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The roof of the temple curves upwards like a smile.

The walls are white while the columns and roof are a rich, glossy brown.

It's a sunny spring morning and the leaves of the trees flutter in the slight breeze.

With no one else around, it's the perfect picture of serenity.

You are the only visitor. To set foot inside the gardens of this historic temple,

you first need a special letter of permission.

There are no crowds and no tourists. Only you waiting to be met by your guide.

The young man who comes to greet you is a monk. His head is shaved and he wears a long black robe.

He introduces himself as Yuto and says that he is one of the many Zen Buddhist monks who live at

the nearby monastery. The temples restricted access and remote location mean that they don't get

many visitors. Today, he will show you around the famous Zen garden and share a little about his life.

First, you walk together around the temple walls. His pace is slow but deliberate.

And he seems to be paying careful attention to every moment.

Normally, you would walk more quickly but Yuto's relaxed pace encourages you to slow down too.

There's no reason to hurry here. There's no plan or timetable. It's refreshing to be able to

forget about time for a while and to simply enjoy the experience living in the moment.

You stroll down a tree-lined path, side by side, and Yuto begins to tell you about his life as a monk.

...