I went to hear a lecture by Kyozo Nakamura, a Kabuki actor.

Kyōzo Nakamura is the person who has performed Kabuki in the most locations around the world (60 cities in 35 countries) in the history of Japanese Kabuki.

I timidly asked him, “Why do you take on performances that might fail and take risks to try new things?”

Mr. Nakamura simply answered with a smile, “I like it.”

Mr. Nakamura said this with a smile on his face, as if he was enjoying the happiness of being able to find what he likes, and seeing that smile made me feel happy too.

• 

• 

I went to see a puppet show jointly produced by a Czechoslovakian and Japanese puppet theater company.

This is the story of Czaslavska, a gymnast from Czechoslovakia.

She won the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, but later became embroiled in Czechoslovakia’s painful history…

• 

• 

• 

At the Santa Fe retreat, none of the participants asked me why I attended.

I also did not ask the other participants “how did you know about this RETREAT” or “why did you come here” questions.

I still wonder about it very much.

I wonder if it was the peaceful atmosphere and nature of Santa Fe, where the oldest church in the U.S. stands, that brought people together so naturally, like water flowing from top to bottom, and parted without any promises to meet again.

• 

• 

When I introduced myself on the first day of the retreat, I said, “I don’t think I could have come here on my own.I think everyone brought me here.”

I had wonderful encounters with people I would never have met if I hadn’t participated in the retreat.

I feel very lonely thinking that I will never be able to see all the participants again.

I know my English is difficult, but I wanted to talk and listen to many things with everyone more. I am disappointed.

https://www.upaya.org/2024/07/inner-practice-of-medicine-reflection-by-clayton-dalton-md/?ct=t(newsletter_COPY_01)&mc_cid=b7089e6c55&mc_eid=8acef69cdd

I want this stay in Santa Fe to be the next step in my life, not just a chance to make memories like a trip abroad.

It will probably depend on my future actions.

I plan to participate again next year.

https://www.upaya.org/program/inner-practice-of-medicine-in-person-2025/

• 

• 

I arrived in Santa Fe from Japan via Denver Airport after a one-day journey.

I’m surprised at myself for making it this far.

Thirty doctors and medical students from Hawaii, the United States, Canada, and primarily North America will gather here to spend three days.

For someone like me who doesn’t speak English, the sunlight in Santa Fe is overwhelmingly strong and almost painful.

• 

•