This film covers one year in the life of the small Antaiji Soto Zen retreat Centre in Hyogo, Japan. The retreat centre is in the hills on the northern part of Hyogo, and is very remote and even cut off from the outside world during the heavy snowfalls in the winter.
The centre is led by a nun Nakamura Eko, who has been there for around 10 years (in 2021 when this film for recorded). We find out later in the film that she speaks fairly good English, and this probably accounts for why so many foreigners are also staying there (though most of them speak some Japanese also).
Her teaching is fairly straightforward: Seek Nothing, Just Sit, and, hopefully, all will become clear. Some do just this, but after a year of just sitting begin to feel it is to no purpose and leave the centre. Others carry on for the full 3-year retreat. Others worry about their families and responsibilities. Sitting zen is no easy business, but the quiet and community practice are teachings that won’t easily be forgotten, whether they stay or leave.
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