Shingon Esoteric Buddism

 

Footprints of the Buddha



Kukai, the founder of Shingon wrote the following poem 
to describe the Shingon view of the natural universe:

                                                  The three secrets fill the world
                                             Space is the sublime meditation hall
                                            The mountain is the brush and the sea the ink
                                            Heaven and earth the case that holds the sutras

Shingon is the form of esoteric Buddhism brought from China to Japan by the priest Kukai near the beginning of the nineteenth century. This form of Buddhism is known in Japanese as Mikkyo meaning "secret teaching of Buddhism".

Mudra or hand gesture for Retsu or
Fist of Wisdom Sword Seal


Shingon emphasizes the idea of attaining buddhahood in this very body through specific practices involving the "three mysteries": mudra (hand gestures or Buddha seals), mantra (sacred sounds), and mandala (sacred diagrams).
  • Purpose – Used to expand perception, to “be aware of everything”
  • Mantra – On hirota ki shanoga jiba tai sowaka
  • Protection of mind and body
  • Grants control over time and space
The mudra illustrated above is one of nine gestures used by Shingo monks in their practice of Mikkyo along with others shown here.




Symbolic hand gestures known as mudras used in Mikkyo practice.

Kuji – The Nine Sounds. These nine syllables are mantras, or sacred chants, used to activate energy centers in the body as well as create focus. The kuji are as follows, and can be used alone in meditation, or to enhance the accompanying mudras, or sacred hand gestures.

Rin   Pyo   To   Sha   Kai   Jin   Retsu   Zai   Zen

Each of the nine mantras has its own meaning, and a meditation specifically for it to assist in mastering its function.

Rin the first seal: Diamond Thunder Seal for self-defense and to master an enemies power

  • Purpose – Used to access, or unlock strength and power, physical, mental or spiritual.
  • Visualize luminous fire energy radiating from the lowest center at the location of the pubic bone or root center. For grounding, stability and survival assuredness.
  • Recite the mantra – On baishiraman taya sowaha "My entire being is empowered with vital energy" to channel the raw power of the life force within you. Acupoint: CV2

Pyo the second seal: Golden Wheel of Strength Seal                                                                        

  • Purpose – Used to gather, or concentrate energy within your being. To maintain focus and clarity. 
  • Visualize radiant luminous light just below the navel at the lower Tantien. (belly)  
  • Recite the mantra – On isha naya in tara ya sowaha: "I am not tempted by distractions."    Acupoint: CV4                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
  • Toh the third seal: Outer Lion Seal                                                                                              Represents the  profound state of harmony and balance. Inner reconciliation and alighment. Dissolve discord and disharmony creating oneness and union. Visuslize radiant light just above your navel.
  • Release grevances and resntments that block your path toward unity with the cosmos.
  • Recite the mantra – On jite rashi itara jiba ratano sowaha:  "I forgive all past and present injuries and offenses". Acupoint CV9

Sha the fourth seal: Inner Lion Seal

  • Purpose – Used to distribute, or circulate energy. Visulaize divine adiant light filling your heart in the center of your chest with healing energy for yourself and others.                                                     You are a conduit for healing forces on physical, emotional and spiritual levels.                           Sha allows you to access and channel divine energy for the restoration and rejuvenation. 
  • On haya baishiraman taya sowaha: "I am a channeller of potent healing energy for myself and others." Acupoint CV17

Kai  the fifth seal: Outer Binding Seal

  • Purpose – Used to expand the senses, to “feel everything”. Heightened intuition and expanded sensory awareness. Visualize a vibrant luminous light emanating from the center of your throat symbolizing the awakening of your intuitive senses and insights. 
  • Recite the mantra – On nomaku sanmanda basaradan kan "I see, feel and know the eternal connection between myself and everything else". Acupoint CV23

Jin  the sixth seal: Inner Binding Seal

  • Purpose – Used to expand consciousness, to “know everything” becoming sensitive to the thoughts and intention of others with clairity and insight. Visualize a radiant light emanating from the center of your head just behind the eyes symbolizing your awakening of internal awareness.
  • Recite the mantra – On aga naya in maya sowaha: "Through my connection with the infinite I know the mind of each and all." granting protection from deception and misdirection from external sources. CV24.5 (forehead between the brows)

Retsu the seventh seal: Fist of Wisdom Seal (see image above)

  • Purpose – Used to expand perception, to “be aware of everything”. With this seal you transcend the limitations of time and space granting the practitioner total control over the energetic fabric of reality. Visualize a radiant light emanating from the top of your head symbolizing your connection to the infinite dimentions of time and space.
  • Recite the mantra – On hirota ki shanoga jiba tai sowaha: "I am the manifestation of manifested reality". Embrace your role as creator and co-creator as you master the forces of your destiny according to your will. Harnessing the power of Retsu you manifest your desires and aspirations on the earth plane. Acupoint GV20

Zai the eigth seal: Ring of the Sun Seal

  • Purpose – Used to manifest, or direct, accumulated and formed energy. Mastery of the natural elemets of earth, fire, wind and water. To gain control and influence over the fundamental forces that form and govern the elements of the Universe. 
  • Visualize a radiant light emanating from the lowest part of your body radiating upward until it envelop your entire being.
  • Recite the mantra – On chirichi iba rotaya sowaha: "I am the consciousness of the laws of nature". You shape the world according to your vision and sacred intent. Acupoint meridian system for the entire body.

Zen: the ninth seal: Hidden Shape Seal

  • Purpose – To connect with and manifest the higher self. To transcend the limitations of the physical and mental realms and merge with the infinite expanse of consciousness. The boundaries between oneself and the universe dissolves into a primal and blissful union of all things.  Pure awareness beyond the dualities of ordinary existence.
  • Recite the mantra – On a ra ba sha n sowaka: "I am the light of the Tao as ego is dissolved in expanded awareness of the infinite universe and all things within it."
  • Visualize yourself surrounded by an infinite expanse of radiant and boundless light radiating outward in all directions without end as you merge with the infinite consciousness of the cosmos. The ego dissolves in the vastness of pure awareness.
The Nine Buddha Mudras
Combine mudras with mantra recitations
to achieve desired manifestations



                                   Statue of Kukai~ Founder of Shingon, Tokyo Japan

Kukai stressed the following four points as characteristic of Mikkyo in contrast to exoteric teachings alone:
1.Mikkyo is the direct teaching of the highest Buddha, the Dharma Body, the all-pervading body of universal enlightenment.
2. Enlightenment can be manifested in this world and can be communicated.
3. Mikkyo teachings stress immediate attainment of Buddhahood in this life.
4. The esoteric tradition contains a great wealth of teachings for many purposes suited to all predilections and abilities.
 
*Jia Senghe is a devoted student of Shingon-mikkyo.

Some video links to help simplify the practice: (Highlight and right click to access)

                                                                   Mikkyo hand seals:                                                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Jmyd89AaM&t=873s

                        Introduction to Japanese Kuji Kiri in Mikkyo practice:                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJuzvqYJvho&t=46s

                                                       Ninjado Nine Basic Hand seals:                                                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUJLHPVNKXg&t=149s

Mudras and Introduction to Mikkyo: https://katsuninken.wordpress.com/mikkyo/?bl ogid=66421594&blogsub=spammed#subscribe-blog


Hand seals & the Nine sounds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUJLHPVNKXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUz3ynDHdQU


 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Links Shops Contact

Image
Ebay store :   for Books, Bamboo pipes, Premier aphrodisiacs and Tonic herb formulas                   Etsy shop : Bamboo pipes, imported Japanese shakuhachi, Mantra Press books,                                        Japanese Hina dolls                  Reverb music store : Bamboo flutes, Imported vintage shakuhachi                  Quimby's Bookshop : Find many of my titles here. On North Avenue in Chicago's                 Bucktown.  Contact: jiasenghe@yahoo.com 708 972 3373 Oak Street Studio for the Esoteric Arts Chicago
Read more

Mantra Press Books in Print

Image
  The following titles from Mantra Press are available at Etsy.com, Ebay.com and the Chicago book and zine seller: Quimby's on North Ave. All links are below. The Taoist Way of Sexual Health: Methods, techniques and processes for male sexual empowerment and well being. Internal Alchemy: Taoist Practices of Immortality The Warrior Monk's Manual for Navigating the Apocalypse Restorative Acupoint Therapy Self-healing Applications The Legend and Culture of Kokopelli and the Native American Flute Sahaja Tantra: An Outline for Sacred Loving Sacred Erotic Texts of Buddhism, Hindu Tantra and Taoism Magical Breath Magical Life: The Yoga of Conscious Breathing  The Poetic Oracle of Goddess Quan Yin: A Channelled Work of Her Wisdom The Immortal Body: Practices and Teachings of Spiritual Alchemists The Restoration of Original Templates and Healing Power of Medicine Buddha Medicine Buddha for Healing the Hun and Resolving Depression Twenty Asian Tonic Herbs that Benefit Health and Promote ...
Read more

Psilocybin Sessions: Personal Notes, Insights and Revelations

Image
  Psilocybin Sessions: Psilo-tote' April, 2025 Notes and Insights: The mushroom dissolves the ego into multiple perceptions. The mushroom creates multiple points of perception with no way to choose but only witness. As magic medicine opens to multiple layers of existence each with its own lights, sounds, shapes and colors. Lights swirl, throb, pulsate, radiate, dance, bounce, expand and contract endlessly forming new patterns, shapes, densities and marvels overwhelming the senses leaving one breathless and speechless. The ego dissolution brought on is like a death that is repeated in an endless pattern of shifting intensities each going deeper than the ones before leaving one speechless and in awe with no way to escape or change the scenario or context. One's exposure to the unknown internal tapestry of feeling, seeing and knowing is both ecstatically blissful and terrifyingly ruthless as the participant gets exposed to all they don't want to see, remember or inwardly ackno...
Read more