“But now, finally, here was an indubitable monument from a thousand years ago, which, right in front of my eyes, allowed me to contemplate the minds of ancient people… This was one virtue of pilgrimage, the joy of being alive” (Sato, 75). Basho’s reaction to discovering an old temple, something that has withstood the sands of time, displays numerous traits of Zen: the sacredness of nature and the transcendence of it, the cycle of changes in the world, the power of meditation and looking into ones own mind, and finally the joy of reaching enlightenment. Although Basho has not reached enlightenment in this scene, the joy he feels is built on the same principle. Understanding ones innate enlightenment through nature and detachment from the self and from the material world is the end goal of those who practice Zen Buddhism and in this moment, Basho understands that. This scene illuminates the core of how one can hope to reach
“But now, finally, here was an indubitable monument from a thousand years ago, which, right in front of my eyes, allowed me to contemplate the minds of ancient people… This was one virtue of pilgrimage, the joy of being alive” (Sato, 75). Basho’s reaction to discovering an old temple, something that has withstood the sands of time, displays numerous traits of Zen: the sacredness of nature and the transcendence of it, the cycle of changes in the world, the power of meditation and looking into ones own mind, and finally the joy of reaching enlightenment. Although Basho has not reached enlightenment in this scene, the joy he feels is built on the same principle. Understanding ones innate enlightenment through nature and detachment from the self and from the material world is the end goal of those who practice Zen Buddhism and in this moment, Basho understands that. This scene illuminates the core of how one can hope to reach