a little story from Koyasan...
beauty,
originally uploaded by rex dart: eskimo spy.
So, as promised, after much delay, here is an excerpt from my journal about this photo:
"...the highlight for me, during the morning walk to the temple, was an old woman i met on the path. She was with her family, a granddaughter and the girl's parents. I don't remember if they were catching up to us or if we were catching up to them, but I was taking a photo of a beautiful tree when she took notice and said something to me in Japanese, pausing and holding her hand up as if gesturing to to all of the life in the forest. At first I was afraid she might have been kindly telling me to me not to photograph the sacred forest, but David overheard and continued to listen and talk to her. I smiled warmly to her. Her eyes were so peaceful and bright. How she spoke was sweet and loving. After saying our formal goodbyes, I asked David what she had said. He replied that he loved how she worded things. That she had said to me 'Oh, you're taking pictures! It's wonderful you can see so much beauty. I hope you keep taking pictures.'
me: .....
I felt honored to receive such kind words from such a beautiful soul. I was overwhelmed with tranquility.
And she continued, speaking to both of us; 'Isn't it wonderful that it is so quiet and cool, and that nobody is here?' (we had trekked there at an earlier hour than did the tour groups). David talked to her about why he was in Japan and how beautiful the forest was. She replied, 'It sure is wonderful to be here when it is so quiet and cool. Oh, it is so wonderful that you're teaching our children. They must be very happy'."