Mekugi
5th August 2003, 04:43
I just came down off of Mount Ontake from Misogi.
It was great fun.
We trained under the waterfall to begin with, marched up Ontake samma at 10 pm at night to see the break of dawn, marched over to Marishitenzen to pay our respects, then marched back down the mountain. The following day we did waterfall training again, then visited a shrine and went home.
I have some comments about me on the trip and I would like them reviewed.
I guess my spirit is a little too "forged"- the thing was a breeze for me. I just enjoyed myself and revitalized my link with the outdoors as always. This type if thing is absolutely commonplace for guys like me and I take it in as usual.
While everyone was huffing and puffing, I was striding uphill and essentially "running circles" around them in both directions. The waterfall was not intimidating, even though it was supposed to be at it's strongest for the last ten years and had warnings posted. I marched right in and took it with no problem. I have done the same thing at home in the woods, but I called it a high velocity shower. ;)
It was mentioned that I am not "spiritual enough". It was also mentioned I am into "outdoor sports" so it is not spiritual for me. I have no idea what they mean.
I totally disagree with both of those comments...the fact is these people have never really dealt with a backwoods hick like myself and don't know what to make of me. I have never been into outdoor sports really- or never considered what I do "sports" and it's just the way I was raised. I mean I like to go out and play like everyone else, but I usually take my trekking very seriously and my hunting even more serious. Matter of fact, I think I got more out of it spiritually than anyone else as it was like going home for me, kind of nostalgic and homesick at the same time.
I dunno what they mean by "not spiritual enough", but I really think it has to do with the fact I am not intimidated by rough terrain. I wasn't in any great pain after the long walk, and just slightly sun-burned. Maybe just jealousy on their part? I know it wasn't racism. I ended up pushing everyone up the mountain and basically carrying them back down. I did a great deal of caretaking for these folks up and down the mountain- I can't figure what is more spiritual than that. I could have just breezed by them and left them in my dust-however I took the option to stay and help them.
Maybe they should come and try my version of "Misogi"- complete wilderness for a 15 days. No ryokan, no running water or toilets, no rest areas, no beds, no shelter from the rain or sun- nothing. Just you and the great outdoors and whatever you can pack in. I think they have become a little soft over here and lost sight of what this is really about. Maybe it is a cultural difference? I am, after all, just a gaijin.
Have the Japanese truly lost sight of the Misogi and has it become a ritual more than anything else? Is it just me?
-Russ
It was great fun.
We trained under the waterfall to begin with, marched up Ontake samma at 10 pm at night to see the break of dawn, marched over to Marishitenzen to pay our respects, then marched back down the mountain. The following day we did waterfall training again, then visited a shrine and went home.
I have some comments about me on the trip and I would like them reviewed.
I guess my spirit is a little too "forged"- the thing was a breeze for me. I just enjoyed myself and revitalized my link with the outdoors as always. This type if thing is absolutely commonplace for guys like me and I take it in as usual.
While everyone was huffing and puffing, I was striding uphill and essentially "running circles" around them in both directions. The waterfall was not intimidating, even though it was supposed to be at it's strongest for the last ten years and had warnings posted. I marched right in and took it with no problem. I have done the same thing at home in the woods, but I called it a high velocity shower. ;)
It was mentioned that I am not "spiritual enough". It was also mentioned I am into "outdoor sports" so it is not spiritual for me. I have no idea what they mean.
I totally disagree with both of those comments...the fact is these people have never really dealt with a backwoods hick like myself and don't know what to make of me. I have never been into outdoor sports really- or never considered what I do "sports" and it's just the way I was raised. I mean I like to go out and play like everyone else, but I usually take my trekking very seriously and my hunting even more serious. Matter of fact, I think I got more out of it spiritually than anyone else as it was like going home for me, kind of nostalgic and homesick at the same time.
I dunno what they mean by "not spiritual enough", but I really think it has to do with the fact I am not intimidated by rough terrain. I wasn't in any great pain after the long walk, and just slightly sun-burned. Maybe just jealousy on their part? I know it wasn't racism. I ended up pushing everyone up the mountain and basically carrying them back down. I did a great deal of caretaking for these folks up and down the mountain- I can't figure what is more spiritual than that. I could have just breezed by them and left them in my dust-however I took the option to stay and help them.
Maybe they should come and try my version of "Misogi"- complete wilderness for a 15 days. No ryokan, no running water or toilets, no rest areas, no beds, no shelter from the rain or sun- nothing. Just you and the great outdoors and whatever you can pack in. I think they have become a little soft over here and lost sight of what this is really about. Maybe it is a cultural difference? I am, after all, just a gaijin.
Have the Japanese truly lost sight of the Misogi and has it become a ritual more than anything else? Is it just me?
-Russ