The teachings of the Buddha have been passed down to us in the form of written ‘sutras’ or religious scripture. By tracing the sutras in a form of calligraphy called ‘shakyo’, Japanese believe the words flow through you; and through the silence and awareness this studied practice, the body and mind harmonize together in a form of meditation.

Zenko-ji Temple offers visitors the opportunity to be instructed in ‘shakyo’ by one of its resident monks. The action of tracing the characters with stillness of hand and the feel of the brush leads you into a meditative state; one in which participants reflect, calm their mind, and often achieve clarity on whatever worries they have brought with them.The harmonization of body and mind achieves one of the principle goals of Buddhists.  ‘Shakyo’ meditation is a distinctly Japanese practice through which you may discover such peace and tranquility.