The Philosopher’s Path

gldobbs
5 days ago
4 min read

November 14, 2025

“But hear me well: The future is unborn.

The past is already dead.

Only the present is alive.

I am here,

now.”

A Buddhist Maxim

There is a person we have seen at various temples and shrines over the past few weeks. They are usually wearing work overalls but carry only a primitive stringy broom. It is more of a large brush really.

They are gardeners and their particular task is sweeping up leaf debris off the moss and rocks on the grounds. It is a never ending, thankless job. Almost as soon as you complete a pass, the leaves fall again. Yet with quiet grace they work to keep these beautiful spaces serene, free of any litter, and breathtakingly beautiful.

It is such a tender, recurring thing to witness it reminded Colleen of that passage from John 20:15 - When Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb on Easter morning -

“He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

The image of the gardener working lovingly on the grounds is inspiring. I don’t know if these men and women are happy. But their work makes everyone else happy. What more can you want in a career?

This is the grounds of the Ginkakuji Temple, sometimes called the Silver Pavilion, that lies at the foot of Mount Daimonji in Eastern Kyoto. It is devoted to Zen Buddhism. Like it’s sister, The Golden Temple, it started out as a rich person’s home. But his children wished it turned into a place of worship so it became a temple.

We left thinking this morning for this place thinking we had rigged the system. Being old (an still jet lagged) we wake up very early in the morning. So we thought we would beat the Kyoto crowds and go early. It worked. it was just us, a few fellow jet lagged westerners, and 197 eager school children! The kids were organized into three phalanxes that moved in mass though the narrow gates.

When do these kids actually go to school? It would be annoying if they weren’t so charming and friendly. They are eager to practice their English skills and cheerfully greet you with “Good Morning” as you attempt to move past their ranks.

And they come with their own photographer

Once you get past the armada of trim uniforms and colorful caps, the place opens up to you.

And just look! This place held easily the most beautiful grounds we have seen in a town full of temples. The Fall leaves were in their full glory.

This temple serves as the jumping off point for a popular walk here in Kyoto called “The Philosopher’s Path.”

Kitarō Nishida was a 20th century Japanese moral philosopher as well as a professor in mathematics, science, and religious studies. According to tradition he would walk along this cherry tree lined path by a drainage ditch filled with clear flowing water. He would use the time to meditate on deep and weighty issues. By tradition, the walkway was named after him.

While we weren’t deep in thoughts about the universe, we, none the less, were enchanted with the space. During the Spring, when the Cherry Trees are in bloom, this path is choked with people. It is a common stop on the Cherry tree pilgrimage.

However, the Fall doesn’t suck. This season offers its charms that are equally enchanting and, thankfully, we got to enjoy it without the crowds.

There are various stops along the path, but the chief pleasure lies in the walk itself.

American muscle cars are a challenge to own in Kyoto

That evening we visited yet another nearby temple that offered night time illumination

I got to enjoy my favorite dish in Japan Okonomiyaki again.

Oh, and one more thing -

When you travel a lot, you have the opportunity to to see all kinds of oddities. Here were 4 in Japan.

The passion for dressing your dog up in baby clothes and dresses and taking them out in strollers. This happens A LOT

One man, who did not have a stroller, apparently wanted to bring his small dog with him while touring. Not to be outdone, the small poodle was dressed in a small shirt and was wearing a diaper. I mean, who wants the wrath of a gardener if you leave behind doggie poo?

I mentioned I passed a car where a woman had on her lap a live owl

But today….well you say to yourself its a lovely Fall day, lets get the dog and go for a walk (Or stroll) on the Philosophers Path. Except you don’t have a dog. No, you have a Hawk. This woman was out for a walk with a Harris Hawk on her arm.