Mahayaha Buddhism #5

Heian Buddhism （平安仏教） 1Saicho 最澄

Masayo Urasaki

19 July 2012

Today’s schedule

　 1) Brief History of Saicho （最澄） 2) Mother of the Japanese Buddhism

Mount Hiei( 比叡山） 3) VDO clip from Website

　　　　　　　　 　　“ Marathon Monk”

Keywords

・ Saicho （最澄）＝ Denkyo Daishi （伝教大師）・ Tendai-shu （天台宗）・ Mount Hiei （比叡山） /Mount Hiei Enryaku-ji

（比叡山延暦寺）・ Lotus Sutra （法華経）　 One Viecle （一乗）・ Buddha Nature （仏性）・ Mahayana-Ordination （大乗戒）・ Sennichi kaiho gyou （千日回峰行）

From State Buddhism (Nara) to Institutional Buddhism (Heian)

After Gan-jin came to Japan , Japanese monk receive ordination only three temples (one of them, Todai-ji)

Under the Protection of the State, some monks engaged in Politics. Perceptions were not keeping well so by monks.

　　→ 　 Emergence of the New Buddhist Era

Heian era’s Key person “Saicho” and “Kukai”

Saicho （最澄） One of the Heian Buddhism’s super-star

Born at Oumi-province (767-822) Father was from a Chinese immigrant family 7 yrs old go to studied at Temple, become novice 13 yrs

old 18 yrs old, full ordination at Todai-ji （東大寺） in Nara Lived in a Small hermitage on Mount

Hiei 785-797 Study in China and Establishment of

Tendai sect

Integrated Buddhist Centre of JapanMount Hiei 　

Mount Hiei enryaku-temple （比叡山延暦寺）

located at northeast of Kyoto <Temple ＝ Mountain>

Integrated ….. 円 (perfect teaching) 戒 (Mahayana -Vinaya) 、

禅 (Zen’s practice) 密 (esoteric Buddhism)

What’s Saicho’s teaching?

Every human being has on the Buddha-nature All practices lead to Nirvana, the most important

thins is to having mind of searching truth. Be aware of you are already Buddha/Bodhisattva. Become yourself as brighten men.

Study in China （ Official Diplomatic membership 遣唐使）

Since Prince Shotoku, some elected Japanese members go to China officially to study Chinese culture, political system, religions.

Saicho go to China from 804-805. His main purpose is being formal training Tien-dai doctrine.

Gathering the Sutra and bring back to Japan The trend of that era is Esoteric Buddhism, so

he eager to get knowledge.

Lotus Sutra （法華経）One Vehicle （一乗）

Saicho’s dispute with Tokuitsu (Hosso-shu’s monk)

Whether all sentient being possess the Buddha-nature?

Lotus Sutra’s main point

“One Vehicle”

☆Three Vehicle

1)suravaka (hearer)

2)pratyekabuddha (solidaly buddha)

3)bodhisattva (buddha to be)

This category is only skillful means for salvation.

Tokuitsu Saicho No Yes

VS

Buddha Nature 　 ( 仏性）

Everyone has possibility of becoming Buddha

Buddha Nature (Buddha- dhatu,

Tathagatagarbha)

“Absolutely Positive” attitude toward all Beings

　 　 Desires(klesa) don’t separate Buddhahood

　　　 （煩悩即菩提） On the Attainment of Buddhahood by trees,

plants and earth （草木国土悉皆成仏）

Mahayana Ordination/Vinaya （大乗戒）

From 818, Saicho start movement to independent “Mahayana Ordination/Vinaya” of Tendai-sect originally.

Even if monks trained at Tendai sect, monk should be take ordination at other temple.

it means monk should control by the State Mahayana Ordination - 10 heavy precepts and

48 light precepts.

Sennnichi Kaiho Gyou （千日回峰行）

This practice is so strictly for Tendai’s monks Pilgrimage of Mount Hiei, 1000 days (7 years) Walking at Mount about 30-60km per day Finish 700 day, the most strictly practice “Do-iri （堂

入り）” No food, No drink, No Sleep, No Lying

(recite Mantra 100,000 times) →almost dying

　 After finish all courses , he could be called “DAI-AJARI （大阿闍梨）