Japan day 1 and 2, part 2

After we had greeted the rest of the group, we went to eat hotpot. 

Below you can see what hotpot is, feel free to scroll through the pictures: 

We were going to eat hotpot. Which is very cool. You sit several people around a table, with someone from the group, then take what you want to eat and then cook it in a bowl right in front of you, meat, salad, noodles, everything. Was very good, recommend you to practice eating with chopsticks before you go to Japan. I didn't, so I struggled quite a bit with this, although there are forks in some places that you can use. Some of the food was good, some was not so good, so taste and pleasure. There was also Cola there and Cola zero, but the soft drink was much sweeter in Japan than it is here in Norway. On a journey is good, but at home is the best. 

After dinner, we went to Senjo-ji temple in the evening. Where we learned more about the history, the two most important religions here in Japan, Buddhism and Shinto, and we prayed to their Gods. Went up to the top of the temple, took a 5yen with a hole in the middle and placed it in the grooves on the table in front of me before I bowed, said a prayer and bowed again, as we had learned a few minutes beforehand.

After looking into taking pictures of the temple and the surrounding things, we found that we could find out how happiness we have in our lives as well as the future. Cost 100yen, which corresponds to 7.15 Norwegian kroner. We then shook a box until a stick came out, then looked at what was written on the stick before putting it back in the box. The marks on the stick corresponded to whose shelf our happiness was in, because there were different sheets in different shelves. I have normal happiness, and a normal future and I am happy with that, happy that it was not bad! Thought I was a bit unlucky with things, but I guess I'm just clumsy. Also talked to many of the people in the group, we took pictures together and of each other. Here we learned more about culture, temples and history and more. Very exciting!

Briefly described Buddhism

Central to Buddhism are the Buddha and his teachings (dharma), and constitute two of Buddhism's "three jewels" (triratna). The Buddha won "awakening", which involves the realization of the Four Noble Truths, and he achieved nirvana ("extinction"), which means he became free from all rebirth. This is the ultimate goal of all Buddhists.

 Buddhism is not only a religious and philosophical teaching, but through its ethics has left a strong mark on the societies it has been in contact with. Buddhism has been the foremost communicator of Indian civilization in Asia and a powerful cultural impulse in art, literature, philosophy and state government for 2,500 years. Buddhism is today divided into two main traditions: Theravada and Mahayana. Buddhism – Great Norwegian Encyclopedia (snl.no) https://snl.no/buddhisme  

Briefly described Shinto

 Shinto is a term applied to some forms of religion found in Japan. Shinto is often referred to as "Japan's original religion", an ancient belief from an undefined primeval time before Buddhism and other Chinese culture came to the country. This is problematic in two ways. First, there is no unified Shinto doctrine or belief, and very few Japanese see Shinto as their religious identity. Secondly, the term Shinto itself is not that old. The idea of an ancient Japanese teaching called "Shinto" first arose in the 15th century, and spread beyond a narrow circle of priests and intellectuals even later, in the 19th century. https://snl.no/shinto 

A bit about Senjo - Ji temple https://www.japan-guide.com 

Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. Legend has it that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back in the river, it always returned to them. Accordingly, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple Approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of Sensoji Temple and the symbol of Asakusa and the entire city of Tokyo.

A shopping street over 200 meters long, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, Hozomon. Alongside typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries. Click on the link above and search for sensoji to find out more. 

After we returned to the hotel again, I was very tired because I only had 1-2 hours after I first arrived at the hotel before the adventure journey began, and we met people and were going to eat and see temples. So it might be a good idea to come a day before if you are going on such trips. All in all, a tiring but very good day with lots of impressions, new friends and new knowledge. 

Sources 

19, June, 2023, Kværne, Per and Borgland, Jens Wilhelm Link: https://snl.no/buddhisme  Uppsala University and the University of Oslo. 

BUDDHISM LAST UPDATED: June 19, 2023, 24, January, 2023, Teeuwen, Mark and Jacobsen, Knut A Link: https://snl.no/shinto 

 January 24, 2023, see all changes June, 17, 2022, Japan guide Link: https://www.japan-guide.com  My own experiences, 2023 

My own experiences 2023