and try hard to imagine
the "hidden buddha"
Poet's Note:
Nagano is the home of the historic Zenkoji Temple, visited yearly by over seven million Japanese people. The temple, which is 1,400 years old, is famous for its "hidden Buddha." Once every seven years, at a festival held in honor of that sacred image, a replica is displayed for public view. The real Zenkoji Buddha remains forever hidden. Because of this, one naturally yearns to look at his face.
