Dear Mt. Takao, I’m sorry… A Mountain Day Tribute

I have an apology to make. Not to a person but to a mountain and probably a good many trees, plants, and animals, too.

I live in Tokyo. There are a lot of people, cars, and buildings in Tokyo. A lot of concrete and asphalt, too. It’s a high-paced, busy sprawl of human activity.

Amongst the urban sprawl, Tokyo is also home to a few of the most spiritual individuals I know – humans deeply in tune with the Earth and all the energies supporting this space.

How do they do it? With all these buildings, all these roads, all these cars, and all these people everywhere, how can anyone survive, let alone thrive?

I’m able to survive because I can see beyond the city sprawl. I live on the 11th floor, and I can see the top of Mt. Fuji from my window. Unfortunately, the base of the mountain is blocked from my view by Mt. Takao and the other lower mountains that make up the Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park. 

I chose to live in Hachoiji City in the Western part of Tokyo and this condo because I need to be able to see the mountains. Which brings me to the apology…

How tall is a mountain?

For years, I made fun of Mt. Takao because it is only 1,965 feet high (599 meters). I used to call it a hill. 

Anyone like me who grew up in Washington State on the West Coast of the United States would understand. I mean really, does anything under 2000 feet count when you’ve grown up surrounded by 100+ mountains ranging from 8,200 to 14,411 feet (2500 – 4392 meters)?

I did mention that I need to make an apology, right? Here it goes…

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Dear Mt. Takao,

I’m terribly sorry for my discriminating comments and thoughts about you based on your height.

You and all the plant and animal life you support are giving non-stop to the humans visiting you. You support a staggering number of visitors every day, every year. I cannot imagine the amount of energy it requires. I am humbled. I am grateful. Please allow me to contribute. I offer my love and energy to you and all that you do.

Your admirer,
Marci

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A change in perspective

I’ve been sitting on the above apology for a few years because I didn’t want to admit to anyone that I had belittled a mountain.

I wrote the apology shortly after a visit to Mt. Takao with my aunt. I remember it was a Sunday, and it was crowded. 

We took the chair lift up the mountain. Then we walked the path towards the temple with dozens of others in front of and behind us.

There were 1000-year-old cedar trees along this path. They lined the path close enough that we could touch them. I reached out and patted one, thanking it for sharing its energy with me.

I felt a little distracted by all the people. I wondered how many people over the years had touched those trees. I grimaced, thinking how awful I would feel if I had to stand there accepting pats from all these people…

In a flash, I got it. This mountain and these trees and other plants and animals are giving. They are in service.

I have much to learn from Mt. Takao. Websites can crash when they are inundated with visitors. People can crash when they spend too much time with others. How is it that Mt. Takao can keep going?

Let’s put this in perspective. Mt. Takao supports 2.5 million visitors every year. According to the Ministry of the Environment, Mt. Fuji, by far the most recognizable mountain in Japan, had around 160,000 climbers during the 2-month climbing season in 2022. The number of climbers before COVID was higher (200,000+), but still only a fraction compared with Mt. Takao’s 2.5 million.

I realize that Mt. Takao and its forests, full of life, are partly protected by the good work of people who care about them. For example, Mt. Takao’s paths wouldn’t be litter-free if the visitors didn’t care, too.

Becoming a mountain so that I can serve

I don’t know how a small mountain can sustain so many visitors, but I think about it often when I’m tired. If Mt. Takao can keep going, if the trees and shrubs can keep going, I can, too.

I call on mountain energy when I feel drained from being with too many people. I remember the mountain and feel my energy stretch through my feet and into the ground. I become a mountain so that I can continue showing up and being of service.

Today is Mountain Day in Japan. I give my thanks to all the mountains in my life.