Shugendō * Vajrayana in Japan

Shugendō Shugendō is an ancient Japanese religion in which enlightenment or oneness with kami is obtained through the study of the relationship between Man and Nature.Shugendō literally means "the path of training and testing." It centers on an ascetic, mountain-dwelling lifestyle and incorporates teachings from Koshintō (ancient Shinto), Buddhism and other eastern philosophies including folk animism.Shugendo practitioners are the most direct lineage descendants of the ancient hijiri of the eight and ninth centuries.The focus or goal of shugendō is the development of spiritual experience and power.These ascetic mountain priests are part of an ancient tradition involving the practice of strict and rigourous mystical disciplines often referred to collectively as shugyo. The original meaning of the kanji for shu was something like 'sweeping away the dust that obscures a persons primal elegance', however the kanji-pair shu-gyo is commonly now translated as "austere training"- and the term Shugendo, this is generally translated something along the lines of: 'the way of cultivating psychic and spiritual powers' Shugendo's origins lie in the Nara Period, and can be traced to the legendary En no gyoja ('En, the ascetic' - Gyoja is a general term for an ascetic mountain-dwelling monk) who lived near Kyoto in the late 7th Century. Retreating deep into the mountainous regions, these practitioners - a great many of them devotees of Fudo Myo-o,..........undergo harsh training, and through the practice of rituals, fasting, abstaining from drinking water, sutra recitation, meditation, and sitting in misogi (spiritual purification under waterfalls), and the practice of sammitsu (involving use of incantation and mudra-like techniques), seek mystical states and the development of powers including exorcism and healing. It has often been said that the Tengu would instruct these priests in sacred rites and magical knowledge. In legend, the distinction between Yamabushi / Shugenja and the Tengu often becomes blurred. It is said that shape-shifting Tengu often take on the form of these mountain priests, and in turn, the ascetic priests often take on the guise of Tengu to deter the uninitiated from interrupting their seclusion. Shugendo and Shingon are 'schools' of Vajrayana - tantric Buddhism.It is esoteric in nature having a unique tie with shamanism and Shinto in that it recognises all living things as having kami [spirit]. During the Meiji restoration, when Shinto was declared an independent state religion separate from Buddhism, Shugendō was banned as a superstition not fit for a new, enlightened Japan. The Shugendō temples were converted into imperial Shintō shrines. Some Shugendo orders found protection through incorporating state-sponsored Buddhism into their doctrines. In modern times, shugendō is practiced by diverse temples and sects, mainly by the Yoshino Yamabushi of Dewa Sanzan (Tendai sect), Kinpusenji and Ishiyama-dera Shingon sects, retaining an influence on modern Japanese religion and culture. Those who practice shugendō are referred in two ways. One term, shugenja (修験者), is derived from the term "shugendō" much as "Buddhist" describes a follower of Buddha The other term, yamabushi means "one who lies in the mountains". Supernatural creatures often appeared as yamabushi in Japanese myths and folklore, as is evident in the legendary monk warrior Saito Musashibo Benkei and the deity Sojobo, king of the tengu (mountain spirits). There are actually two forms of tengu. The first and more ancient type, karasu or "crow" tengu, has the beak, claws, and wings of a bird but the body of a man. Often the bird tengu is wearing a small round priest's cap.Yamabushi or "mountain priest" tengu are probably more well known. They take the form of barefooted elderly mountain priests with extremely long noses. The Chinese have a legend about mountain demons called t'ien-kou, the written characters for which mean heavenly or celestial dog. Those same characters are pronounced "tengu" in Japanese. The Chinese t'ien-kou derived their names from comets or meteors-heavenly bodies falling to earth, the trails of which resemble the tails of dogs or foxes T'ien-kou legends found their way to Japan in the sixth and seventh centuries. Early tengu, like the t'ien-kou, were evil birdlike demons which did many foul deeds such as kidnapping and eating children, starting fires, and misleading priests. They could also transform themselves into the form of men, women or children. Since they lived in the mountains, tengu often took the form of the eccentric yamabushi who also lived there. Many yamabushi were thought to possess magical powers derived from their ascetic practices and the sacredness of the mountains themselves. Over time, the folklore of tengu and yamabushi became intertwined. Tengu are said to be possessed of supernatural powers including shape-shifting, the ability to move instantly from place to place, to speak without moving their mouths, and the power to appear uninvited in peoples dreams.Tengu are also said to have mastery over rain and wind and to be responsible for mysterious lights seen in the mountains. Tengu are also mischief makers, and are especially prone to playing tricks on vain and arrogant monks and priests. Likewise they take it on themselves to punish those who willfully misuse knowledge and authority to gain fame or further their position. The have a great dislike for braggarts, and for those who would corrupt the Dharma (law), and are regarded as guardians of Buddhist shrines and temples.The yamabushi form of tengu became most popular and even the bird tengu were shown wearing the short robes and caps of priests. Tengu were also portrayed as being more mischievous than evil and were often depicted helping people. Being shape-shifters, tengu are capable of assuming a variety of forms or casting various illusions to deceive humans, but their primoridal nature is definitely avian. They hatch from enormous eggs (despite almost always being male), and make their homes in the sugi (Cryptomeria) trees that make up much of Japan's forests. Over time, the Shinto deity Saruta-biko no Mikoto became the god for good journey and the ancestor of the tengu. There are many legends that the great swordsmen of Japanese history learned their skills in the martial arts from Yabusame tengu tutors. .Legend says that Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune, when a child, learned martial arts with the king of the Tengu at Mt. Kurama in Kyoto. . Yoshitsune's famous companion, the warrior monk, Benkei was also a Yamabushi and warrior monk. Modern shugenja in Japan and throughout the world are known to self-actualize their spiritual power in experiential form through challenging and rigorous ritualistic tests of courage and devotion known as shugyo. Pilgrimages involving mountain treks (Mts Ominé, Dewa, Hakusan, etc in Japan) are embarked upon by shugenja and, through the experience of each trek, as well as years of study, "rank" is earned within the sect. The rituals are kept secret from the neophyte shugenja and the world at large. This denju ensures the true faith of the neophytes and maintains the fear of the unknown as they embark upon the austere journey. This secrecy was also borne out of previous episodes of persecution and oppression of shugenja as a threat to the ruling military hegemony. Many modern shugenja maintain the practice of relative anonymity in their daily lives. Shugendo Practices : Taki Shugyo Ascetic Meditation under the Waterfall During the warm seasons In the depths of winter Shugendo Practices : Fire Ceremonies Takosan Fire Walking ceremony and Goma Mt. Takao. Hiwatari (fire crossing) is a longstanding and traditional ritual that has been practiced annually in Mt. Takao. The ritual is offered to Izuna-daigongen, the principle image of the mountain, to relieve worshippers and general public. It is the most representative religious austerities of Shingon Buddhism to pray for world peace, perfect state of health, safety of household and longevity by burning “goma” wood. Mountain priests trained in mind and body walk on fire barefoot. In Shugendo, there exist numerous rituals of all kinds: offerings, requests or blessings. They are intended for the Buddhas and divinities, to ward off trouble, to make a request, to constrain certain forces, exorcize, bless a union, votive offerings to charge amulets. The many secrets and many difficulties each of these, make up the fire rituals. The origin of the fire ceremony, homa in sanskrit, goma in Japanese, is a Brahmanic ritual of offerings devoted to the element of fire and to the god Shiva. Afterward, it was adopted by esoteric Buddhism (mikkyo in Japanese). The esoteric blending, the "zomitsu" shugendo, gave it a different direction/focus than the one that it originally had in India. Only practiced by priests or layman who have received the transmission and the initiation, the yamabushi of Shugendô practice fire rituals with connections to Fudo. Fudo is a personification of Dainichi Nyorai, and the best known of the Myo-o, who are venerated especially by the Shingon sect of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. Fudo converts anger into salvation; has furious, glaring face, as Fudo seeks to frighten people into accepting the teachings of Dainichi; carries "kurikara" or devil-subduing sword in right hand (representing wisdom cutting through ignorance); holds rope in left hand (to catch and bind up demons); often has third eye in forehead (all-seeing); often seated or standing on rock (because Fudo is "immovable" in his faith). Fudo Myo-o is known to protect his devotees from disaster, from harmful or dangerous people, and from spells or other negative magic.His aid is frequently invoked by those suffering from bouts of sickness - not because he is considered to be a healer, but because, due to his fiery yet compassionate warrior nature, he is held to be an effective force to combat both the impurities and demons that are the cause of illness.Fudo Myo-o's help is also sought by those wishing to succeed in business. Dainichi Buddha Thank you to everyone who has placed related video clips on YouTube, the many writers who have written books and blogs and photographers who were able to share very special photographs.Everyone has helped this page to exist and a special thanks to Julian Lamb, Yusuke [Jatomski] and Troy Southgate for sharing certain topics which have born fruit as this profile. ~fi 0na~ Oct 6th 2008