I’m enjoying meeting new students during our spring campaign this week. It’s nice to meet some faces and get to know our future students.

Last Sunday, I went to the Daruma Festival at Bishamonten Myohouji Temple. Unfortunately the weather was a washout, and it rained all day. It was still fun, however, and we got food at some of the many stalls lining the street. When you reach the temple site, you come across a sea of red darumas. There are stalls in all directions selling darumas of all sizes. It’s a really colourful display!There’s a small shrine there with dragons on the roof. Underneath there’s a cauldron with burning wood and incense in it. People light some incense sticks and breathe in the fumes for a healthy life. I stood there for a while just because the fire was nice and warm. It was difficult holding an umbrella and child at the same time, but we had a good day out at the festival. My daughter got a daruma doll with a big waving cat standing over it. I’m not sure what the cat part means, but I know the daruma is a doll that people buy to fulfil their ambitions. When purchased, the eyes are white so a person can decide on a goal or wish and paint one eye in. Once the goal is achieved, the second eye is filled in. It’s modelled after an ancient monk named Bodhidharma, who is said to have brought Bhuddism to China in the 5th or 6th century. He’s a bit like the Saint Patrick of China, the way he is celebrated for spreading religion!

Alan