Strong energy and aspiration emanating from the Katsuma Mandala
I had a weeklong business trip to Kyoto this winter. During that time I had the opportunity to visit Toji Temple. Toji was built as a national temple back in the Heian Era of Japan, some 1200 years ago, and was registered as a world heritage site. I visited Toji because I was attracted by the lit-up 5-story pagoda that can be seen from the bullet train’s window.
In the Kodo Hall of Toji, there was the Katsuma Mandala. A three-dimensional mandala, centered around the Mahavairocana are 21 Buddhist statues enshrined in this mandala: the 5 Dhyani (Wisdom) Buddhas, 5 Bodhisattvas, the 5 Great Wisdom Kings, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Brahma-Deva, and the Sakra devanam Indra.
As I stood in front of this Katsuma Mandala, I felt a strong energy and aspiration (Ki) emanating from this mandala. Yes, it was cold in Kyoto. But my body and soul was shaking not because of the weather but by the energy and aspiration that can be felt through this mandala.
Who created this Katsuma Mandala? What were this person’s intentions? Why is this mandala so dramatic in three-dimensional form? What does each figure—the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, the Wisdom Kings, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Brahma-Deva, and the Sakra devanam Indra—represent?
Toji is the Main Temple of the Shingon Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. Esoteric Buddhism can be characterized by its emphasis towards personal practices whereas Exoteric Buddhism is said to put its emphasis towards Buddhist text books (sutras). The founder of Toji is Kukai or Kobo Daishi, who inherited Esoteric Buddhism while on his envoy to China (Tang Dynasty) in 804. Emperor Saga deigned Kobo Daishi to head Toji in 823.
Finding out Kobo Daishi was the noble person behind this Katsuma Mandala, I collected books on Kobo Daishi and decided to visit Koyasan (Mt. Koya), the headquarters of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and a world heritage site in Wakayama prefecture. Heading into Koyasan, I walked pass the Great Gate (Daimon). I visited the Kongoubuji (the head temple of Shingon Buddhism) and once again encountered the Katsuma Mandala on the Great Stupa (Daito). I walked to the Okunoin (the most sacred site) and saw many 5-story stupas (grave stones). In the Shingon teachings, the 5-story stupas represent the five elements that were used to create the world—earth, water, fire, wind, and space. In Koya town, many temples including the Kongoubuji and its sub-temples are adorned with original colors and Sanskrit writings that made me wonder if Koyasan is on the Indian sub-continent at the heart of Asia. In Koya, not only Buddhist figures and temples are inherited until this date, but as many Shingon priests carry on their daily austerities, I feel that the spirits and souls from Kobo Daishi are still living and breathing with us today. This makes Koyasan a special sacred place, even amongst the many world heritage sites designated by UNESCO.
In the temple’s lodgings I received shojin ryori, a special vegetarian meal, and participated in the morning ritual ceremony. At this ceremony, I chanted the Heart Sutra with the priest. In my previous profession, I worked at Sun-Life Corporation (listed on JASDAQ: 4656), a service company which provides weddings and funerals. In the meetings at the funeral department, we read out loud the Heart Sutra. This experience enabled me to chant the sutra along with the priest. I felt a strong Ki while we participated in the morning ceremony at the temple.
Esoteric Buddhism says that a person can attain enlightenment during one’s physical lifetime. As for the ascetic training of the Shingon Buddhism, I would like to refer to Dr. Yuukei Matsunaga’s Japanese book Mikkyo(“Esoteric Buddhism,” from Iwanami Publications. Please note that English translation is conducted at Globis.)
“The fundamental method in Esoteric Buddhism lies in yoga practices, where three mysteries (the body, speech, and mind) unify to become one with those of the Buddha. The ascetic sits in front of the main Buddha image, and recites the Shingon chants aloud and forms the mudra (symbolic hand gesture used in Buddhism). The ascetic centers his heart and mind and meditates on the image of Buddha, bringing the elements of the Buddha and the ascetic together to melt into one. In this way the ascetic, in the human flesh, has achieved enlightenment in this world, and become a Buddha.
“Three objects used for meditation in Esoteric Buddhism include shuji, sanmayagyou (samadhi), and songyou. Shuji are Sanskrit letters. Sanmayagyou can be a round moon or vajra (mystical weapon in Buddhism) used for reaching the next step in meditation. Songyou includes the figures/drawings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Wise Kings in the Mandala.
“In his meditation, the ascetic first focuses on shuji, then changes to sanmayagyou, and shifts the attention to songyou. The well-practiced ascetic is able to change between these three objects in his meditation. Also, no matter which physical shape the ascetic focuses on, he will be expected to be able to advance his meditative focus from a physical object to a non-physical object.”
In the Kodo Hall of Toji, there was the Katsuma Mandala. A three-dimensional mandala, centered around the Mahavairocana are 21 Buddhist statues enshrined in this mandala: the 5 Dhyani (Wisdom) Buddhas, 5 Bodhisattvas, the 5 Great Wisdom Kings, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Brahma-Deva, and the Sakra devanam Indra.
As I stood in front of this Katsuma Mandala, I felt a strong energy and aspiration (Ki) emanating from this mandala. Yes, it was cold in Kyoto. But my body and soul was shaking not because of the weather but by the energy and aspiration that can be felt through this mandala.
Who created this Katsuma Mandala? What were this person’s intentions? Why is this mandala so dramatic in three-dimensional form? What does each figure—the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, the Wisdom Kings, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Brahma-Deva, and the Sakra devanam Indra—represent?
Toji is the Main Temple of the Shingon Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. Esoteric Buddhism can be characterized by its emphasis towards personal practices whereas Exoteric Buddhism is said to put its emphasis towards Buddhist text books (sutras). The founder of Toji is Kukai or Kobo Daishi, who inherited Esoteric Buddhism while on his envoy to China (Tang Dynasty) in 804. Emperor Saga deigned Kobo Daishi to head Toji in 823.
Finding out Kobo Daishi was the noble person behind this Katsuma Mandala, I collected books on Kobo Daishi and decided to visit Koyasan (Mt. Koya), the headquarters of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and a world heritage site in Wakayama prefecture. Heading into Koyasan, I walked pass the Great Gate (Daimon). I visited the Kongoubuji (the head temple of Shingon Buddhism) and once again encountered the Katsuma Mandala on the Great Stupa (Daito). I walked to the Okunoin (the most sacred site) and saw many 5-story stupas (grave stones). In the Shingon teachings, the 5-story stupas represent the five elements that were used to create the world—earth, water, fire, wind, and space. In Koya town, many temples including the Kongoubuji and its sub-temples are adorned with original colors and Sanskrit writings that made me wonder if Koyasan is on the Indian sub-continent at the heart of Asia. In Koya, not only Buddhist figures and temples are inherited until this date, but as many Shingon priests carry on their daily austerities, I feel that the spirits and souls from Kobo Daishi are still living and breathing with us today. This makes Koyasan a special sacred place, even amongst the many world heritage sites designated by UNESCO.
In the temple’s lodgings I received shojin ryori, a special vegetarian meal, and participated in the morning ritual ceremony. At this ceremony, I chanted the Heart Sutra with the priest. In my previous profession, I worked at Sun-Life Corporation (listed on JASDAQ: 4656), a service company which provides weddings and funerals. In the meetings at the funeral department, we read out loud the Heart Sutra. This experience enabled me to chant the sutra along with the priest. I felt a strong Ki while we participated in the morning ceremony at the temple.
Esoteric Buddhism says that a person can attain enlightenment during one’s physical lifetime. As for the ascetic training of the Shingon Buddhism, I would like to refer to Dr. Yuukei Matsunaga’s Japanese book Mikkyo(“Esoteric Buddhism,” from Iwanami Publications. Please note that English translation is conducted at Globis.)
“The fundamental method in Esoteric Buddhism lies in yoga practices, where three mysteries (the body, speech, and mind) unify to become one with those of the Buddha. The ascetic sits in front of the main Buddha image, and recites the Shingon chants aloud and forms the mudra (symbolic hand gesture used in Buddhism). The ascetic centers his heart and mind and meditates on the image of Buddha, bringing the elements of the Buddha and the ascetic together to melt into one. In this way the ascetic, in the human flesh, has achieved enlightenment in this world, and become a Buddha.
“Three objects used for meditation in Esoteric Buddhism include shuji, sanmayagyou (samadhi), and songyou. Shuji are Sanskrit letters. Sanmayagyou can be a round moon or vajra (mystical weapon in Buddhism) used for reaching the next step in meditation. Songyou includes the figures/drawings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Wise Kings in the Mandala.
“In his meditation, the ascetic first focuses on shuji, then changes to sanmayagyou, and shifts the attention to songyou. The well-practiced ascetic is able to change between these three objects in his meditation. Also, no matter which physical shape the ascetic focuses on, he will be expected to be able to advance his meditative focus from a physical object to a non-physical object.”
Tomoya Nakamura
