an amazing robe sewn by a very simple man

Attachment 1499

This is Edouard, Zen teacher, wearing a twenty five stripes Okesa.


Edouard, that we used to call Doudou some thirty years ago, is an old student of Deshimaru and a very simple man, a kind of Ryokan in his own way, humble, direct, man of so many so called menial jobs, with a mind like a child, wild and open, as you will see on this funzoe, a ceremonial robe, he has sewn. When I met him in 1985, he was cooking for retreats, sitting in the dojo of Paris, vcleaning here, helping there, and enjoying frisbee. He received Dharma transmission in the same blood line as Jundo and I from Kosen, one of the Dharma heirs of Niwa. He is now getting old (aren"t we all? I shall be 50 in a few months time) and has a small sangha in the South of France where people practice a very uncomplicated Zen. If you click on the link below, you will see the most amazing ceremonial kesa entirely hand sewn and as you will notice, the patterns of mountains and clouds are just like kid's drawings. I could not believe it when I first saw it. Joko, my French student, pointed it to me recently and I wanted to share this visual treasure with you.

http://zenvq.eklablog.com/le-kesa-de...ard-a103190035

I shall be away and not available for dokusan or anything next week as I go visiting my in laws and spend some quality time with my family in Japan.

take care and remember that I will be back on the 5th of January.

gassho to all

Taigu

Thank you Taigu - a most beautiful kesa.

You will be 50 years young soon. We have just celebrated my husbands 70th with family/grandchildren - a good time to think on the value of each moment because the past two decades since 50 have flown by.

Dogen really understood a thing or two about time :)

Have a restful, happy time with your family.

Gassho

Willow

Thank you Taigu for sharing this. Amazing work. I think I see mountains and mountain conditions depicted in it. Every frame another day but also a season maybe. The amount of work and the patience is just stunning. He seems to have prepared each panel first, every single one an amazing piece of art in itself and then put the kesa together. Like you said, they look like those children drawings we often think so little about until we try to paint or draw in that same open, creative and uninhibited way as kids do. Thank you Taigu for pointing it out.

I will take some paint and some paper today to see what comes out of it if I try to draw like a child, using the imagination. Draw what we are actually seeing or what comes to us in the imagination instead of the classic, poor attempt to depict what something is called or what something should look like. An interesting experiment. Draw with a an open mind and with the open hand of thought. Maybe we could all try it together? And maybe post a picture of the results here, just for fun and as a salute to what Edouard and Taigu are teaching us here?

Gassho

Enkyo

Hi Willow, you are for sure just a baby of 70. Growing into birth. Nice feeling.
As far as Dogen is concerned, I don't understand his teachings at all. It is true that the point is not about understanding., anyway.
have a restful time too with your young family.

Enkyo, thank you for seing these simple drawings for what they are, flowers in the sky, blossoms of awakening.
Being creative and drawing is a great way forward. As the good old Daido Loori used to point at.
your rakusu is on the way. A matter of days, I think.

gassho


Taigu

Thank you.


Gassho,
Edward

Hi Taigu,
This is amazing. Thank you. I must try and make it to his Zendo in the south when I am visiting Isabelle's family next time. I hope you enjoy your time off.
Gassho
Myozan

A beautiful and wonderous thing is the play of the simple and the simple at play. Thank you Taigu, have a great break and see you soon.

Gassho
Taikyo

This is beautiful Taigu, thank you! Wow ... almost 50 years young, just the beginning. =) Have a wonderful time with your family and in-laws and see you when you are back. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Thank you for sharing, Taigu, it is beautiful.

Have a wonderful time with your family.

Gassho,
Treena

Beautiful! Reminds me a bit of the drawings that my daughter makes. Thank you for showing this and have a safe and peaceful trip.

Gassho,
Tim

It is amazing, I could get lost in the stitches. Wishing you safe and happy travels, Taigu and we shall see you when you return.

gassho2
Kelly/Jinmei

Merci Taigu pour le partage de ce très beau kesa, ainsi que pour la découverte d' Édouard.
Gassho
Anshu

Thank you Taigu. Beautiful.

Beautiful! Enjoy your time!

Gassho
Shohei

Wow, Taigu, that is amazing!! Sounds like the man's soul is equally amazing. A delight that such people are walking around on this planet.
Shinzan