Adnkronos Tokyo, April 24 (Adnkronos) – Buddhist Japan is also mourning Pope Francis. The monks of Hoko-ji, the Zen "great temple" of the Hoko sect of Rinzai Buddhism, one of the 'mountain temples' of the Tokai region, in the heart of Japan, a few dozen kilometers from Mount Fuji, expressed their grief for Bergoglio's death to Adnkronos.
"We would like to express our sincere condolences on the passing of Pope Francis," said Shiei Yamagami, a monk in charge of foreign relations at the ancient mountain temple founded in 1371 by Mumon Gensen, son of Emperor Go-Daigo.
The monk expresses on behalf of all the religious of the temple "the most sincere sadness" for the death of the Pope, even if, he explains, "we do not have a program to celebrate a memorial ceremony in Houkouji". On the other hand, Zen, in the sign of the purest principle of 'here and now', teaches that one dies with every breath, with every breath one is transformed. Even death is simply transformation, in addition to being a precious teaching that reveals the truths of impermanence, compassion and interdependence.
Surrounded by spectacular nature and associated with a mysterious 'dragon god', the Hoko-ji complex in Shizuoka is home to many precious and historic buildings, 22 of which have been registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties.