I went to “The event of communing with Bonto (lantern lights) in Torin-in Temple (within Rinzai-syu Myoshin-ji Temple)”. The small stone statue of Jizo in the entrance had been warmly illuminated by wavering flame. That light was not electricity but a candle.

The handmade ceramic lantern lights that the chief priest of this temple made and about 400 candles placed on old roof tiles had been lighting in the garden. It seems that Bonto (a lantern light) means the light which renounces worldly desires, because it is said that Bonsho (a temple bell) renounces worldly desires.　The below sentence has been written in the leaflet which I received. “Please put yourself in the space which is surrounded by soft light of candles, and calmly watch yourself and your mind”.


The light of candles was wavering in the garden. In this event, every time, the character of different Zen word is made by the light of candles. It was “月白風清（月白く風清し,Tsuki shiroku Kaze kiyoshi）” this time. Tsuki means the moon, shiroku means white, Kaze means wind, and kiyoshi means clear. Thus that word is admiring the landscape of autumn which is “under the clear sky the moon shines and the bracing wind blows”. However that Zen word is not only admiring nature. It is casting a question whether we can enjoy enough the great happiness seeing beautiful scenes at the day of autumn. It enlightens us to what “keep oneself that do not prepossessing to everything, that live by pure mind, and that see things are what they seem”.
I always think that. “I can understand Zen words, but can not realize them. And I forget them soon therefore I am prepossessed with many things and living daily.”


The songs of insects and the rich tone of Suikinkutu, which is an art object of the sound and is the equipment which makes the sound of the water which drops from the stone basin big with the resonance, had enhanced the atmosphere of fantasy. The clamor of students of the neighboring school had increased reality. I had tried to get rid of prepossessing seeing the wavering light in the darkness that mingled reality and fantasy. And I was prepossessed with the fact that I am not able to get rid of prepossessing. I felt that the wavering light which was not same even momentarily has laughed at it.

The visitors went home after enjoyed there in the way of themselves. There were not too many visitors. I think that it is possible that you spend time slowly there, and meditate also.

Lantern lights in Torin-in Temple (within Myoshin-ji Temple)

• Address: 59 Myoshin-ji cho Hanazono Ukyo-ku Kyoto-City 616-8035
• Tel: 075-463-1334

• Spring: The end of April or the beginning of May
• Autumn: The middle of October
• 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (The acceptance: until 8:30 p.m.)
• Admission: 500yen
• You can drink some Maccha (powdered green tea) and coffee watching lantern lights in the garden (Maccha: 600yen, Coffee: 400yen).

Torin-in Temple has accommodation (Shukubo) also. You can eat the “Shojin ryori” that the chief priest of this temple made. He is author of Shojin ryori books also.

• The room charges
• 6,300yen/person (included dinner and breakfast)
• 5,250yen/person (included breakfast)