I really wanted to show him, that I want everyone to know actually, is that the mountains will always be there.
For Yamabushi, mountains and nature have a special meaning, and that comes about through worship of the Kami and Buddha of the mountains. This for me is showing appreciation to nature for giving us everything.
Knowing that you can always go to the mountains, whenever you need to, that is a great reassurance, and I wish for everyone to remember this. The mountains are both unforgiving and forgiving at the same time. All you need to do, is surrender to them.
So, I told my student this exact phrase; Shonai will always be there, the mountains will always be there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I’m Tim Bunting AKA the Kiwi Yamabushi, a New Zealander who became a Yamabushi Ascetic in the Dewa Sanzan mountains of north Japan. I’m part of the Yamabushido team, and we host life-altering Yamabushi training on the Dewa Sanzan (website link). People come to us for the ultimate mindfulness experience, to reach the next level, or simply connect with nature and themselves.
I’m on a mission to summit all 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata Prefecture to spread the splendour of this fabulous location, and in dedication to all those who lost their lives out in nature, including my father.
On my daily blog I post thoughts of a practicing Yamabushi that I hope people can use to better themselves and live as fulfilling a life as possible.
Sign up to the weekly Mountains of Wisdom newsletter, follow me on social (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Clubhouse, all @kiwiyamabushi), or send me an email via the link below to stay in touch.
Tim.
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