In the early morning of end July, I visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine to see lotus flowers. With refreshed feeling after praying and performing Chinowa Kuguri, I walked around Genji Pond and Heike Pond. It was quiet and there was almost no people, but it was regrettable that there were fewer lotus flowers than I expected.
Invited by the voice of Uguisu (Japanese nightingale), I reached a load along west side of Tsurugaoka Hashimangu. There was a deep forest hill on the opposite side of the load. The old name of that place is Uguisugayatsu (valley of Japanese nightingale). A lot of Japanese nightingale should be singing in old days.
I also visited Shiitsu Inari Shrine, which was introduced on the guide board, with going up the steep stone steps. It was a small and humble shrine with a small Torii. But I felt it should be cherished by people for a long time, as it was well cleaned and maintained.
One fox, served for Shiitsu Shonin (buddism priest) made a round trip from Kamakura to Kyushu in a single night to help Shiitsu, and then that fox was passed away immediately. To memorize his hard work and loyalty to Shiitsu, that Inari shrine was established. Since I am a fun of animal tales, I entered the world of fantacy, and imagined how he looked like, and how he went to and back. Just at that time, I witnessed a small animal (a raccoon dog or a cat?) rushing on an electrical wire. It seemed that I looked into another world.
Beside the Inari Shrine, I found a stone buddha sitting quietly in a cliff. It is one of nearly 100 of Koshinto existing at Kamakura. They should be sitting there and watching many people for hundreds of years. I felt a shortness of people's life.
Due to covid-19, many of tea gatherings and tea related events were cancelｌed. It is difficult to commnunicate among people with hospitality as before as we have to keep a social distance. To utilize such days, I would like to practice Daisu temae (tea making procedure with a Daisu portable shelf) alone with the attitude of serving tea for God and Buddha, and to make a tea calmly and naturally with keeping rules and procedures.