This April, at The Retreat, we are waiting for the cherry trees in Kendo’s 50th Anniversary Cherry Tree Orchard to blossom. This will be the first time they will flower, as they were planted as brand new saplings last spring, and we can’t wait! However, being a British April, we are getting our characteristically unpredictable spring weather, some sunshine, so welcome after the winter chill, and some squally showers and biting winds, which are in such stark contrast to the sunshine. Having begun to experience the former at last, the latter seems almost unfair, and certainly unwelcome!

However, to the cherry trees themselves, every aspect of weather is a necessary aspect of their growth and development, and this is a parallel we would do well to remember. Everything has seasons – life itself necessarily does, and even our mortal fortunes can be pleasantly warm or oppressively chilly – and yet, all are necessary is the growth and development of our selves.

One of the misconceptions about Buddhism is that it states that there is no such thing as a soul. Kendo Nagasaki recommends that we read this slightly differently; while Buddhism tells us that we reincarnate until we transcend the need to do so, it is worth thinking about precisely what reincarnates. Buddhist literature tends to equate “soul” to “self”, and, as Kendo recommends, we should certainly seek to let the “self” go completely in meditation, but, as Kendo’s work is aimed at the West, the symbolic concept of a “soul” (which reincarnates) is extremely helpful.

One of Kendo’s most helpful insights is to extend the Buddhist idea that acting in good conscience towards others actually does us good, because it’s good karma. Kendo’s perspective is that we should accept that we have been here before, and the fact that we are back here means that we still have work to do. But we are back to continue the good work which we have been doing over our past lives, continuing the refinement and improvement of that which reincarnates – our “souls”.

This brings us full-circle, to the cherry trees at The Retreat. There are many reasons why cherry trees are so loved in Japan, and Kendo cites a couple of the most important ones: the simple beauty of a single flower – even a single petal – is an example of the deities of nature expressing themselves in our world. Meditating upon this simple, beautiful perfection is a very good means of transcending our human selves and opening the door to inspiration from the deities of nature, and from our own intuitive selves. Something else which Kendo points out is that even though cherry blossom is here for such a short time, it is so beautiful that we can always call it to mind, and so, even when it’s not April, we always have that exquisite image to meditate upon.

When they do finally make it into full bloom, the cherry trees at The Retreat will be most welcome, not only as a beautiful spectacle, but also as an enduring memory upon which to meditate, and continue the good work upon our souls; watch the Blog for pictures!