Myoe
Encyclopedia
Myōe (1173–1232) was a Japanese Buddhist monk active during the Kamakura period
who also went by the name Kōben , and contemporary of Jōkei
and Honen. Born into the Yuasa family (湯浅), allegedly descended from a branch of the Fujiwara
clan, he came to be ordained in both the Shingon school of Buddhism and the Kegon
school. In Medieval Japan it was not uncommon for monks to be ordained in multiple sectarian lineages, and Myōe alternately signed his treatises and correspondence as a monk of either school through much of his career. In the latter half of his career he served as abbot of Kōzan-ji
(高山寺), a temple of the Kegon
sect located near Kyoto
. Myōe is perhaps most famous for his contributions to the practice and popularization of the Mantra of Light
, a mantra associated with Shingon Buddhism but widely used in other Buddhist sects. Myōe is also well-known for keeping a journal of his dreams for over 40 years, studied by later Buddhist scholars, and for his efforts to revive monastic discipline along with Jōkei.
During his lifetime he was a scathing critic of his contemporary, Hōnen, and the new Pure Land
Buddhist movement. As a response to the increasing popularity of the exclusive nembutsu practice, Myōe wrote two treatises, the and the follow-up that sought to refute Honen's teachings as laid out in the Senchakushu
. Myōe agreed with Hōnen's criticism of the establishment, but felt that sole practice of the nembutsu was too restrictive and disregarded important Buddhist themes in Mahayana
Buddhism such as the Bodhicitta
and the concept of upāya
. Nevertheless, Myoe also lamented the necessity of writing such treatises:
In the later years of his life, Myoe wrote extensively on the meaning and application of the Mantra of Light
. Myōe's interpretation of the Mantra of Light was somewhat unorthodox, in that he promoted the mantra as a means of being reborn in the Pure Land
of Amitabha
Buddha, rather than a practice for attaining Enlightenment
in this life as taught by Kūkai
and others. Myoe was a firm believer in the notion of Dharma Decline
and sought to promote the Mantra of Light as a means
Myōe was equally critical of the lax discipline and corruption of the Buddhist establishment, and removed himself from the capital of Kyoto
as much as possible. At one point, to demonstrate his resolve to follow the Buddhist path, Myoe knelt before an image of the Buddha at Kōzan-ji
, and cut off his own ear. Supposedly, the blood stain can still be seen at the temple to this day. Records for the time show that the daily regimen of practices for the monks at Kōzan-ji, during Myoe's administration, included zazen
meditation, recitation of the sutra
s and the Mantra of Light
. These same records show that even details such as cleaning the bathroom regularly were routinely enforced. A wooden tablet titled still hangs in the northeast corner of the Sekisui'in Hall at Kōzan-ji detailing various regulations.
At the same time, Myōe was also pragmatic and often adopted practices from other Buddhist sects, notably Zen
, if it proved useful. Myōe firmly believed in the importance of upāya
and sought to provide a diverse set of practices for both monastics and lay people. In addition, he developed new forms of mandalas that utilized only Japanese calligraphy and the Sanskrit script, Siddham. Similar styles were utilized by Shinran
and Nichiren
. The particular style of mandala he devised, and the devotional rituals surrounding it, are recorded in his treatise, the Sanji Raishaku (Thrice-daily worship) written in 1215.
Myoe sought twice to go to India, in 1203 and 1205, to study what he considered true Buddhism amidst the perceived decline of the Dharma, but in both occasions, the kami
of the Kasuga Shrine
urged him to remain in Japan through oracle
.
Temple mentioned above, Myoe listed the following regulations to all monks, divided into three sections:
(Reprinted with permission from Professor Mark Unno from the book Shingon Refractions: Myōe and the Mantra of Light)
As Appropriate
Ettiquette in the Temple Study Hall
Etiquette in the Buddha-Altar Hall
— The Kegon School Shamon Kōben [Myoe]
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
who also went by the name Kōben , and contemporary of Jōkei
Jōkei (monk)
was an influential Buddhist, scholar-monk and reformer of the Hosso sect in Japan, posthumously known as .Jokei was a prolific author, asserting and compiling the Hosso/Yogacara doctrine, while simultaneously refuting newer Buddhist movements, particularly the Pure Land movement begun by Honen...
and Honen. Born into the Yuasa family (湯浅), allegedly descended from a branch of the Fujiwara
Fujiwara
, literally "wisteria field", is a Japanese surname.The name can refer to:-People:* The Fujiwara clan and its members** Fujiwara no Kamatari* Northern Fujiwara clan** Fujiwara no Kiyohira...
clan, he came to be ordained in both the Shingon school of Buddhism and the Kegon
Kegon
Kegon is the name of the Japanese transmission of the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism.Huayan studies were founded in Japan when, in 736, the scholar-priest Rōben originally a monk of the Hossō tradition invited Shinshō to give lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at...
school. In Medieval Japan it was not uncommon for monks to be ordained in multiple sectarian lineages, and Myōe alternately signed his treatises and correspondence as a monk of either school through much of his career. In the latter half of his career he served as abbot of Kōzan-ji
Kozan-ji
, or , is an Omuro Buddhist temple located in Ume-ga-hata Toganoo-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by famous monk Myōe and is renowned for its numerous national treasures and important cultural properties, in particular the famous picture scroll called Chōjū-giga. The temple...
(高山寺), a temple of the Kegon
Kegon
Kegon is the name of the Japanese transmission of the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism.Huayan studies were founded in Japan when, in 736, the scholar-priest Rōben originally a monk of the Hossō tradition invited Shinshō to give lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at...
sect located near Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Myōe is perhaps most famous for his contributions to the practice and popularization of the Mantra of Light
Mantra of Light
The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important mantra of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but is not emphasized in other Vajrayana sects of Buddhism. It is taken from the Amoghapāśakalparāja-sūtra The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important...
, a mantra associated with Shingon Buddhism but widely used in other Buddhist sects. Myōe is also well-known for keeping a journal of his dreams for over 40 years, studied by later Buddhist scholars, and for his efforts to revive monastic discipline along with Jōkei.
During his lifetime he was a scathing critic of his contemporary, Hōnen, and the new Pure Land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
Buddhist movement. As a response to the increasing popularity of the exclusive nembutsu practice, Myōe wrote two treatises, the and the follow-up that sought to refute Honen's teachings as laid out in the Senchakushu
Senchakushu
The , abbreviated to Senchakushū, is the magnum opus of Hōnen, founder of the Jōdo-shū school of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. The title means "Passages on the Selection of the Nembutsu in the Original Vow" and draws upon past Pure Land Buddhist sources, sutras and especially from the writings of...
. Myōe agreed with Hōnen's criticism of the establishment, but felt that sole practice of the nembutsu was too restrictive and disregarded important Buddhist themes in Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Buddhism such as the Bodhicitta
Bodhicitta
In Buddhism, bodhicitta jang chub sem, Mongolian бодь сэтгэл) is the intention to achieve omniscient Buddhahood as fast as possible, so that one may benefit infinite sentient beings...
and the concept of upāya
Upaya
Upaya is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which is derived from the root upa√i and refers to a means that goes or brings one up to some goal, often the goal of Enlightenment. The term is often used with kaushalya ; upaya-kaushalya means roughly "skill in means"...
. Nevertheless, Myoe also lamented the necessity of writing such treatises:
In the later years of his life, Myoe wrote extensively on the meaning and application of the Mantra of Light
Mantra of Light
The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important mantra of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but is not emphasized in other Vajrayana sects of Buddhism. It is taken from the Amoghapāśakalparāja-sūtra The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important...
. Myōe's interpretation of the Mantra of Light was somewhat unorthodox, in that he promoted the mantra as a means of being reborn in the Pure Land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
of Amitabha
Amitabha
Amitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
Buddha, rather than a practice for attaining Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
in this life as taught by Kūkai
Kukai
Kūkai , also known posthumously as , 774–835, was a Japanese monk, civil servant, scholar, poet, and artist, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism. Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific titles of and ....
and others. Myoe was a firm believer in the notion of Dharma Decline
Mappo
The Latter Day of the Law, is one of the Three Ages of Buddhism. Mappō or Mofa , which is also translated as the Age of Dharma Decline, is the "degenerate" Third Age of Buddhism.- Tradition :...
and sought to promote the Mantra of Light as a means
Myōe was equally critical of the lax discipline and corruption of the Buddhist establishment, and removed himself from the capital of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
as much as possible. At one point, to demonstrate his resolve to follow the Buddhist path, Myoe knelt before an image of the Buddha at Kōzan-ji
Kozan-ji
, or , is an Omuro Buddhist temple located in Ume-ga-hata Toganoo-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by famous monk Myōe and is renowned for its numerous national treasures and important cultural properties, in particular the famous picture scroll called Chōjū-giga. The temple...
, and cut off his own ear. Supposedly, the blood stain can still be seen at the temple to this day. Records for the time show that the daily regimen of practices for the monks at Kōzan-ji, during Myoe's administration, included zazen
Zazen
In Zen Buddhism, zazen is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind, and be able to concentrate enough to experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment .- Significance :Zazen is considered the heart of Zen Buddhist practice...
meditation, recitation of the sutra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
s and the Mantra of Light
Mantra of Light
The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important mantra of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but is not emphasized in other Vajrayana sects of Buddhism. It is taken from the Amoghapāśakalparāja-sūtra The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important...
. These same records show that even details such as cleaning the bathroom regularly were routinely enforced. A wooden tablet titled still hangs in the northeast corner of the Sekisui'in Hall at Kōzan-ji detailing various regulations.
At the same time, Myōe was also pragmatic and often adopted practices from other Buddhist sects, notably Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
, if it proved useful. Myōe firmly believed in the importance of upāya
Upaya
Upaya is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which is derived from the root upa√i and refers to a means that goes or brings one up to some goal, often the goal of Enlightenment. The term is often used with kaushalya ; upaya-kaushalya means roughly "skill in means"...
and sought to provide a diverse set of practices for both monastics and lay people. In addition, he developed new forms of mandalas that utilized only Japanese calligraphy and the Sanskrit script, Siddham. Similar styles were utilized by Shinran
Shinran
was a Japanese Buddhist monk, who was born in Hino at the turbulent close of the Heian Period and lived during the Kamakura Period...
and Nichiren
Nichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
. The particular style of mandala he devised, and the devotional rituals surrounding it, are recorded in his treatise, the Sanji Raishaku (Thrice-daily worship) written in 1215.
Myoe sought twice to go to India, in 1203 and 1205, to study what he considered true Buddhism amidst the perceived decline of the Dharma, but in both occasions, the kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
of the Kasuga Shrine
Kasuga Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Established in 768 AD and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it is the shrine of the Fujiwara family...
urged him to remain in Japan through oracle
Oracle
In Classical Antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such it is a form of divination....
.
Monastic Regulations promulgated by Myoe
In the wooden tablet at Kōzan-jiKozan-ji
, or , is an Omuro Buddhist temple located in Ume-ga-hata Toganoo-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by famous monk Myōe and is renowned for its numerous national treasures and important cultural properties, in particular the famous picture scroll called Chōjū-giga. The temple...
Temple mentioned above, Myoe listed the following regulations to all monks, divided into three sections:
(Reprinted with permission from Professor Mark Unno from the book Shingon Refractions: Myōe and the Mantra of Light)
As Appropriate
- 06:00 - 08:00 PM, Liturgy: Yuishin kangyō shiki (Manual on the Practice of Contemplating the Mind-Only)
- 08:00 - 10:00 PM, Practice once. Chant the Sambōrai (Revering the Three Treasures).
- 10:00 - 12:00 AM, ZazenZazenIn Zen Buddhism, zazen is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind, and be able to concentrate enough to experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment .- Significance :Zazen is considered the heart of Zen Buddhist practice...
(seated meditation). Count breaths. - 12:00 - 06:00 AM, Rest for three [two-hour] periods.
- 06:00 - 08:00 AM, Walking meditation once. (Inclusion or exclusion should be appropriate to the occasion). Liturgy: Rishukyō raisan (Ritual Repentance Based on the Sutra of the Ultimate Meaning of the Principle) and the like.
- 08:00 - 10:00 AM, Sambōrai. Chant scriptures for breakfast and intone the Kōmyō Shingon (Mantra of LightMantra of LightThe , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important mantra of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but is not emphasized in other Vajrayana sects of Buddhism. It is taken from the Amoghapāśakalparāja-sūtra The , also called the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare, is an important...
) forty-nine times. - 10:00 - 12:00 PM, Zazen. Count breaths.
- 12:00 - 02:00 PM, Noon meal. Chant the Goji Shingon (Mantra of the Five Syllables) five hundred times.
- 02:00 - 04:00 PM, Study or copy scriptures.
- 04:00 - 06:00 PM, Meet with the master (Myōe) and resolve essential matters.
Ettiquette in the Temple Study Hall
- Do not leave rosaries or gloves on top of scriptures.
- Do not leave sōshi [bound] texts on top of round meditation cushions or on the half tatamiTatamiA is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Traditionally made of rice straw to form the core , with a covering of woven soft rush straw, tatami are made in standard sizes, with the length exactly twice the width...
-size cushions [placed under round cushions]. - During the summer, do not use day-old water for mixing ink.
- Do not place scriptures under the desk.
- Do not lick the tips of brushes.
- Do not reach for something by extending one's hand over scriptures.
- Do not enter [the hall] wearing just the white undergarment robes.
- Do not lie down
- Do not count [pages] by moistening one's fingers with saliva. Place an extra sheet of paper under each sheet of your sōshi texts.
Etiquette in the Buddha-Altar Hall
- Keep the clothes for wiping the altar separate from that for wiping the Buddha[-statue].
- During the summer (from the first day of the fourth month to the last day of the seventh month), obtain fresh water [from the well] morning and evening for water offerings.
- Keep the water offerings and incense burners for buddhas and bodhisattvas separate from those for patriarchs.*
- When you are seated on the half-size cushions, do not bow with your chin up.
- Do not place nose tissues and the like under the half-tatami size cushions.
- Do not let your sleeves touch the offering-water bucket.
- Do not put the [altar] rings on the wooden floor; they should be placed high.
- Place a straw mat at your usual seat.
- The regular sutra for recitation is one fascicle of the Flower Ornament Sutra (or half a fascicle). The three sutras should be read alternately every day.
- When traveling, you should read them after returning.
- The Gyōganbon (Chapter on Practice and Vow), Yuigyōkyō (Sutra of the Buddha's Last Teachings), and Rokkankyō (Sutra in Six Fascicles) should all be read alternately one fascicle a day.
— The Kegon School Shamon Kōben [Myoe]
Sources
- Mark Unno: Shingon Refractions: Myōe and the Mantra of Light. Somerville MA, USA: Wisdom Publications, 2004 ISBN 0-86171-390-7