During this year’s Autumn-Peak Mountain-Entry, I was privileged to present the manuscripts for the annotated translation of the Outline of the Haguro Dharma Lineage of Shugendō. This text has accompanied me for over ten years and in its own way, the process of editing and translating it also became a process of recording many glimpses of the oral-traditions and histories of Dewa Shugen, informing many of my questions and explorations as a student. Through this apprenticeship, I made pilgrimage not only to the sacred sites associated with Yura, Haguro, Dewa-Sanzan and the broader Dewa-Shugen-mandala (Chokai, Hayama etc), but also to places of significance to Kotakuji's more recent social, religious and political history, such as Kanneiji-Toeizan, the unexpected Arasawa-Fudo-Myoo of Fuji, Niijima, and others.
Presenting these texts to Kotakuji's current Head Priest in the exact site within the precincts of Kotakuji where his direct ancestor, Venerable Dendō, would sit and write the text, was a great honour, and I hope reflects in some small way an act of gratitude and responsibility to the lineage; a small tributary that may contribute to its ongoing transmission as a Dharma lamp – something that's always hanging by a thread, considering its historical dismantling and appropriation by the now dominant Shinto shrine association. Throughout my wanderings in the Shugen world, I have met many practitioners associated with Omine Shugen who disregarded Haguro, and who were shocked to learn that there remains a living Haguro Shugen lineage. As Venerable Kōkai says, if practitioners remain quiet, only the Shinto story will remain.
I was able to dedicate these texts formally during the Assembly Dedicated to the Prajñāpāramitā (般若会; hannya-e). Following Mountain-Entry, several practitioners from Kotakuji completed a pilgrimage to the inner sanctuary of Yudono. Following this, I was able to spend a week with a dear teacher.
The next project will be to produce a special annotated edition of all three volumes and, with thanks to the constant support of Gaynor (Jikun) Sekimori, an updated translation of the Autumn Peak's sanzan gongyō shiki.
"..Disregard titles and designations, situate yourself at the lowliest and focus on responsibility to the teachings - in this way you'll make it as a practitioner.."
These words continue to remain corrective advice.
___________
"Wholehearted salutations to Mount Haguro
The manifestations of which dim their light for the sake of beings throughout the three realms.
Indeed, with the founder, Nōjō, this sacred mountain flourished.
By imperial decree, he came to be known as the Great Bodhisattva Shōken.
Here, this inconceivable sattva
Ascended and arrived at the most wondrous fruit
The form of this great hermit-bodhisattva
appeared as the august child of emperor Sushun
to be known as Prince Hachikō
Tracing the footsteps of Prince Siddhartha
Year by year, he gathered firewood and drew water
Attaining the inner realisation which is not communicated by buddhas and patriarchs
but which is only realised mind-to-mind
Arriving at jinen-jōbutsu
Alas, he became the originator of Shugen
free of conceptual proliferation; a Sage of Prajñāpāramitā
"Do not speak of it - Do not ask of it!"
He revealed these two vajra-acolytes - Jōma and Kongō
as well as the true Dharma of the innate ten realms
Even with the passing of a thousand years
The spirit of this mountain peak continues to be conveyed and transmitted.."
— From the Wasan Dedicated to the Great Bodhisattva Shōken, composed by the restorer-bettō, Tenyuu.
namu kaisan shōken daibosatsu
namu sankō daihi henjō nyōrai
namu haguro sanshō gongen
