The Boston Globe travel section published an article about visiting Sado Island, where Nichiren was exiled. Today, the island attracts artists and taiko drummers.
...The drumming begins."You don't listen; you feel it," Munidasa said. "You hear it inside of you."
In this way, Sado Island is like the drumming it inspires. There's no substitute for being there and feeling it, grit, bugs, and all. But fear not - there are also natural hot springs on the island, good places to soak and regroup before heading back to the campground for more.
Sounds like a cool place to visit. The article also gives some of the history of Sado as a place of political exile, and mentions Nichiren.
2 comments
Colleagues,When I was in Japan (1975-76), it was a study abroad in Kyoto and I had already practiced Nichiren Buddhism for about 5 years (that is how I got there...). Of course, I made it a point to go to as many places as I knew Nichiren had been while I was there. The most stunning place of all that I went to was Enryakuji, where he took his priestly vows on the top of Mt. Hiei. It was a stunning place, but even more magic was the temple at the foot of the mountain. I don't remember its name.The spirit of peace there was palpable and powerful, a feeling I had never felt so strongly anywhere before or since. That someone great that way had come and who had changed everything for the better with sanity and peace and the love of nature.It was the same sort of feeling when I visited old temples in Nara and Kyoto where the Daishonin had gone to study. Was it "Woo woo" because he had been there? I cannot really say. But, someone this way had come, and greatness still lingered there. I found it an odd experience, so many years later, and deeply moving.Best,Armchair
I'm wondering if the temple at the base is the original Enryaku-ji, because the one at the top of Mt. Hiei was built after Dengyo died by his disciples in accordance with Dengyo's will.