The Theory of ‘Hotsushin-sokuto’ in Shingon Buddhism

AbstractCallicott's Earth's Insights is a remarkable survey of resources from the world's religions for formulating a global ethics. He mentions, in particular, the rich symbolic and conceptual resources available from East Asia. This paper supports such an assertion and develops more fully the teachings of Japanese Shingon Buddhism which helped to foster a deep identity with the natural world by means of ritual. Moreover, the paper suggests that the literary and artistic resources of Japanese culture are also important sources for further exploration.

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The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism

Buddhist-Christian Studies ◽

10.2307/1390284 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 317

Author(s):

Michael Saso ◽

Adrian Snodgrass

Keyword(s):

The Matrix ◽

Shingon Buddhism

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Lethal Fire

Journal of Religion and Violence ◽

10.5840/jrv201842348 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 11-31

Author(s):

Richard Payne ◽

Keyword(s):

Historical Understanding ◽

Vedic Ritual ◽

Buddhist Tradition ◽

History Of ◽

Ritual Practices ◽

Shingon Buddhism

An important element in the ritual corpus of Shingon Buddhism, a tantric tradition in Japan, is the homa (goma, 護摩). This is a votive ritual in which offerings are made into a fire, and has roots that trace to the Vedic ritual tradition. One of the five ritual functions that the homa can fulfill is destruction, abhicāra. A destructive ritual with Yamāntaka as the chief deity is one such ritual in the contemporary Shingon ritual corpus. Consideration of this ritual provides entrée into the history of destructive practices, including violent subjugation, that date from very early in the Buddhist tradition. Exploration of this theme is offered as a balancing corrective to the modern representation of Buddhism as an exception to the violent character of other religions. However, despite the history of destructive ritual practices, the contemporary homa examined in the latter part of the essay shows very few of the characteristics found historically. This indicates an ambiguity in the tradition between a historical understanding of such rituals as literally destructive of one’s enemies, and the contemporary understanding that the enemies to be destroyed are simply personifications of one’s own obscurations.

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Reflections on Earth's Insights from an East Asianist

Worldviews Global Religions Culture and Ecology ◽

10.1163/156853597x00290 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 151-161

Author(s):

Mary Evelyn Tucker

Keyword(s):

East Asia ◽

Natural World ◽

Japanese Culture ◽

Global Ethics ◽

The Rich ◽

Conceptual Resources ◽

Shingon Buddhism

AbstractCallicott's Earth's Insights is a remarkable survey of resources from the world's religions for formulating a global ethics. He mentions, in particular, the rich symbolic and conceptual resources available from East Asia. This paper supports such an assertion and develops more fully the teachings of Japanese Shingon Buddhism which helped to foster a deep identity with the natural world by means of ritual. Moreover, the paper suggests that the literary and artistic resources of Japanese culture are also important sources for further exploration.

Download Full-text