In spite of the dull weather, this first visit to Kyoto, for one of us at least, was inspirational. This is a selection of photographs taken with a Canon EOS 550D.
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To be a Zen Buddhist, we need awareness. If we get attached to Zen Buddhism itself, then we have missed the point. It’s not a religion at all, it’s a way of living, living a simple, compassionate life.
http://drabsurd.hubpages.com/hub/Zen-Quotes
Before enlightment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightment, chop wood, carry water. Zen Proverb
Zen doesn’t confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling the potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.
Alan Watts
I cannot tell if what the world considers ‘happiness’ is happiness or not. All I know is the that when I consider the way they go about attaining it, I see them carried away headlong, grim and obsessed in the general onrush of the human herd, unable to stop themselves or to change their direction. All the while they claim to be just on the point of attaining happiness.
Chuang Tzu
See with your eyes, hear with your ears. Nothing is hidden.
Zen proverb
Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.
Zen proverb
Just think of the trees: they let the birds perch and fly, with no intention to call them when they come and no longing for their return when they fly away. If people’s hearts can be like the trees, they will not be off the way.
Langya
… unless there is an innate passion to find out, to discover for oneself one will not be equipped to live the meditative way. Meditation is a total way of living, not a partial or fragmentary activity… Life is neither occidental nor oriental… There is no excitement in a real enquirer; there is a depth of intensity, not the shallowness of enthusiastic excitement.
Vimala Thakar
Being totally busy is a wasteful way of living.
Zen saying
Happiness is a simple thing: you are happy when you are not trying to be happy.
Zen saying
To have some deep feeling about Buddhism is not the point; we just do what we should do, like eating supper and going to bed. This is Buddhism!
Suzuki Roshi
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the stone path wanders
meandering through the garden
yet it does not move
3D Eye 
Hi ! We are Koji & Yasuko Tsuji. We met you on the train to Kyoto.
Did you enjoy Kyoto on Saturday?
You know well about Zen more than us.
Anyway we are glad to get to know you.
Please enjoy your stay in Japan.
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Hello Koji and Yasuko! It was lucky for us that you sat in the seats next to us – we really needed your map and your advice on the best route to Ryoan-ji! Hopefully you enjoyed your visit to the plum blossoms. We had a brilliant day in those Zen gardens and temples – they are quite amazing. It’s always good to visit Japan, and we’re looking forward to the rest of the week. Best wishes to you both.
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