In my work I spend a lot of time in the gardens of Kyoto- many of which are located on the grounds of Zen temples. The surrounding beauty I regularly find myself in often lends to the feeling that I am living in some sort of dream-like state.

Compositions of stones that have been standing through the wind, snow, typhoons and sun- in the same position as I am witnessing them for hundreds of years. Waterfalls dropping fresh water down into streams, which meander into ponds, which make the habitats for turtles, carp and others. Towering pine trees manicured into shapes which seem incomprehensable to the first time viewer. Why and how does a tree look like this?

But there are two elements that I only see once a year that literally cause my lungs to fill up with air, or all the air to immediately jump out- I am not sure exactly what happens in this moment because what I am seeing is putting me in a state of momentary elation and everything else in existance seems to recede far into the background. Usually a strange sound comes out that sounds like “Oooawaah”!

It is the first sighting of the red dragonfly at the end of summer and the plum blossoms at the end of winter.

If you are unfamiliar with the weather in Kyoto, to put it simply, it can be rather uncomfortable during summer and winter. In summer- 100 degrees Farenheit, and 80 percent humidity. In winter- below freezing, and 70 percent humidity. Dealing with this year in and year out has lead me to often keep in mind a Zen proverb which goes, “When hot, be hot. When cold, be thoroughly cold.” This mindset actually seems to work pretty effectively.

But for those living in Kyoto-it is the plum blossoms and the red dragonflies that immediately put our minds to ease.

Earlier this year, in early September I was guiding a group of clients at Konchi-in. We had just made our way through the entrance garden when, “Oooawaah”!, it happened. The red dragonfly descending down onto a nearby shrub adjacent to the pond. For the last few months every dragonfly that I had seen had either a dark blue or black hue. Summer was roaring. But as I first saw the red dragonfly, I knew the summer was coming to end and the cool autumn season will soon be arriving.

Last week I was alone in the Zen monastery of Daitoku-ji, doing some research for the upcoming season. I had made my way onto the grounds of one of the subtemples that cannont be entered by the public, but the rather large entrance garden is free to be entered. I walked slowly down a long straight corridor and made a sharp ninety degree turn as the path continued around a wall when “Oooawaah”!, the first plum blossoms I’d seen since last February were exploding in front of my eyes. I instantly knew that although there will be a few cold days ahead, spring is not far off in the distance.

The plum blossoms and the red dragonflies- it is always a pleasure to see you:)