Recordings of a late monk continue to comfort visitors in Kyoto

Staff at Jaku-an, a residence in Sagano, Kyoto, play cassette recordings of sermons by the late monk and author Jakucho Setouchi to comfort visitors.

Since Setouchi died in 2021 at the age of 99, people continue to visit the site to hear his recorded teachings. During a recent visit by about 10 people from Osaka and Sakai, a staff member played a 90 minute recording from September 2019, when Setouchi was 97 years old.

In the recordings, Setouchi shares life lessons about finding meaning beyond money and the importance of forgiveness. He advises listeners to remain positive in the face of criticism and to focus on their own lives rather than worrying about others. Visitors reported that hearing his voice provides them with strength to move forward. One woman, who lost her husband three years ago, said the monk's words help her stay cheerful as a way to honor his memory.

After listening to the tapes, the visitors walked through the gardens to see landmarks like a five-story pagoda and a large stone inscribed with the character for silence. These sites were part of the environment Setouchi curated during his life.