My visit to Asakusa

Salam/Hi/御早う everybody,

Michael Frayn, the author of “The Human Touch” wrote in his book:

“ You could see the universe as one single, complex, infinitely interconnected potential event. Waiting only for you and me to touch it here and there in passing”. The universe is waiting for us to decorate it with our fingerprints, our believes, our steps and our memories. We are here to gaze at its wonder, mystery and contrast.

Last Saturday (17^th May), I've been Asakusa (浅草 ) which is known for its Buddhist temples. Fortunately, it was the third Saturday in May. So many people go to the temple of Senso-Ji (金龍山浅草寺 ) which is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon to celebrate the Sanja Matsuri (三社祭 ) festival.

“According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 by two fishermen, the brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari. The chief of their village, Hajino Nakamoto, recognized the sanctity of the statue and enshrined it by remodeling his own house into a small temple in Asakusa, so that the villagers could worship the Kannon. The blessings of the Kannon gradually received a high reputation throughout Japan, and people near and far flocked to Asakusa to venerate the statue. During World War II, the temple was bombed and for the most part destroyed. It was rebuilt later and is a symbol of rebirth and peace to the Japanese people. In the courtyard there is a tree that was hit by a bomb in the air raids, it had regrown in the husk of the old tree and is a similar symbol to the temple itself.» -Wikipedia-

This festival lasts the entire weekend and it is dedicated to the kami (spirits) of these three men. For this reason, three groups of Buddhists people were bearing on their shoulders three mikoshi (神輿) that represent vehicles for the three divine spirits of the two fishermen and their chief to bring them inside the temple. They were also waving them from side to side. The place were overcrowded. I was walking slowly and trying to get closer to the mikoshi to figure out what is going on. I was walking and thinking about the memories and the believes that the persons around me were carrying on during their lifetime. Therefore, Frayn said “our personality, our self, is the virtual reality that is stored in our physical body”. I can really approve that vision which describes the interconnection between the body and the word“persona” which means “mask”. So if we shed this mask we can really feel that as human being we have something to share, even more than “something”.

Perhaps, we don't have the same ideas and memories and not even the same vision of life but if we try to see beneath the mask we can figure out which is common between us: its our humanity.

I respect everyone's belief and faith in this life but I do pray (as a Muslim) for all human mankind that Allah (God) may show them the right way and lighten their life with faith, love, beauty and justice. I know that I am different from others as they are different from me. I can see that when I walk, speak or behave in this universe. But I know that you have a body and soul like me. You can see me as I can see you. You can't perhaps understand what I do or I believe in but you can know that I am like you as you are like me: a human being.

This was a resume about what I've seen and felt in this special place. I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don't be shy, just post your comments. ;)

And never forget to fulfill your day with lights because maybe there is no tomorrow.

また ね,

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"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other)." (The Qur'an, Al Hujurat, 49: 13)