Sosai's Memorial Day today.

Hi everyone

I am sorry I haven't been attentive here but I thank you all for the "missing you " emails!!!

I just wanted to share a bit of my day today, which was partly peculiar and partly wonderful...

I did my chanting for Sosai as today is his 19th year since his passing. I still miss himself dearly, and we I am still so touched by how so many people still miss him.

My yoga friends held a mini- ceremony for Sosai, we did Kirtan and chanting after a light practice. It was full moon yesterday and you know, Sosai was born on full moon day.

After this I huddled over to the Gokokuji temple where Mom and Dad rests. Interestingly, Other family members went there earlier in the morning to pay their respects to Sosai. As I approached the gravesite, I saw few people in track suits with broom and bucket of water already cleaning. They had shin Kyokushin t- shirt. So with my hat and my mask, I pretended to be a fan of Sosai just cleaning along with them. Then came Matsui san's fighters and branch chief . They also cleaned, dusted, wiped away the gravesite.

Then came Midori San, and I haven't seen him in like.... Decades. I was so surprised how happy I was to see him. It was so strange. Then I realized, I didn't have any animosity towards when Sosai was here.

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. Love it."
"Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong."
"Love waits for one thing. The right moment."
"You can forget what hurt you in the past, just never forget what it taught you."
Anonymous

In Ikebukuro.

Yesterday was very quiet but today was completely different story! There was streams of people already back for shopping and other amusement!

Picture taken at the East exit of Ikebukuro Station. In case some may not know, Ikebukuro is the station where Honbu is located. The address is West Ikebukuro (^^)/

Again at the my father's gravesite- A New Year visit!

Just showing some of the "Osechi" cooking. a traditional new year day cooking. The theme of the dishes are related to health, happiness and prosperity for the coming year and prepare to be eaten on the first day of January (^^)/ . It was Suzuki who did all the preparing... hehe... 

End of 2011(o^^o)！

How is everyone's end of the year cleaning coming along?

We cleaned Honbu and the Shrine yesterday and today all of us went to Gokokuji Temple where mother and Sosai is resting(o^^o)

I really want to thank each of you and thank you so much for supporting us!

Here are some picture's from the temple....

We found this cute flag of...... Aruba? Let us know where this is from! Whoever this was, we really appreciate your visit to the Oyama grave. 

This is the MAIN TEMPLE where the Dalai Lama prayed in.... is it not amazing to think Sosai and mother is resting in the temple where HIS HOLINESS visits?! 

Flag of Japan. 

The entrance of the Gokokuji Temple- By the way this is the back of my son- I still can't believe the boy I referred to as my "pea" is growing so much~~~!