Boh's Meditation
Boh shifted slightly before crossing his legs over and resting his hands on his knees. Perched in his favorite spot for meditating, he let his eyes roam over the hot springs, steam rising in chilly night air. Normally the gentle sway of the rising steam would calm his nerves, but not this night. Closing his eyes, Boh slowed his breath and worked on settling his mind by focusing on the sound of his breath entering his lungs and the sensations of breathing. For several moments he tried, but the words of the master kept echoing in his mind.
Tonight, had been the celebration not only of Boh’s 15th birthday, but his confirmation as a Monk of the Golden Temple as well, a follower of ways of Zen Buddism. While it had begun pleasantly enough, Boh was still uncertain about how he felt about the ending. It was Abbot Miyoto’s custom to tell his orphan’s what he knew of their history when they were either confirmed as a Monk or decided to leave the monastery to follow their own path. Tonight, had been no different. Some of the information he had known, like his date of birth and that his parents were farmers. But tonight, he had learned much more, the heated Saki from dinner making Koichi more verbose than normal. Abbot Miyoto had allowed Koichi to tell Boh of his past rather than himself, understanding the bond they shared.
Boh let his eyes open, his thoughts going back to Koichi’s words.
“You were born on March 1st, around mid-morning. You were born at the height of the darkness when the Heavenly Dragon ate the sun, plunging the lands into darkness until it was able to fight free. Although most of the villagers felt this to be an auspicious omen for your family, sadly there were those who saw it quite differently.” Koichi explained, keeping his eyes straight ahead, gazing into the fire. “I remember them. I had already been here a few years, and they were regular visitors at the Golden Temple. They were simple folk, good, honest, happy. And you were the source of joy for them as well.”
“I can only remember vague images of them. Nothing clear.” Boh had said, drawing a sharp look from Koichi. Boh instantly pressed his lips together, hoping that he hadn’t ruined his change to find out more about himself.
“It was maybe three years later that the month of midnight occurred, during late summer. For almost an entire month the skies were dark and filled with ash, and a foul odor covered the lands. What followed was worse. The crops were blighted that year, and superstitions ran high. It was late fall when the adherents of Monk Nichiren struck the village, claiming that the month of midnight and the resulting blight was because the villagers were at fault because the followed the false teachings of Zen Buddhism. The price they took from the villagers was indeed steep, with the few who managed to escape the ire of the Nichiren Monks arriving at our temple. You and your mother were among them, although your mother succumbed to her wounds the following day. Abbot Miyoto chose to take you in as one of our own, and thus you have become Boh, Monk of the Golden Temple tonight, and now you know of how you came to be, and who you once were.”
“But what of the Nichiren Monks? Surely, they didn’t get away with their actions. And why would they attack the villagers? That’s not the way of Buddhism.” Boh asked, free to do so now that the lesson was over. “I remember the famine and droughts but look at our lands now. Surely they must see how wrong their beliefs were.”
“There is no room for dissenting views with Nichiren Monks. There is only room for their view of Buddhism, and conflicting views must be eradicated.” Koichi replied. “Clan Adachi was quick to hunt down the adherents, who were actually little more than believers – not monks, but simple villagers who had been duped into believing what Abbot Nichiren preaches. The justice was swift, but it was not complete. Abbot Nichiren and most of his monks were safely away on Japan, influencing the court of clan Hojo.”
“Surely clan Hojo saw through the teachings of the Nichiren Monks!” Boh had remembered exclaiming, appalled that such a corrupt view of Buddhism could exist.
“It has seemed that was for the last several years. But now that Kublai Khan started his war with the Emperor of the Song Dynasty in the Hubei province of China, it’s rumored that Abbot Nichiren is beginning to fall out of favor with clan Hojo. He has long been proclaiming that the Mongols would be invading Japan after their victory over Korea, but this sudden shift by the Khan of Khans to attack in China is not sitting well with clan Hojo. Only time will tell.”
Boh closed his eyes once more, returning to his breathing exercises and seeking the stillness of mind he desired.
Boh, a few years prior to the Invasion. Written by Dale.
