— What is Shugendo? A Simple Introduction
Shugendo (修験道) is a Dharma tradition characterised by combinatory (kami-buddha) ritual-practice and rigorous mountain-asceticism. At its basic level, Shugendo refers to a path of cultivation and the testimony of wakefulness.
Buddha-Dharma is a teaching of the Middle Way concerned with developing right-aspiration, self-scrutiny, discernment and insight (right-view) in regard to cause and effect, the nature of reality (self and phenomena), with 'knowing one's mind as it truly is', and with addressing epistemological misunderstandings in regard to duḥkha. Among the various doorways and vehicles of the Buddha-Dharma, Shugen can be said to be an expression of the Mahāyāna conception of the One Vehicle, orientated towards the cultivation of the Bodhisattva path, built upon the bedrock of what can be referred to as (pre-Buddhist) mountain-faith.
Shugendo's defining methods are based around esoteric Buddhist practice and periodic retreats involving the ritual entering of the mountain-as-maṇḍala. In the Haguro lineage of mountain-ascetic training inherited by our head-temple (Haguro being unique in its transmission of pre-modern mountain-entry), this is referred to as the training of the ten realms, five stages, three barriers and three crossings. In addition to this, our head-temple transmits the Shugen hōryu inherited by Koshikidake-Kannonji. Shugen can be said to possess, in the words of Riten Tanaka, a glocal outlook, combining both global/universal and localised/particular approaches to doctrine, faith and practice.
Another important aspect of Shugendo is that it is a tradition with a strong orientation towards the lay-householder, though formal paths of commitment into novice-ordination (tokudō) and initiation (kanjō / abhiṣeka) do exist. In the gate of ordination, retreat is complimented and deepened through the anchor of specific forms of preparation, theoretical training and praxis (kegyō/sādhanā) taught in the context of oral-transmission and the mentor-disciple relationship. This includes various forms of ritual-altar practice, such as homa and pūjā.
Due to Shugen's historical intertwining with esoteric-Buddhism (East Asian Tantra/Vajrayāna), bodhicitta, abhiṣeka, sādhanā and the direct mentor-disciple relationship are paramount. The esoteric approach - an expression of the Mahāyāna orientation - is characterised by yoga; the adhiṣṭhāna of the three-mysteries and the practices of the principal-image.
Questions are welcome.
Recommended:
Shugendo Past and Present Alana Eckelman
Defining Shugendo Past and Present Gaynor Sekimori
Hagurosan Kotakuji-Shozenin Homepage
A Brief History of Koshikidake Kannonji
Shugendo: Ineffable Wakefulness of Nature
— About this Site
A personal-disciple since 2013, this branch-site is maintained by a Shugen practitioner located in Meeanjin (Brisbane, Australia). Alongside a physical library and practice space, this site aims to act in support of the head-temples in translating practice materials and commentaries, as well as in the non-sectarian translation of Shugen texts more broadly.
Being a point of contact for those interested in learning more, please make contact for more information around current activities and opportunities.
Buddhism Brisbane, Shugendo Sangha Brisbane
— shugen dharma-gate
