Rita Carrol, rscj

All of us who participated in the final leg of the “Slow Walk” agreed that it was not very slow. First of all what is the “Slow Walk”? The Newstart NPO (http://www.new-start-jp.org ) organizes this Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage to “help recovering ‘socially withdrawn’ young people step out on their own!” This year was the second time they sponsored this pilgrimage which took place in 7 stages from March 6th to May 16th. I took park in the final section (Sanuki), from temples 70 to 88 in Kagawa. Would I do it again, you may ask, and my answer is a definite ‘YES’! Let it be known that I hope to complete this pilgrimage in my lifetime.

Of course, I was very fortunate to be part of such a special group during my first pilgrimage experience. How did this fortuitous connection happen? I answered an article in the Japan Times which told about New Start and their Slow Walk project for ‘socially withdrawn young people’. The inviting part was that they were looking for foreigners living in Japan who can communicate in Japanese. These young people who have withdrawn from Japanese society tend to be able to communicate with non-Japanese people. I applied, had an interview with a staff member and was invited to join the walk.

Of course I had reservations about whether at my slightly more advanced age I would be able to walk and climb mountains all day for seven days? Well, miracle of miracles, I did it! I was neither the fastest nor the most agile by any means and my bones and muscles ached miserably by each evening. If I had not been part of this group of struggling young people and the very supportive staff members, I would not have pushed myself so much to continue on with such difficulties. We truly received strength in each one’s weakness. Baths and massages we gave to each other did wonders and made it possible to set off each morning with renewed energy, though still feeling plenty of pain.

Our group of nineteen, five women and fourteen men, included 4 staff members, three women and one male ‘helpers’ and eleven other walkers in their 20’s and 30’s who accepted the challenge to come out to be with other people in a safe environment. We respected their limitations and did not pressure them to socialize beyond their abilities. The main challenge was to get up and walk each day. A few of the members had joined from the beginning so they received little jobs to hand out candles and incense for our prayer at each temple. Some were heavily medicated, some were painfully withdrawn and kept silent and to themselves, some were there because their parents told them to give it a try, and a few seemed almost normal. Only through their sharing did we know about how they have suffered and given up on life. After all we went through together, even through silence and shyness, we felt such a special bonding with each other that as we parted we exchanged addresses and telephone numbers.

As the Newstart project became known around Shikoku various individuals and groups contacted them to be of assistance during the walk. Almost each day we had appointments with people who either arranged for our lunch (most often we ate onigiri at a convenience store along the way), our lodgings (community centers), or guided us to temples. It was a privilege to meet other socially challenged young people who came out to meet us. Children refusing school came with their teacher from an alternative school called ‘Human Harbor’. They guided us to a sheltered workshop where physically and mentally challenged women and men were trained to bake cakes and cookies to sell and to cook meals for shut ins. As we descended the final mountain path to temple 88, Okuboji, we were welcomed by a beaming young girl with physical and mental challenges. Her father has taken her on the entire pilgrimage 25 times (by car). She came especially to greet us and offer our final prayers with us.

Each day we walked silently in single file, with our protective straw hats, white jackets and walking sticks which not only reminded us that we were ‘two walking together’ (Kobo Daishi, and for me, Jesus), but also provided incredible support. We experienced every kind of weather and did not give up. I could share so many more stories and reflections, but will resist at this point. Although I still have far to go to attainment enlightenment, I was aware as I walked long hours each day that thoughts and desires dropped away, and I lived the present moment, which was often just to be able to put one foot in front of the other!

I am so grateful that I could begin this pilgrimage. It has long been on my dream list. Very old and infirm people deeply impressed me as they struggled up steps to worship at the main temple. Even though I have just started, they gave me great hope.