“True Word” is what Shingon means. Shingon is a branch of Vajrayana Buddhism. It has been followed in Japan since the 9th century. Today we are standing before a place where its teachings may resonate. This is Shingon-in.
Shingon Buddhism came from China. In China, it was called Zhenyan. Zhenyan also means “True Word”. Shingon aims to reach the Buddha’s eternal wisdom. This wisdom is not expressed in words. It is not in his public teaching. The sect thinks this wisdom can be developed. It can be realized through special rituals.
These rituals employ body speech and mind. They use symbolic gestures called mudras. Mystical syllables known as dharani are used. Mental concentration called Yoga is practiced. The goal is to awaken a sense of the Buddha’s presence. This presence is believed to be in all living things.
The Dainichi-kyo is the main scripture of Shingon. It is a late text only known in Chinese. The whole universe is seen as the body of the Buddha Vairochana. Vairochana means “Great Illuminator”. He has two aspects. These are the kong-kai “diamond world” and the taizo-kai “womb world”. Each has its own depiction in the mandala. The mandala is a ritual diagram often painted on the altar.
Entry into the mandala is called kanjo. Kanjo also translates to abhishekha in Sanskrit. It is an initiation ceremony. It involves sprinkling with water. Kobo Daishi modified Vajrayana doctrine in Japan. Kobo Daishi is also known as Kukai.
Kobo Daishi studied the doctrine in China. He studied under a Tantric master. He returned to found the Kongobu Temple. This monastic center is at Mount Koya. It is south of Kyoto. He established the To Temple in Kyoto later. This became the sect’s headquarters.
Kobo Daishi’s genius was in using the doctrine’s insights. He used them for his own worldview. This is set forth in his theory. The theory describes 10 stages of spiritual development. This scheme ranked Buddhist schools. It ranked them by their degree of insight. It included Hinduism Confucianism and Daoism too. Shingon took a friendly approach to Shinto. It provided the basis for a relationship with Ryobu Shinto. Ryobu Shinto is a Shinto-Buddhist mix.
The Shingon fire ritual is powerful. It involves making offerings to deities through fire. This ritual is common in tantra. It has roots in Vedic India. Its history extends perhaps five thousand years.
Kukai was placed in charge of Toji Temple in Kyoto. The five-story pagoda at Toji marked Kyoto’s southern entrance. It was one of the most prominent buildings in the city. Kukai was given permission to set up a training center on Koyasan. The training program he established for monks was increasingly codified over time.
The town of Koyasan is in a mountain valley. It is home to the main lineage of Shingon Buddhism. This lineage is the Chuin-ryu. One end of town has the Great Gate. It marks the boundary between the outer world. It also marks the domain of practice. The Garan is in the middle of the town. It is a large complex of buildings. It includes the Golden Hall and the Great Stupa. The Garan serves as the central ritual space for Koyasan.
The training to become a priest is called the “training in four stages.” It refers to the four rituals one learns to perform. The training lasts one hundred days. One must receive a lay initiation before starting the training. This establishes a karmic connection. It connects the individual to the deities of the two main mandalas. These mandalas are the Matrix World mandala and the Vajra World mandala. They provide the organizing symbolism for Shingon practices.
The Vajra mandala and the Matrix mandala are linked to wisdom and compassion. The deities in the mandalas come from the two main texts of Shingon. These are the Great Illuminator Sutra and the Vajra Crown Sutra.
The most important part of Shingon practice is ritual identification. This means identifying the practitioner’s body speech and mind. They are identified with the body speech and mind of the Buddha. This lets the practitioner experience the awakened nature of their own consciousness.
As you leave Shingon-in consider the rich history of Shingon Buddhism. Think about its unique rituals and profound philosophy. May the “True Word” resonate within you long after our tour ends.