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If anyone can refute me – show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective – I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone.
– Marcus Aurelius
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Note: Scroll down for your word. ⬇️
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88 Temples: These are 88 temples and other places designated by Kōbo Daishi for ascetic training. The pilgrimage is a journey through the sites of the master – sacred ground.
88 is significant in Buddhism and represents the number of earthly desires a person must overcome to achieve enlightenment. The pilgrimage is designed to help pilgrims overcome these desires and reach a state of spiritual enlightenment.
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A
Anthropomorphize, anthropomorphizing: attribute human behavior or qualities to anything not human.
Ablutions: the washing of one’s body or part of it.
B
Baadaye: 1. until next time; 2. later (Swahili)
Bodhisattva: a person who is able to achieve nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion for the suffering of other beings; one who is the essence of knowledge.
Buen camino: good way; a simple, greeting to wish you and your fellow pilgrims well on the walk. Locals who recognize pilgrims will also shout out buen camino. Gracias is the return greeting.
C
Compagnon: 1. partner; 2. member of a trade guild (French)
Critical Thinking: learning, questioning, and being skeptical, even about your own beliefs.
D
Digestif: after dessert/dinner drink used to stave off drowsiness, as an aid to digestion, or as a family or cultural tradition, ranges from coffee to shots of alcohol
E
Ébéniste: Originally, one who worked with ebony, a favored luxury wood for mid-17th century Parisian cabinets, originating in imitation of elite furniture being made in Antwerp. (loanword)
Ebonics: ebony (black) phonics. (portmanteau)
Esoteric Buddhism: refined, systematized, and spread further by Kukai (Kobo Daishi, 774-835 CE), a scholar-monk and poet who founded Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Shingon (“True Word”) Buddhism adhered to the cosmic vision of Buddhism as an eternal set of strictures which had been articulated clearly by the Buddha but not conceived of by him, nor had he been the first buddha and certainly not the last. Shingon, like Vajrayana Buddhism, claimed one could attain complete enlightenment in one’s lifetime and only by submitting to the discipline of a virtuous teacher.
Eudemonia: The concept of eudemonia comes from Aristotelianism, the philosophy of Aristotle (384–322 b.c.), and it centers on happiness as the result of an active life governed by reason. It is the term for the highest human good in older Greek tradition.
G
Groupthink: The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group such that it discourages creativity or individual responsibility.
H
Hatimaye: finally; at last; ultimately; destiny (Swahili)
Helve: the handle of a weapon or tool; haft
I
Ikigai: reason to get out of bed; life’s purpose; it can be about the joy a person finds living day-to-day, without which their life as a whole would not be a happy one.
J
Jizo: The Jizo Bodhisattva, O-Jizo-san, is a deity fondly loved by Japanese people. In Buddhist temples, cemeteries, at the side of the road in towns and in the mountains, the probability of spotting one is great. The primary role of Jizo is to protect living children, the souls of those who passed away, and unborn babies. The Jizo also protects travelers and ohenro. Their red clothing is easily spotted on the trail. This tradition is derived from the ancient belief in Dosojin, a deity who protects travelers.
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Kannon: Kannon Bosatsu (Buddha Kannon); the bodhisattva (a revered Buddhist figure on the path to enlightenment) of compassion and mercy, In Japan she takes on divine features and is a popular deity, perhaps the most widely worshiped.
Kannon’s original Indian name is Avalokiteśvara – One Who Perceives All.
When depicted with her nyoihoju (magic) jewel, she is known as Nyoirin Kannon or Kannon, the One Who Wishes. Also called Thousand-armed Kannon, Eleven-faced Kannon, Goddess of Mercy and others.
Kannon is the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, the keeper of peace and reliever of troubles. She can help women become pregnant, end droughts, and is associated with vegetarianism through her compassion. Many Japanese believe that anyone who cries out to Kannon with earnest, honest faith will feel her love and find salvation.
Kōhai: (Japanese), student of the master (sensei); the amused admonishment that Sean Connery made to Wesley Snipes at the end of the film, Rising Sun (1993).
L
Lee Jun-fan: 李振藩; Bruce Lee (李小龍) November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines.
M
Mahayama: The idea that Buddhas remain accessible is extremely influential in Mahāyāna and also allows for the possibility of having a reciprocal relationship with a Buddha through prayer, visions, devotion and revelations. Through the use of various practices^, a devotee can aspire to be reborn in a Buddha’s pure land or buddha field, where they can strive towards Buddhahood in the best possible conditions.
^by faith, meditation, or even by the repetition of Buddha’s name.
Mala: a simple string of beads used in meditation to count mantras, prayers, or intentions. Malas can also be used to count breaths or used in a gratitude meditation. Mala is a Sanskrit word meaning garland or rosary. Malas are a type of meditation or prayer beads – ancient tools that were developed to keep the mind focused and clear from thoughts.
Mata Ne: (Japanese) またね – see you later (casual)
Minshuku: family-run, guesthouse-style lodgings in the owner’s home, where moderately priced rooms are rented out. Often located in rural areas and near resorts and vacation spots, minshuku are similar to bed-and-breakfast lodgings, offering visitors on a budget a chance to witness Japanese family life first-hand.
O
Onsen: a natural hot spring bath that is geothermically heated underground by the volcanic activity of the land. In order for a pool to be considered an onsen, the water must contain a minimum of one of the nineteen chemical elements that occur naturally in spring water, and the water must be at least 25C when it comes out of the ground.
Osettai: A gesture or practice on a pilgrimage path where people or non-pilgrims support walking pilgrims along the way. It is often done to seek a blessing at the pilgrim’s destination. The offering may be a small gift, snack, local fruit, a cool or warm drink, or even a place to stay. Often, these gestures are made unexpectedly. Just as often, they come right on time and are most appreciated.
P
Peak Experience: involves a heightened sense of wonder, awe, or ecstasy over an experience. It is
a highly valued occurrence which is characterized by such intensity of perception, depth of feeling, or sense of profound significance as to cause it to stand out in the subject’s mind. The event is more or less a permanent contrast to the experiences that surround it in time and space.
There is a sense of fulfillment, significance of the moment, a feeling of a turning point in life, and a spiritual sense of being unaware of time.
Pensée: (fr.) a reflection or thought
Power Spot: places believed to endow visitors with refreshing or healing energy. In Japan, the concept generally centers around feng shui principles and sites where the Earth’s energy is said to well up—meaning many power spots are tied to ancient shrines, creation myths and Shugendo mountain worship.
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Ryokan: Japanese-style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts. They are an opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality, incorporating elements such as tatami rooms, futon beds, Japanese-style baths and local cuisine, making them popular with both Japanese and foreign tourists.
S
Self-Awareness: conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
Sashimono: a technique for assembling furniture and other wooden items without nails, using both simple and highly complex wood joints. Mortises or grooves called hozo are carved into the wood in order to join two boards in a blind joint that’s not visible from the surface.
A woodworker’s ruler called a monosashi is traditionally used to carefully measure timber materials before cutting.
Sekisho: spiritual checkpoint; -dera: temple; on Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage where Kōbō Daishi examines a pilgrim’s spiritual motives and decides whether he or she will be permitted to continue. If you are judged as a wrongdoer, you are not allowed to pass through the checkpoint to the next temple.
Sekishoderas On Shikoku
Tokushima : Temple 19 Tatsue-ji
Kochi: Temple 27 Konimine-ji
Ehime: Temple 60 Yokomine-ji
Kagawa: Temple 66 Upen-ji
Unpenji temple is the first Sekisho temple in Sanuki (old name of Kagawa) and also the most difficult one. If you pass the Unpenji temple that means your journey in Sanuki will get smooth sailing.
Shukubo: temple lodgings; Rrokan-style lodgings on temple grounds. Rare but special experience. Often comes with (optional) temple rites during which you’ll be shown treasures and customs only seen by overnight guests.
Sister(s): japanese – shimai – 姉妹 (しまい)
Syncretism: The amalgamation of
T
Thus Spoke Zarathustra: the doctrine of the eternal recurrence, which claims that all events will repeat themselves again and again forevermore. It is something that Zarathustra accepts at the end with some cheer. – from the novel, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None, (1883), by Friedrich Nietzsche.
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Vajra: In Shingon Buddhism, a vajra is a ritual instrument symbolizing the destruction of vile passion, the storms of the world. It is also a symbol of bodhicitta, the mind of awakening. It appears that Kūkai and Saichō may have imported the first actual vajra instruments into Japan. Kūkai imported various types of these, those with three prongs, five prongs, a single spike, and so forth.
W
Wabi-Sabi: the Japanese art of finding beauty in things that are imperfect.
Welt: a strip of leather that follows the outer edges of a leather sheath. Inserted between the layers of leather, it gives a place for the blade to rest on and to glide against as it is removed. The welt guards against cutting the stitches on the sheath. Also, if rivets are used, it prevents the sharp blade edge from hitting the metal.
Womanist: is a black woman feminist. According to Alice Walker, it encompasses all the factors that oppress women of color – race, gender, and class.
Y
YOLO: an acronym for “you only live once“.
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