今日小笠原先生の職場に行って、マイナイフのケースを作ってきました。初めて日本の大工の世界において代表的な道具の鉋と鑿を使って、一日以内仕上げられて満足感がいっぱいでした。じっくりと木を触って、形を少しずつ整えて行くのは瞑想の感覚に似ているところがあると気づきました。優しく忍耐
強く指導してくれた小笠原先生に感謝しています。小笠原先生のところに午後の間、いろんな方々が来て、お話して、笑って帰って行く姿に感動しました。小笠原先生のお母様も一緒に楽しい一日を過ごしてくれました。彼女は今年９０歳だそうです。奇麗な顔のおばあちゃんでいてくれるだけでも心が慰められると感じます。彼女は目が鋭くて、耳もはっきり聞こえて、笑った時の顔を見たら、私も我慢できなくて必ず笑ってしまいます。きっとこの空間にいれば癒される部分があるから皆来るんだなと感じました。
Ogasawara Sensei invited me to go to his workplace where he would teach me how to make a sheath for my brand new woodcarving knife, so I went expectantly. He taught me how to use the two most typical carpentry tools in Japan, namely the "kanna" (Japanese plane) and the "nomi" (Japanese chisel) and I was able to finish the task within the day, which left me with a sense of quiet achievement. Working with wood throughout the day, slowly shaping the sheath into something that feels right for me is a very grounding and embodying experience. Not to mention the the joy that comes from smelling the wood.
As the afternoon progressed, different people came to visit Ogasawara Sensei at his workplace, where he is accompanied by his 90-year old mother. Ogasawara Sensei would make a cup of Japanese green tea for every guest as he arrives. Certainly, my presence pricked their curiosity, with my mixed cultural background and keen interest in woodwork and woodcarving. I was very touched by the interaction with Ogasawara Sensei's friends and his mother, touched by the simplicity and the sincerity in everyone. Again, I was witness to how we all just naturally know to be drawn to spaces and people that allow our spirit to rest and just be. I came home feeling deep joy and a lot of appreciation.
