Shabutsu: Tracing Forms of the Buddha

Please RSVP at the Japan Foundation website.

Full disclosure: I am not Buddhist, but this workshop sounds like a very interesting way to explore meditation practice.

"Shabutsu is the practice of tracing the image of the Buddha by hand, sharing the same spirit as carving Buddhist statues. Buddhist images are not created as expressions of personal creativity, but as objects of devotion, following traditional guidelines.

In Shabutsu, a sheet of paper is placed over a model image, and the lines are carefully traced one by one. At the end, a personal prayer or wish is quietly written.

In this workshop co-presented with Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles, we invite you to experience the spirit and practice of Shabutsu together."

I plan to arrive early to take a look at the gallery and the related exhibit ("Manifesting Icons") before the class. It closes at 6pm.

Hope to see you there!