Fallen petals of sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Quickly summer is passing away and the intensity of the dazzling sun is gradually decreasing day by day.

The best season of lotus flowers has already come to an end and their enticing aroma has almost faded away in the soft air around the ponds.

At nights, insects are singing lively in every thicket to declare their mating season, which heralds the invisible arrival of crisp and beautiful autumn.

Kara-mon (Chinese gate); Kencho-ji

This exquisite combination of the golden Chinese gate and the flowers of lotus is peculiar to this bright season.

The curves and textures of the copper and tile roofs are forming a beautiful rhythmical pattern, which makes me feel the music of silence.

Bamboo grove: Kencho-ji

Like a spiritually awakened sage, ever-green bamboo trees are growing higher and higher without rest, absorbing sunlight, water and wind vigorously.

San-mon (moutain gate): Kencho-ji

The five-colored hangings, which are suspended from the eaves of the mountain gate for a celebration day, are slowly swaying in the gentle breeze of late summer.

These five colors are symbolic of the five kinds of wisdom of Buddha.

Red is the blood color of Buddha and represents his profound compassion on all living things in this painful world.

Gold (or yellow) is his body color and represents his ultimate power which destroys all earthly evil passions and darkness.

Green (or blue) is his hair color and symbolizes his absolute tranquility of wisdom which can reveal the eternal truth of everything.

Purple is his robe (Kesa) color and represents his supreme endurance which overcomes every persecution, temptation and insult.

White is his tooth color and symbolizes his pure heart which cleanses every evil and agony of this land of the living.

Fern leaves: Kita-kamakura

Sacred lotus flowers: Tokei-ji

Tea-house in the summer garden: Sankei-en (Yokohama)

Sacred lotus flowers: Sankei-en (Yokohama)

Water lily flowers: Sankei-en (Yokohama)

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

In the dazzling sunlight pouring down from the azure summer sky, the flowers of sacred lotus are rivaling each other in beauty and splendor.

A lotus flower lasts only four days. One open with the dawn, one comes into full bloom to spread a fragrant aroma into the hot air, and one quietly scatters in the lazy breezes of a summer afternoon.

Before my eyes, the brilliant dance of life is rapidly reaching a crescendo in the burning brightness of summer days.

Sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

A sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

The gloomy rainy season is approaching to its end steadily. The seasons are changing ceaselessly like an unending stream of water.

The flowers of Ajisai, which once adorned every gardens of Kita-kamakura with their quiet but elegant beauty, have already been past their prime and are on the gradual decline in the sun glowing brighter day after day.

The graceful flowers of sacred lotus, which are the fragrant manifestation of high summer, are beginning to bloom above the smooth water surface of ponds as if to eagerly await the arrival of their summer.

A sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

A sacred lotus flower rises up from tainted muddy water and blooms dignifiedly without any impurity.

In Buddhistic culture, this noble flower of summer symbolizes the infinite wisdom and mercy of Buddha, who saves all living things from their sufferings.

Ajisai (Japanese hydrangea) flowers: Tokei-ji

Ajisai (Japanese hydrangea) flowers: Kaizo-ji

Baptistery of San Giovanni: Florence

I came back from a trip in Italy.

On the day after reaching home, I visited the gardens of some temples in Kita-kamakura and saw many hydrangea flowers blooming elegantly in the pale sunlight of the rainy season.

St. Peter's Basilica : Rome

The Church of Santa Maria Novella: Florence

Ajisai (Japanese hydrangea) flowers: Engaku-ji