Fumiko Kusaba②

 

Many participants in the "Sacred Lake" seek to resolve some mental or real-world challenges they face. However, in Fumiko's case, she had no such practical problems and joined the ceremony to explore her spirituality.

She felt that within each person lies something precious, an essential aspect of one's being, and participated in the ritual to connect with that part of herself. The "precious" element she spoke of is referred to by some as "God" and by others as the "true self." It is an aspect of ourselves that tends to be concealed by the constant stream of information we encounter in daily life, making it difficult to recognize our inner voice or the words of the true self.

Fumiko explained that meditation is key to sharpening our awareness of this inner voice, as is connecting with a sacred external presence, such as that experienced at the Sacred Lake.

She taught me a basic meditation technique, which involves focusing on the breath as it moves in and out of the nostrils, gradually releasing any tension in the body.

While we constantly breathe, we rarely stop to ask ourselves, "Am I breathing properly?" Our minds are usually occupied with work, family, or other tasks, yet we continue breathing all the while. This is why, Fumiko explained, the foundation of meditation is to consciously focus on this minimal action—breathing—while eliminating any unnecessary thoughts.

For instance, some of us experience muscle tension due to an overactive sympathetic nervous system or heightened sensitivity in the sensory nerves. By focusing on breathing, we can let go of such unnecessary tensions.

I had always wondered what experienced meditators used as a guide, and Fumiko explained it to me in such a clear and understandable way.

She also introduced an alternative technique, where you place your hands on your thighs and focus solely on the sensation of your hands. She said that it didn’t matter which method I chose, as long as I found the one that suited me best.

She ventured deep into the cave to visit the old shrine at the back. Normally, it’s considered dangerous and few people go that far in, but because she insisted, we supported her as she proceeded further into the cave.

No one knows who built this shrine, when it was constructed, or how it was brought there.

She remarked that the "Sacred Lake" ritual felt "as if I was making sex to the lake." She added, "I was feeling so overwhelmed,like orgazm. I took off my top, and if you all hadn't been there, I would have taken everything off. I experienced a bliss that surpassed ecstasy."

This explained why many of the women participating in the ritual end up completely nude during the ceremony.

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