FROM THE GARDEN OF ZEN: December 2019

December 29, 2019

Sunset Glow: Yuigahama-beach

The evening sun is slowly setting beyond the distant silhouette of Izu Peninsula. The bright blaze of the sun is spreading and leaping up through the rifts in the dark overlapping clouds, coloring the winter sky and sea with the subtle shades of crimson.

Thanks to the ever-shifting clouds and the chilly dry air brought by the north wind, the evening glow of winter can present this flaming seascape which keeps changing every moment before my eyes.

Soon the dazzling sunset fades away like a burning-out illusion and the night falls on the seashore quietly.

Sunset Glow: Yuigahama-beach

The oblique rays of the setting sun are radiantly breaking through the thick clouds and are softly illuminating the smooth sea with the golden color of the sun.

The sounds of the rippling waves and the onshore winds are completely surrounding me to tell about the hidden heartbeat of the calm winter sea.

Sunset Glow: Yuigahama-beach

The dense low clouds are lit up subtly by the scarlet evening glow. The gentle waves on the sea are dimly reflecting the glorious but transient light of the sun above the horizon.

People standing on the seashore are silently gazing toward the sea until the afterglow of the sun disappears from view completely.

Sunset Glow: Yuigahama-beach

Seascape: Yuigahama-beach

the Sea of Late Afternoon: Yuigahama_beach

Setting Sun: Yuigahama-beach

Fallen leaves: Engaku-ji (Oubai-in)

Fallen leaves: Engaku-ji

Remaining autumn: Engaku-ji

December 11, 2019

Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji

Autumn is deepening with hurried steps and the leaves of the trees are turning yellow and red gradually in preparation for the arrival of harsh winter.

By the side of the Sangedatsu-mon (three gates of deliverance), the vermilion-colored leaves are glistening brightly in the transparent sun of the early afternoon like the golden clouds having come down from the canopy of heaven.

Before putting on beautiful autumnal tints, many leaves have already been lost because of the severe typhoons in this summer. Even so, just as if nothing had happened, the ablazing colors of the remained leaves emerge robustly and let me feel the swift and unchangeable passage of the seasons.

Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji

Soon the cold wind from the north blows out all of these flaming colors. As always, without any attachment for existence, the beautifully colored leaves fall down one by one and quickly break down into dark dust.

Before the chilly stillness of winter settles down in this garden, the pleasant autumnal colors fade away wholly like the evening glow disappearing beyond the distant horizon.