April Reflection: Appreciating the Beauty of Nature

2025.04.01.

Appreciating the Beauty of Nature

Daiko Iizuka  (Chief Priest)

Greetings, everyone. I am Daikō Iizuka, the chief priest of Ichibata Yakushi. Spring has arrived. From the mountains, the gentle songs of bush warblers can be heard. The temple grounds are coming to life with cherry blossoms, magnolias, and flower buds swelling, ready to bloom. The colors, the fragrances, the sounds, and the breeze—all speak of spring’s arrival.

In Japan, the changing seasons bring a deep sense of beauty and tranquility. This appreciation for nature’s elegance is expressed in the phrase “Kachō Fūgetsu” (Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon). It is said that as we grow older, the things we find beautiful evolve in this very order: first flowers, then birds, then the wind, and finally, the moon.

Cherry blossoms, breathtaking in their beauty, do not last long. Soon, their petals will fall, making way for the fresh green leaves of early summer. The young foliage shines with vitality, filling the air with the energy of new life. Then comes the heat of summer, the vibrant colors of autumn, and the quiet stillness of winter. Everything in this world is in a constant state of change—nothing remains the same.

We, too, are part of this ever-changing cycle. This is the essence of “mujō” (impermanence), a fundamental teaching in Buddhism. To appreciate the fleeting beauty of nature is to embrace the present moment and live fully in the “now.”

May you spend each day with a fresh and peaceful heart.

April 1, 2025