What is solo camp mindfulness?
Japanese Buddhist priest Enko Sakai is an award winning master of Zen meditation. Sakai was named one of the “Next-Era Leaders of 2019” by The New York Times and won an award from The Wall Street Journal.
His approach to today’s stressful society has been recognized internationally. He is currently working as a high priest at the Myojoin temple and has been helping many celebrities who feel stressed out.
Sakai also introduced the concept of camping to many people, which you can practice even inside your own house.
“You can put a stove inside a tent to make the temperature rise to 176 ℉, which turns the tent into a sauna,” explains Sakai. Inside the temple property, there is an artificial waterfall, where you can enjoy waterfall meditation. After cooling down, you can experience a hot tent sauna.
Sakai says that “changing one’s thoughts and way of thinking is important regardless of one’s situation or the situation of the world.” Indeed solo camping will help you concentrate and explore your inner thoughts.
The proper temperature for waterfall meditation is about 50 to 51 ℉. These shifts in temperature make me think of contrast therapy, as cooling and warming oneself up as a form of meditation not only has physical benefits, but psychological ones as well.
“Zatsunen (the Japanese word for worldly thoughts) are what cause commonplace things to go wrong. I try not to do anything when I have Zatsunen. Because things are not going smoothly,” says Sakai, “Solo camping, gazing at a campfire, and doing waterfall meditation will definitely help you experience a sense of mindfulness.”
“The busier you get, you tend to have more Zatsunen,” Sakai warns, “With your mind full of many different tasks, you won’t be able to think about the task at hand.”
“Nowadays, our occupations have been changing too. We have to multitask and work on many things at the same time. Most of us are overusing our brains. That results in a lack of concentration,” Sakai explains.
While it can be difficult to practice waterfall meditation, you can always enjoy a cold shower at home. Keeping things simple is always the best course of action. Try not to think too much. Just enjoy your mindfulness and solo camping meditation!
Please visit his website to learn more about Enko Sakai and his meditation methods!
https://youtube.com/@enkoosyo3?feature=shared
Profile
Enko Sakai was born in Aichi Prefecture. After working as a crew member on a tuna fishing boat and in the food sales industry, he entered Mt. Hiei’s Enryakuji Temple, the main temple of the Tendai sect. After entering the Myojoin Temple, he graduated from Bukkyo University and became the 25th priest of that temple in 2005. In 2010, he created an artificial waterfall to allow waterfall meditation to be carried out in the temple. He has given lectures at the University of San Jose in California and at the Japan Consulate in San Francisco. Recently, he has been focusing more on activities in the United States.
