The Great Buddha in Kamakura Japan

During my travels throughout Japan, one of my favorite places I went was Kamakura, where the Great Buddha statue is. I took a day of leave and early on a Wednesday morning while everyone was just beginning work. I had grabbed a map from the USO and had my backpack with some snacks and water in it, slung over my shoulder; I started my solo journey. This was the very first time I ever ventured off on my own this deep into Japan. I was excited; I felt completely free.

After a long slow train ride that took me through the towns and mountains of an old rustic Japan; it probably looks the same as it did 100 years ago, old Japanese woman out sweeping the streets and watering flowers in front of their stores and homes. It was a bright sunny day and everything was immaculate when I stepped off the train. The grass was greener and all the flowers were vibrant and colorful. Everyone smiled and greeted me as I walked by; it was a very pleasant experience.

Walking up an old, worn down brick road, I came across a great big set of large red tori, arches that were built in the traditional Japanese architectural style. As I walked through, it was snowing pink cherry blossoms from the trees; the cherry blossom peddles playfully danced on the ground in the soft summer breeze. Once I walked through the tori arches, it seemed as if a great weight was lifted off my shoulders. I felt more at ease than I have ever been.

The Great Buddha came into view, towering over the monastery and sitting on top of its pedestal. Everything was quiet and calm, with the soft sound of birds singing in the background. I was overwhelmed with the enlightenment, my mind opened to the infinite and I was breath taken and speechless. A monk with his head bowed came out of thin air, silently without words he sat me down on a bench in the shade and brought over freshly brewed tea, and some kind of small, rice cracker. There I sat in awe and wonder, looking at the Great Buddha and the beauty of the Japanese culture.

After sitting there for a moment in complete relaxation, I took a bite of my rice cracker and sipped some of the tea. I closed my eyes; the universe opened up the depths of my mind, and I began traveling forward and backwards through time and space. Witnessing a higher plain of consciousness, I was adrift from my body; reality no longer existed. I felt completely free to explore my inner being, as a peaceful existence with nature, and I felt some kind of higher power deep within me.

After coming back down to Earth from being lost inside such a deep meditation, I opened my eyes and finished my tea. I got up and went over for a closer look at the Buddha. It was beautifully crafted with brass and sat there so peacefully. The brass Buddha is almost a greenish color from the aging of time. It towered above me as I stood there looking up in wonder. After a while another monk came up to me; smiling, he pointing towards an open door on the left side of the Buddha statue; I walked in.

Once inside the large brass Buddha, it was quiet and the sound of the birds outside gently echoed, and I felt all the energy the Buddha was giving off. I sat down on a bench in the back and meditated. I felt the Buddha inside me as I also felt me inside the Buddha; as if one complete being. Feeling waves of energy pulsing through my entire body; I wandered for an eternity, lost inside the infinite, my spirit became one with the universe.

After quite a while I heard a single chime, and I stepped outside to explore. The sun was beginning to set and everyone was slowly and quietly leaving. I had spent the entire day there wandering around the monastery; yet it seemed as if I had no recollection of time. I thought I had been gone for an entire lifetime, lost in meditation. I had seen my entire past, present, and future play through my mind.

As I was leaving, I turned to take one last look at the Buddha as the sun was setting on its face. On the train ride back to the base in Yokosuka, I sat in meditation, free of thought and completely relaxed. That type of enlightenment only comes once in a lifetime. I felt more aware of my inner self and was rejuvenated from the experience. It was definitely a life changing moment for me; one I hope to visit again someday.