A group of friends

I was lucky , Hiroko said as she was invited with a group of her friends ( 9 of them ) to a very special ceremony in a beautiful temple, this friday . I would be among them. Early we took all of us as a group many trains to reach the Kawasaki Daishi and see the octogonal five storied Pagoda and soon to be presented with some tea ceremony in a beautiful room before witnessing the solemn religious ceremony : the Goma and Nika Grand Rite , supported by a deeply esoteric Buddhist doctrine . Goma red Homa in Sanscrit ansd means to burn. An officiating priest who has performed the self purification rites burns the Goma wood in the center of the fireplace of the Goma platform which is in front of the principal holy Image of Kobo Daishi , a Master born in 774AD , who studied Confucius became a buddhist monk , introduced the shibgon Buddhism to Japan , travelling to China wher he worked with his own Master HUI KUO. Then became his successor and returning to Japan in 806 and spreading the Teachings until he died in 835. He taught that humans hold the nature of Buddha , thus we are the same as Buddha and can attain enlightment within this life . He was not only a great religious man but as well an accomplished poet ,a calligrapher, a scientist, an educator and an artist . So he had a huge influence on the japanese culture all together. The ceremony was grand with the priest officiating in wonderful golden cloths and the powerful voices of 12 monks chanting , the belles , the gongs, the noise of the monk's wooden socks but I didn't dare to take pictures during the ceremony itself of course . It lasted 2 hours .We participate in some parts presenting food and offering flowers to our neighbours passing it on and on and on . When it was finished we had some more green tea and sake and the officiating priest came to see the group for a special blessing . Near the monastery before taking our trains back we ate some noodles and fish , ending up 2 hours later eating and drinking a lot more in Matsuko's sake bar. I tell you to achieve their 66 elements a day , we seel to eat all the time !!!