Whether seeker or skeptic, come rest in the present – no epiphanies needed, just your simple presence. Now in the Metaverse.
Enter the Immersive Experience
THE DRAGON BREATH
The power of serotonin
The guardians that grace the sliding doors at Gyokuryu-ji are more than mere decoration; their presence is echoed in Abbot Sasaki’s signature meditation technique—“The Dragon Breath.”This method leverages serotonin elevation to achieve stress reduction, employing deep, calm breathing to foster mental stability. In contrast to our adrenaline-fuelled modern lifestyles, the abbot advocates a serotonin-focused approach that brings balance and peace.The method is disarmingly simple—deep inhales, long exhales. No incense, no chanting, no need for enlightenment to strike like lightning. Just breath, moving in and out, as steady as a temple bell. I’m told it can be practised anywhere, even wedged between strangers on a commuter train. Abbot Sasaki assures me that twenty minutes a day works wonders, but even a few breaths can shift the mood of a moment.
Practicing the Dragon Breath
Here are the simple steps to do a session of Dragon Breathing:
Find a comfortable position, if you can, sit on the floor with crossed legs
Set a timer, ten minutes is a good starting point
Rest your hands in your lap
Close your eyes
Clear your thoughts, but don't fight them if they keep popping up
Take a long, deep, breath through the nose
Exhale through your mouth, while counting slowly to ten
Take another deep breath, and so forth
When the timer chimes, return slowly to normal consciousness
THE PHILOSOPHY
Joseph Campbell, the renowned professor and researcher of world mythology, once recounted a tale of a Western philosopher at a conference on religion in Japan. Perplexed, the Westerner asked a Shinto priest, "I don't get your ideology. I don't get your theology." The priest, after a moment's contemplation, replied simply, "I think we don't have ideology. We don't have theology. We dance." This exchange also encapsulates the essence of Zen, a non-philosophy that defies definition and doctrine. Zenvacation, isn't about adhering to rigid beliefs or complex ideologies. It's about being. It's the space between breaths, the pause between thoughts, the moment when the mind stops chattering and the heart starts listening. At the Temple of the Jewel Dragon (玉龍寺), you're invited to dance to the rhythm of existence, free from the constraints of dogma.
INSIGHT BY EXPERIENCE
The temple is a sanctuary for those seeking freedom from the world's incessant ideological chatter. Here, under the watchful eyes of jeweled dragons and autumn-hued maples, you're free to simply be. You can participate in temple chores, soak in nearby hot springs, or just exist in the sacred space. The Dragon Breath is part of this experience. Taking part in daily temple life lets you truly immerse yourself to the fullest in the Zen way. Let me tell you a story to make you understand this better.
ONE LEAF AWAY FROM CHAOS
Picture, if you will, a devoted monk—let’s call him Kyogen, for that is indeed his name—armed with a broom and a sense of purpose that would put even the most enthusiastic spring-cleaner to shame. Day after day, he swept the temple garden until it was so immaculate you could eat your sushi off it (though the abbot rather frowned upon that sort of thing).One fine morning, Kyogen stood back to admire his handiwork: not a leaf in sight, not a twig out of place, not even a rebellious acorn. Perfection. The universe, it seemed, was finally in order.And then—because the universe has a wicked sense of timing—a single leaf, with all the grace of a ballerina and the subtlety of a tax inspector, pirouetted down from the tree and landed smack in the middle of the spotless path.Kyogen stared. The leaf stared back (insofar as leaves are able). And in that moment, he was struck—not by the urge to sweep again, but by a flash of enlightenment. Perfection, he realised, is terribly overrated. The world, much like his garden, is always just one leaf away from chaos. And that, oddly enough, is what makes it rather wonderful.So, the next time you’re striving for spotless order, remember Kyogen and his leaf: sometimes, it’s the tiny imperfections that let a little wisdom flutter in.