THE SEKIZAN ORIGINAL SHRINE

Dengyo Daishi was unable in his lifetime to bring the full Mantrayana teachings to his disciples, so he entrusted this task to the young Ennin (posthumous name Jikaku Daishi). Years later, Ennin made an historic 10 year pilgrimmage in China, including Mt Wu-tai and the capitol city Chang-an where he acquired the Mantrayana under several Indian and Chinese masters. But this pilgrimage could not possibly have succeeded in overcoming almost insurmountable Chinese bureaucratic roadblocks were it not for the intercession of a Korean Lotus Sutra temple. In gratitude to the Koreans on Sekizan ("red mt") in China, Ennin had the Sekizan diety enshrined at the foot of Mt Hiei, Japan.

Saying #2 (Dengyo Daishi)

"My life will not last long. After my death, do not grieve in mourning attire. My colleagues on this mountain (Mt Hiei), following the precepts, cannot drink sake. If you violate this rule, you are neither my colleagues nor my disciples. Recite the Lotus Sutra daily, study the correct teachings, strive in meditation, and cause the Dharma to last forever. . . . .Put forth your utmost efforts, do not be lethargic in the practice of the four kinds of meditation.

"Maintain these admonitions in your heart and there will be great happiness, great happiness!"

Yamada Etai (1900-1999)

Great Teacher, Transmitter of the Buddha's Teaching

In Japanese, Dengyo Daishi. This is how theTendai founder Saicho (d. 822AD) has been known following his exemplary life. Urging those who could to renounce the world for the welfare of the many, encouraging all to pattern their lives on the Dharma, he had a succinct way of expressing this in writing. Today his sayings remain just as timely and eloquent. Here is one.

FOR ONE FOLLOWING THE DHARMA
THERE WILL BE FOOD AND CLOTHES,
BUT IN THE MIDST OF FOOD AND CLOTHES
THERE IS NO DHARMA


Some say this is difficult to believe, or is just a lofty ideal, but in my 40 years of renunciation, I've found it absolutely reliable.

GOMA-DO AND EAST

ANIRUDDHA'S VISION

One of Shakyamuni Buddha's disciples, Aniruddha, when new to the Dharma was meditating in seclusion, and he received the following vision:

The Dharma is for one of few wants, not for one of many wants;
for the energetic, not for the lazy;
for those who enjoy seclusion, not for those who like crowds;
for the contented, not for the discontented;
for those with concentrated minds, not for those with scattered minds;
for the wise, not for the foolish;
for those who can recollect, not for the forgetful.

Then in the vision, Shakyamuni suddenly appeared before him and praised him:

Good, good, Aniruddha! But you can add an eighth thought:
The Dharma is for those who delight in the unworldly,
not those who delight in the worldly.

Waterfall Practice at CTM

This is Jake, on retreat from from the Tendai Buddhist Institute of NY

Bodhisattva Path

Consider renunciation of a worldly life and work for the benefit of ALL beings.