Find wisdom in emptiness ~ Arrival to Arimatsu

On my  first week In Arimatsu I learned a lot about SILENCE, and most of my reflexions come from bamboos.

Since my last visit to the bamboo forest, I’ve been thinking a lot about this amazing plant, full of wisdom.

Arashiyama bamboo forest

It is said that in order to learn, the first step is to empty ourselves from preconceived notions. One cannot fill a cup which is already full.

The hollow inside the bamboo is a reminder that we are often too full with ourselves and our emotions, and we leave no space for anything else.

It is when we empty ourselves, that we can receive wisdom and knowledge from both nature and people.

My arrival to Arimatsu was a little bit like that, and it kept me thinking…

After my French friends left, I suddenly found myself all alone in a foreign country. Inmerse in the Japanese culture and wihout knowing the language.

I had my first class with HARADA SENSEI (my teacher), and I found out that she couldn’t speak english, just a little bit.

I assumed she could speak english, because of a number of emails we sent to each other. But I found out later, that they were written by a friend of hers, who is a translator. So as you can imagine, I was very surprised because I thought we would be able to communicate each other with words, but that wasn’t the case.

So I needed to change my perspective and I have actually come to appreciate it … in some ways I realized it is like meditating! It has helped me to see things other way. Life does not always turn out as we want to, and in those cases it is when we have the opportunity to learn the most.

I realized sometimes words are not necessary. Sometimes communication goes better when it comes from the heart.

And being in silence has given me the opportunity to look inside, to empty myself and to find that wisdom.

I have learned to make friends, even if most of the time we can’t communicate with each other with words.

People kindness is so amazing! And it definetely goes beyond words.

“Silence isn’t empty, it is full of answers”

~Rocio Mena~