Stone image of Jizo-bosatsu: Tokei-ji

A tiny stone image of Jizo Bosatsu (Jizo Bodhisattva), that looks like an innocent infant smiling benevolently, is enshrined quietly in the shallow hollow on the thickly moss-covered rock-face.

The young leaves of Iwa-tabako (Conandron ramondioides) have just come out from the narrow cracks in the stone-wall and are surrounding this small avatar of Buddha as if to offer up spring prayers.

Jizo Bosatsu reveals the Buddha's salvation for the lost souls cast into Hell and is also widely accepted as a guardian deity of children in folk beliefs in Japan.

Jizo-bosatsu: Tokei-ji

A Jizo-Bosatsu statue in Kencho-ji

A Jizo-Bosatsu statue in Tokei-ji

The violet Iwatabako flowers, which are clustering around this little stone image of Jizo-bosatsu, have just passed their best and have begun to fall one by one as if to realize the end of their prime season.

A bunch of pale blue flowers of Ajisai is offered to this guardian deity to silently pray him for his perpetual and infinite mercy to us.

In this quiet and beautiful scene, I find one of the most unforgettable moments of wonder, which is brought by the exquisite harmony of the four elements of this garden in this passing season of rain.

A Jizo-bosatsu statue in Tokei-ji temple

The moss which thickly covers the rock surface begins to awake from its long sleep of winter and to grow steadily in the soft spring sun.

The little stone image of Jizo-bosatsu is fondly watching over the living things which are revived one after another by that tender sun.