Kyoto Red

Cherry blossoms on a Kyoto street

After dinner, the junior monk asks me if he can see my photographs.

—Of course, Kawamura-san.
—On my day off, I wander around Koyasan and take photos.
He flicks through the photos.
—Where did you take this?
—Kyoto, I was walking around in Gion
—It is a masterpiece

With that he bows, gives me the camera and walks away. Now I am all consumed by thoughts about why the Zen master found this photograph to be a masterpiece. Ironically, this is happening in a place where one is taught to let go of such things. I wonder if the roshii said what he said deliberately.