For those whose walking speed changes when visiting a shrine

Before passing through the torii gate
even though you were in a hurry

the moment you enter the shrine grounds
there are days when your walking speed changes.

It is not that you decided
to walk slowly.

But
you become unable to move quickly.

The surrounding scenery
suddenly feels closer.

Sounds fade away
and your breathing
becomes more distinct.

That
is not just a mood.

You have simply returned
to a speed that matches the flow.

When you are outside
you move at the speed of your tasks.

Your next schedule
time
purpose.

When you enter a shrine
those things fall away.

You return to your own speed.

That is why
you cannot hurry.

If you try to go around quickly
you will stop somewhere.

You will find a place to stand still.

That
is your current position.

Being centered is
not a special sensation

but rather having your speeds align.

The speed of your walking
the speed of your breathing
the speed of your thoughts.

When those align
even though you have done nothing
a sense of closure arrives.

You feel that it is enough.

That time
does not remain in a physical form.

That is why there are goshuin (shrine stamps).

Not for what you wished for

but in what kind of flow
you returned to your own speed.

As a record of that.

This month's goshuin
captures that time when your speeds aligned.
Only those who need it

please receive it.