Friday...

So on to the reason I came to Japan...

On Friday morning, we went over to see the Great Sacred Hall, me for the first time. It is a very beautiful place, with steps going up to the main level, and 3 huge paintings above the main entrance, representing Manjushri, Maitreya, and Universal Wisdom. You can pick which door to enter, according to what virtue you are trying to cultivate. There are gentlemen in suits on either side of the wide entry to greet you, and  you walk into a sort of reception area where you can make donations. This area is separated from the main sanctuary by a type of lattice screen, and you can see into the big room, with the stage and the Gohonzon.

The Main Room is a wonder. Photography inside the building is not allowed, so I will do my best to describe it to you...  The building itself is circular, and the sanctuary is semi-circular. There is an eight-story high dome over the room. and from a certain place on the floor, you can look up to the center of the dome, where there are mirrors so you can see yourself in the heavens. The floor is painted with a design, but there were chairs over it so I couldn't see it. There's a little platform up front so that you can get closer to look at the Gohonzon.

I wish I could let you look into my head and see the Buddha-statue. He's 10.5 feet tall, with blue hair and all the 32 signs of the Buddha incorporated into the statue. The Lumen, or sort of a halo behind him is taller. and he stands on a base probably about 6 feet tall. Everything is beautifully colored, and shines brightly. An amazing sight, and I could have stayed in there for a very long time, just looking at the details. Very quiet and peaceful there.

The other levels of the building house a dining facility, (where you look at samples of the food you want, put your money in a machine and push a button for what you want. It gives you a ticket and you take that to a counter and they get you your meal,) a store, and other things. (More about that later.)

Later that day, Randy, Roger and I went over to greet Reverent Mizutani in the International Office. It kind of reminded me of a newsroom, with clocks on the wall for all the different places where RKK is. Reverend Mizutani has a simple desk at the head of the room, and people facing each other across big tables. Everyone was very happy to greet us, we were served coffee and got to talk with the folks in the office. We kept the visit short, as people were working, but it was nice to meet everyone there.