Shingon Mikkyo — Esoteric Buddhism in Mount Koya, Japan

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Mount Koya, in Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture, is a large temple settlement, home to over 100 Buddhist temples. The majority of the temples in Mount Koya, or Koyasan as it is called by the locals, practice a mysterious esoteric form of Buddhism known as Shingon Mikkyo, which translates as “secret teachings.”

Shingon Mikkyo is a school in the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism, a tradition that is popular in Tibetan Buddhist teachings and is often referred to as Tantric Buddhism. Shingon Mikkyo is one of the few surviving Vajrayana schools in East Asia.

In April, I had the opportunity to stay at Yochi-in, a Shingon Mikkyo temple on Mount Koya, and got to interview the head monk of the temple. This video discusses the teachings of Shingon Mikkyo and includes the interview with Yochi-in's head monk.

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Thanks! Enjoy the video!

[scattered-blossoms]

6:17 Here he's saying that in other Japanese schools at the time it wasn't thought to be possible to become a Buddha in a single lifetime, but Kobo Daishi did. This is called "Sokushin Jobutsu" or becoming a Buddha in this body. Because he did this he is believed to remain at Koyasan and pray for all beings. It's not believed he remained alive after death, but that he never died.

This is *not* a reference to Sokushin-butsu, a separate northern Japanese practice inspired by Kukai's teachings. It is absolutely not in the mainstream of Shingon teaching and he's not talking about it here.

[Nabdara.Nabdara]

Very nice, love from a romanian Buddhist☸️♥️

[silvierousso]

Very Holy ! Very Interesting ...The Head-Monk is surprisingly young ! Fascinating..Indeed

[feelin_fine]

The way I'm in love with this monk and his aura. Shingon is so interesting even without that added enticement. Thanks for sharing.

[BVforFreedom]

So wonderful to listen to these teachings!!! Thank you for sharing!!! May all Buddha Teachings prevail and touch the hearts of all sentient beings and enlighten them!!!

[boozantine]

The first rule of Esoteric Buddhism: Don't talk about Esoteric Buddhism.

[lechatnoir]

With all respect for all beings and beliefs, I strongly recommend the middle path.

[philmcdonald]

❤be here now be still close eyes listen to your breathing.

[smlankau]

The original science of Buddhism is in Tripitaka. The ultimate realities called Paramartha Dhamma are the building blocks of the mind and matter.

[johnm.]

What a lovely peaceful How much is it? ;o)

[kukumuniu]

it is possible to receive initiation for a lay person who would like to practice rituals such as Sur, Sang, Chod, Chutor, Trekcho, Thogal etc (which need initiation)

Rituals that heal the body, cleanse places or spiritual beings, rituals that promote wealth and eliminate poverty - rituals called "secondary practices" in Buddhism?

[david-jrfn]

Do they also have as a goal the formation of a vajra body, vajra Kaya?

[wordscapes]

When it comes to theological matters, please allow someone to speak in their mother tongue, and use subtitles.

[Nino-vu]

I NEVER heard of ageism in Buddhism! That means the two secrets are not available to people 46 and over!? REALLY! So if I know one of my older friends, he can't go through the 100 day training as that is required to learn the secret teachings? Frankly if the Thatagata Gautama) the Historical Buddha, were to be around, he would be FURIOUS! To deny older folk the secret tantras, I cannot accept that!

[voodoo]

Do not seek the Buddha in the externals and in sound. Seek him in non-abiding. Ill give you an easy visualization listen: remember the body and the general "self" you've had when you were young then while keeping this in mind think of your current body and "self" then while having these two feel what is in between, does the one relate to the other. This meditation if properly conducted can bring you a pure samadhi of no-self. (Also meditate on the difference and non-difference of the meanings of svabhava and atman, one i suppose is the inconceivable emptiness free from discrimination and the other is the things which we usually regard of as self, but tell me was there some observable part of self which was then while you where young that remained the same as the self(atman) now? When these two, the felt self and the imagined self, dissolve you're left with mind abiding in no-imagination, non-cognizance. I'm not eloquent either but try either still the mind as if tomorrow you're going to be sentenced to death then Vipassana rapture is easy. Otherwise try Samadhi through contemplation of what works best for you

[mukhya]

15 to 45? wow anything after 45 is hard to practice... makes you think how important it is to use our time well to practice the Dharma. Gassho.

[Ryanhampton]

I do not like zen I do not like Rinzi I do not like Soto. I went to both in NYC and iam not trying to be a jerk but with out writing a book here I really can’t stand ither one. However I do like Shugendo they say it comes from Japan but most likely is a folk Taoist import and even if its not it creates a symbiotic relationship with nature so in theory it could lead to spooky abilities but mostly gives a natural high of sorts . The rinzi had a nice gift shop where I got some agarwood incense but other then that they both suck at least here in NYC and yes I have a very good experiential and experience with meditation and like the historical Buddha very much but over given it a chance for over 10 years and iam out. I was homeless in NYC and could meditate for hours a day I spend 2 hours in zazen I walk out feeling like I need a shot of Dilaudid. I have sever nerve pain hit those wood blocks one more time and tell me to stay still, and iam stealing that cool looking talking stick. I get more out of simply reading zen mind and then donating it to a library. And then it’s like taboo to talk about Satori or the scientific aspects of what occurs to the nervous system through yoga. Good grief. I’ll stick to animism and shamanism it’s a shame because you don’t want tho through the baby out with the bath water but I can’t associate with these groups. Just to simply practice right speech.

[Peace_]

Please read the book "Yatharth Geeta" once in your life, it's available in 29 world languages !

"Yatharth Geeta" will help in understanding universe top kept secrets with the simple explanation. This hidden gem is worth reading to transform life positively!!!

You will be able to start your enlightenment journey with a step by step formula written in this book, it has answers for all the queries !!!

Great Book ever written on Earth 🌎

[tsukuyomirai]

But Buddhism is disappearing in Japan🤭

[basedbuddha]

As a former zen adherent pushed out by radical-leftist politics, and as someone who has found the magical power of Siddham Bonji... I would love to attempt the 100 day ango of the Shingon.