Abstract

The Seasons of Life: An Autobiographical Essay by a Leading Nun": Like nature has its seasons, so does life. The seasons that come around again never wear the same face. The leading nun of the present day quietly introspects while interpreting Waka and Kanshi poetry infused with seasons, looking back on the days passed through her life dedicated to Buddhism.

Author’s Information

Shundou Aoyama
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1933, Shundou Aoyama is a Zen monk. She graduated from Komazawa University's Department of Buddhist Studies and completed a graduate degree at the same university. At the age of five, she entered the Soto sect's Muryo-ji temple, took her vows at fifteen, and began her monastic life at the Aichi Special Nunnery. From 1976, she has served as the head of the same nunnery. She concurrently serves as the head priest of Shohoji Temple, Higashi-do of Muryo-ji Temple, and others. In 2006, she received the Buddhism Propagation Merit Award. She is also a professor of tea ceremony and flower arrangement. She has authored numerous books, including "Zen Teachings for 12 Months" published in 2018.