I haven't posted a blog for more than a month<("0")>!!
What a terrible blogger I am!!
Anyway, hope everyone is all right☆*~ﾟ⌒('-'*)⌒ﾟ~*☆
I visited a temple called Genko-an (源光庵) a few days ago. Let me talk about it today.
This temple belongs to So-tou sect of the Zen Buddhism, and it's famous for two window called 'Mayoi no mado(迷いの窓)' and 'Satori no mado(悟りの窓)'.
Mado means 'window'. I would translate that 'Mayoi no mado(迷いの窓)' is 'the Window of Illusion or Anxiety' and 'Satori no mado(悟りの窓)' is 'the Window of Enlightenment or Nirvana'.
This square window is 'the Window of Illusion' and it expresses human being. We face with four sufferings, 生老病死(to be born, to get old, to be sick and to die) and cannot run away from them.
Also, I have another idea. A square has 4 corners, and they are sharpen. So they may symbolize bad points in people's minds. That's why we, human beings, have always had conflicts with the others in the history.
On the other hand, a circle has no corner. So no conflicts with the others. Once our mind becomes like a circle, we would be satisfied and serene. That's why, I think, this circle window may be called 'Satori no mado(悟りの窓)' meaning 'the Window of Enlightenment or Nirvana'.
In addition, the circle is emblematic of the space. So it's opposite of the human being. 'Circle' is an important factor in Zen Buddhism.
Sometimes I see a hanging scroll of '○' in a tea ceremony room where Zen Buddhism has given a strong influence.
