His Holiness Habukawa sensei,

With this letter I want to thank you, also on behalf of my consort Colette and my family (see below), and in your person also the monks, especially Kurt Kubli Genso, the nuns, and Veronica for the seven days and nights that we could stay in Muryoko-in. Not only the hospitality, the delicous food, the ongoing attention and diligent service, but above all the spirit that surrounded us without any interruption, night and day, and most of all during the fire and recitation ceremonies in the early morning hours, or when drinking a cup of tea with you, your wife and Kurt.

The journey to Japan is a present which Alma and my children offered me last year, but with a condition: to stay for a while in a buddhist monastery. It was this condition that struck me, right from the beginning, the most, and for which I am very grateful to my family. Allow me to mention the names of my benefactors with their children: Alma; David, Liva, Hraban, Noah and Fee; Job,Georgette, Jade, Amon and Daila; Adam, Jes and Lupa; Gaia, Roe and Ezra; Tara, Michiel and Hazel; Dorothee, Jan and Yaro.

It was our dear friend Grazia Shogen who told us, last summer, during a visit to her in Montepulciano, to fulfill the condition by going to Koyasan, and in Koyasan to your monastery. She and Peter Baekelmans couldn't have given us a better advice. We thank them also.

Being awake many hours during several nights, I wrote in my head and now on the computer in the city hall of Koyasan, two haiku's, accepting the experience and idea of Shingon buddhism that enlightenment is present in the depth of every existence, and awaits to become conscious and practiced in our daily life and in all our actions. Reaching enlightenment in this life, is the endeavour of Shingon buddhism. Thanks to you and everyone present in Muryoko-in, this idea lost for me its abstract nature to become visible in the beautiful ceremonies last Sunday in the Golden Hall. We saw you presiding the festive and stylish ceremony for all the products of nature with grace and compassion for everything that exists.

Illumination
in seventeen syllables
within the three lines

God, Gods nor Buddhas
just the cry and laughing of
Yaro and Hazel

Yaro was born May 14, 2007. He is the grandson of Colette.
Hazel was born June 9, 2007.She is my youngest granddaughter.

May I ask you to give your blessing to all our children, and to those who took care that we could stay with you in Muryoko-in. Sunday, October 28, we have a meeting and dinner with all of them. This sunday we will tell the family about Koyasan, founded by Kukai,under the most difficult circumstances, but whose efforts since 817 continue until today, thanks to you and all the monks and nuns.

I have a last request. My site on the Internet consists of a square containing sixteen small squares. Fifteen of the squares have a name and function; one is left open and empty...I like to give it the name Koyasan * in our alphabet and in Japanese characters...in case too many people get curious and want to visit Koyasan and Muryoko-in, we can always delete it. The function 'delete' is the most powerful and attractive function of the computer, close to Zen. I believe my time has come to show that buddhism embodies the vertical dimension of humanism in its teachings, and the horizontal one in his actions. Perhaps it might seduce some people to invest their money in a more interesting way than usually happens today.

With gratitude,

Fons Elders

* the empty little square has been destined for the haiku