Mahayaha Buddhism #5 Heian Buddhism（平安仏教） 1 Saicho 最澄

Mahayaha Buddhism #5
Heian Buddhism（平安仏教） 1
Saicho 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 Japan
Mount Hiei
Mount Hiei enryakutemple（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）
Lotus Sutra’s main point
Saicho’s dispute with
Tokuitsu (Hosso-shu’s “One Vehicle”
monk)
☆Three Vehicle
Whether all sentient being 1)suravaka (hearer)
possess the Buddha2)pratyekabuddha (solidaly
nature?
buddha)
3)bodhisattva (buddha to
Tokuitsu
Saicho
be)
No
Yes
This category is only skillful
VS
means for salvation.

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 “DAIAJARI（大阿闍梨）


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