The International Monetary Fund needs a new head !

Read what Raghuram Rajan thinks (Professor, University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Former Chief Economist at the IMF) !

Not another politician at the IMF

(From Fault Lines) 

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto

If you decide to visit only one temple (out of more than 13,000) in Kyoto, I would highly recommend Kiyomizu-dera, the largest and the most famous temple in Kyoto. It was founded in 798 AD but the present temple complex was rebuilt in 1633.   

 

It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Kiyomizu-dera occupies an excellent location on a steep hill in eastern Kyoto. The quaint street leading up to the front gate of the temple is called "Teapot Lane" and is lined with handicraft, restaurants, souvenir shops and sweet shops.

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera is is notable for its vast veranda, supported by 139 wooden pillars (each 49 feet high), which juts out over the hillside and offers breathtaking views of the city. The views and temple grounds are especially lovely during the spring and autumn. The expression "to jump off the porch at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge." This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive jumping from the terrace, one's wish would be granted. 234 jumps were recorded in the Edo period and of those, 85.4% survived.

This small building enshrines almost 200 stone "Jizo" images. They are protectors of travelers and children. It is told that if someone who has lost a child comes here to worship they will be sure to find a Jizo image that resembles their deceased child. Here, prayers are offered for the spiritual repose of those children who are lost.

Beneath the main hall is the Otowa-no-taki ("Sound of Feathers") waterfall, where three channels of water drop into a pond. This waterfall is counted among the ten most famous pure water sites in Japan and it is the source of Kiyomizu-dera's name (mizu means "water"). 

Visitors to the temple collect the water from the falls in metal cups and drink it for health, longetivity, and wisdom, respectively. Traditionally, one should only choose two; being greedy and drinking from all three can bring misfortune!

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Arashiyama - A walk on the serene side

Arashiyama (means storm mountain) with its striking mountains, ancient temples / shrines and UNESCO world heritage sites is a perennial attraction for visitors to Japan. It is located in the western part of the Kyoto city; it takes about 45 minutes by train from Osaka downtown area (Hankyu line). Enlightenment for the day hikers can be found throughout the year. Several locations on the route offer a scenic view of the temples and gardens throughout the bamboo-woods. Among many other attractions, Tenry-ji Temple is a must see. The famous bamboo grove, which starts just the outside the north gate of Tenry-ji Temple, is undoubtedly one of the must-do experiences to be had in Japan.