Walking up the hill to Temple 24 after visiting a cave where Kobo Daishi(The saint who introduced Buddhism to Japan) supposedly experienced enlightenment, I start experiencing some nice thoughts of tolerance and happiness and feeling very happy. Then after walking all the way down the hill I realize my hat is gone so walk back up the hill 200 meters and retrieve my hat. Then turn around from parking lot and walk into street and stumble over a one inch tall reflector light and can’t recover after three steps and fall onto the pavement. Sprawled out I look back at a cleaning guy who is frowning at me.
Then for the first time on this pilgrimage I could feel the presence of Kukai (Kobo Daishi) and he is laughing at me. I love being humbled and I start to laugh with him and then notice the sweeper and he is looking very strangely at me now.
After walking 30K+ am dragging trying to get to Nahari and I pass a guy saying goodbye to some people and he is giving off nice vibes and without thinking I said “ How about a lift”. He said “Sure” and drove me the last 6k through the city. He was an extremely nice man, Singhen, and he told me he was the Temple Master at Temple 27. Not surprisingly, he took me to the Hotel on Nahari and walked me in to make sure my reservation was good.
Feeling in flow and enjoying this solo stretch.
