Introduction:
While researching Ito-sensei, I discovered that he actually inspired Vicky Tsai, the founder of Tatcha, one of the world’s most famous beauty brands. She described her encounters with Ito Toryo in a blog post, writing that:
“One of the most valuable pieces of advice from Toryo Ito came during one of our meditation sessions. I shared with him that I was struggling to keep up with the pace of change at Tatcha. He told me to think of a tree.Toryo Ito said the most important part of a tree is its roots. The deeper the roots, the higher the tree can grow, safely. The roots keep the tree stable, while the branches are flexible, allowing the tree to withstand gale-force winds. Toryo Ito encouraged me to look at a tree when I feel overwhelmed, to think of my values as the roots, the things that keep me grounded, and to be flexible about everything else.”
These values have apparently now become a core part of Tatcha’s company philosophy. I thought it was amazing that Ito-sensei‘s lessons have spread so far, and am curious to asking him about his partnership with the brand, as its first-ever “Global Well-Being Mentor.” The brand apparently hopes to work with him “to marry timeless Japanese wisdom with emerging scientific research to create sensorial rituals that benefit skin, mind, and body.”
I also found out that Ryosokuin temple developed a meditation app during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to combat the decline in number of visitors and loss of donation revenue. This online Zen meditation community, UnXe, apparently means “cloud-sitting, and the app has been downloaded more than 15,000 times, according to a Bloomberg article by Ayai Tomisawa. Ito Toryo commented on this change, saying that the “conventional way of supporting… operations” no longer met the needs of the temple, and they needed to “adapt to a management style which meets with the times.” I’m curious about Ito-sensei’s thoughts on these meditation apps. Does he find them equal to in-person meditations at the temple? Or can they only ever be simple, lesser-quality, and temporary replacements for meditations led by Buddhist priests at the temple? Is it possible to reach zen through one’s smartphone?
One of my favorite things I discovered about Ito Toryo-sensei is his love of fashion, as described on Jun Rivers’ blog. Unlike the stereotypical image of an austere Buddhist monk, he apparently “wait[s] for the pieces of Issey Miyake to appear on the second-hand market and [to] snatch them, changes his clothes to change his mood throughout the day, and imagine[s] the next generation of monk uniform blending outdoor functionality with social attire.” Rivers raises an interesting question about Ito-sensei‘s love of fashion, which I too, am curious about: “is this pursuit of fashion not in conflict with the quest for non-attachment, or the taming of material desires?” While I believe firmly that Ito-sensei will know far more about zen than I could ever hope to know, I do wonder how he balances his love of clothing with his spiritual journey.
Reflection:
Coming into the guided Zazen meditation practice, I had a lot of questions and uncertainties. Although I practiced meditating in the past, my experience has always been plagued with attempting to get the perfect form, the clearest state of mind, and changing locations to find the perfect quiet spot. As a result, my understanding of meditation was tainted by these clouded judgements.
When I entered the Ryokosuin-Ji temple, my mind immediately started racing. Will I enjoy this experience? What if I am not doing this correctly? Am I the only one who will not get this? I pondered. Questions continued to race through my mind as Ito-sensi introduced himself but slowly halted after his comprehensive explanation of Zazen. From my recollection, he mentioned that the truth is, sitting immobile is not the goal of meditation – you can sway around. You do not need to chase after your thoughts, as letting them roam free will eventually tire them out. You can meditate anywhere, and meditation is accessible to anyone. After the second round of meditation, I felt my understanding of Zazen meditation expanding, and I began to crave more knowledge of its intricacies. Ito-sensei mentioned that there are three important steps to Zazen
- To connect with the environment
- To connect with the self
- To eliminate the barrier between the environment and oneself
These elements heavily relate to the ideas of Zen in the sense of removing stimulus and removing distractions, which is incorporated through the removal of personal boundaries between the self and the environment in Zazen.
Another important question Ito-sensei posed to us was life as it relates to Inochi and, specifically, what is the boundary between living and nonliving? This question grew on me, and it was very reflective. Immediately, I began to strip away from the scientific definitions of the living and drew on the question through a spiritual lens of Buddhism and the themes of karmic retribution and the forms of the afterlife. However, this question may not have a definitive answer. The idea of a soul or an essence of life existing in nature, such as rocks and dirt or even the river, may not exist for one person. Still, to others, it exists – hence, the ritual functions praising the personified gods and goddesses for the waters, the rocks, among others.
By the final fifteen-minute meditation, which felt like five minutes, I have only begun to unravel the sophistication of the Zazen and the multifaceted nature of this form of meditation. But, I was curious to learn more about this practice and to untangle its religious and philosophical depths across the various artists and masters in the upcoming days.
My peers shared similar sentiments:
Malini was interested in the idea of meditation becoming accessible to everyone and the contrast between the ground of the temple only being open to the public for two weeks. She also questioned: “what is the boundary of Inochi?”
Yunjin “loved this experience” and recognizes the importance in connecting with the person first before connecting with the environment.
Alana also “loved this experience” and found the temple to be one of the most beautiful places she has ever seen. She also achieved a true meditative state, as she found the last fifteen meditation round to have passed like a three minute mediation.
Craig found the experience relaxing and calming, and highlights specific physical reactions of relaxation including the relaxing feeling “between eyebrows” and believes in the power in slow motions
Alison “appreciated the experience of just getting to think, to be present, and to take in what’s around us.” Furthermore, she says her experience was a complete contrast from the hustle culture she had been accustomed too.
Overview:
- 8:10 AM left hotel
- Walked through Kyoto to Nanzen-ji ground, Ryokosuin-ji
- 9:00 AM started meditation
- Three stages:
- Environment
- Body
- Eliminating barriers between self and environment
- Shorter meditations, learning how to do it
- Short 10 min break
- Walked (barefoot, for some) around the main Ryokosuin-ji temple without speaking and observed the garden
- Longer 15 min meditation
- Reflection