Coming Home, Day 1

Garyo, MZC ordainee, shared her home-coming travel with me with beautiful

pictures. So I suggested her to share them with the wider readers of this blog.

“Coming Home” in Zen means “Coming Holy (Wholly Wholesome World/Way),”

“Returning to the Original Nature,” or “Living Limitless Life, Light, Liberation,

and Love.” Please accompany her journey with the beautiful pictures and notes,

enjoying every day, a good day!

******************************************************************************

Coming Home, Day 1

 

The Wachau Valley is a stretch of land along the Danube in Austria dedicated by

UNESCO as World Heritage Site. It is the land of my ancestors and here, I also was

born and raised.  For two weeks, I rediscovered it by walking through the valley on a

trail called World Heritage Trail (Welterbesteig).  It was a coming home.  Coming

home as an intimate connection with everything around, with nature, culture and

people.  I would love to share some of my experiences with you.

 

I started the trail close to my home village in the Benedictine monastery of Göttweig.

For hundreds of years the connection between the monastery and my ancestors was

very close. I love the thick stone walls and the silence behind them. Sometimes, I go

there for silent retreats.

 

 

                         West side of the Benedictine monastery of Göttweig

 

When I started the trek, the apricot trees were in full bloom. Apricot blossoms are

very fragile and only last  a few days. The beauty of impermanence was stunning.

 

– Text and pictures by Garyo