Curriculum
The Ein Horyu teachings practiced in ISA constitute a complete Shugendo system, encompassing seven major deity practices, goma,
saito goma, mountain training, and many other miscelleneous practices for diverse purposes.
Those interested in joining ISA and beginning Shugendo practice should read the following carefully. This page describes what we are able to release publicly regarding our curriculum for beginners, lay practitioners, and those interested in deeper training, including tokudo, (ordination) and kegyo, the post-tokudo intensive ritual training conducted in a retreat setting.
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Virtual Learning Lessons for Beginners
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The first step in ISA’s training system is completion of a live, three-lesson virtual learning program. These lessons provide basic knowledge for beginning practitioners and establish daily practices to be undertaken at home. The three-lesson series is offered three times each year, and members may attend as often as they wish.
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After completing these lessons, members who eventually wish to apply for tokudo will be tested on selected material, including their performance of gongyo, the daily recitation. Video recordings may be offered for members who cannot attend live, but all three lessons must eventually be attended live before testing can be completed.
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The three-lesson beginner series follows this structure:
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Lesson 1:
- How to set up a home shrine or altar (placing statues or Buddhist images, preparing daily offerings, keeping the shrine clean, etc.).
- Simple daily recitation practice.
Lesson 2:
- Susokukan: breath meditation.
- How to set up the Mikkyo altar and care for its implements.
- Daily recitation: continuing from lesson one, but including English translation.
Lesson 3:
- Gachirinkan: moon-disc meditation.
- Studying translation of the Hannya Shingyo from kanji to English word by word.
- Fudo Myo-o daily recitation.
Please be aware that Shugendo cannot be learned online. Aside from these introductory lessons, all further learning in ISA, including tokudo, empowerments, and instruction for beginning kegyo, is conducted in person at our centers or events in North America and Europe.
Further Lay Practices
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Lay practitioners continue to learn various practices and participate in Shugendo events. Those wishing to practice as lay members, without pursuing ordination or ritual training, will find the lay path complete and sufficient. Among the things studied are:
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- Basic ritual for cleansing and protection.
- Mokuyoku Saho (cold water ablution practice).
- Mantra and recitation practices of various deities.
- Rituals for use when walking and practicing in nature.
- Takigyo (waterfall training).
- Nyubu Shugyo (mountain training) participation.
- And more
​Tokudo, Kegyo, and Denbo Kanjo
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Those wishing to enter the gate of tokudo should understand that ordination in Shugendo is not the awarding of status, teaching permission, or leadership authority. One does not become a Shugendo “priest” with permission to guide others simply by receiving tokudo. Rather, tokudo signifies a commitment to the Buddhist and Shugen paths: it includes a formal taking of refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and the receiving of Buddhist precepts.
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Attendance at all three virtual learning lessons is one requirement for potential tokudo candidates. Candidates receive daily practice assignments based on these lessons and are later tested on the content. During this period, they should also attend ISA events as often as possible, especially Nyubu Shugyo, mountain training, offered annually in North America and Europe. Attendance at least one Nyubu Shugyo is required before tokudo.
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After completing these requirements, one may apply to receive tokudo. Tokudo opens the possibility of learning additional practices, including:
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- Goshinpo: an important series of five mantra and mudra used in all ritual.
- Kuji Saho ("9 cuts" practice for protection).
- Jikiji Saho (ritual for eating) and Segaki Saho (hungry spirit offering).
- More advanced versions of various practices, for example takigyo.
- Mountain training ritual.
- Saito goma, the outdoor fire ritual.
- Many miscellaneous practices: for protection, praying for others, removing obstacles and creating positive conditions, divination, etc.
Like lay practice, there are many for whom receiving tokudo may be sufficient as an expression of commitment to the path of Shugendo. But for those who wish after tokudo to go further and study in the deepest possible manner, empowerments and instruction to begin kegyo may be given.
The kegyo course of study is intensive and extremely demanding, both physically and mentally. It takes a great deal of time and effort, and is conducted under strict retreat conditions. Kegyo training includes:
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- First, Raihai kegyo, an intensive practice period to purify body/speech/mind and create connection with our lineage.
- Then, Juhachido kegyo, instructing the foundations of mikkyo ritual. In Ein Horyu this is centered on Benzaiten as the honzon (main deity).
- Following are a series of six additional deity practices that, with juhachido, constitute the core Ein Horyu ritual transmission. These center on Jinja Daio, Kongo Doji, Aizen Myo-o, Fudo Myo-o, Ryuju Bosatsu, and Dainichi Nyorai. All are learned in a kegyo format.
- Finally, Goma kegyo, instructing the Shugendo mikkyo fire ritual.
Those who complete kegyo are eligible, finally, to receive denbo kanjo, the Dharma transmission empowerment marking a newly trained practitioner qualified to conduct rituals and pray for others.
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However, denbo kanjo, like tokudo, does not mean that one is a “master” of anything. It is itself only the entrance into continued, deeper training.
To Be Reborn in Nature
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What is the goal of all this training, lay or ordained? It is nothing less than awakening within this very body and life, in fulfillment of our bodhisattva vows to aid all beings. Shugendo is a way of dying to one’s old self and being reborn, as if cremated in the goma fire and brought to life again.
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Climbing upward while reaching downward to help others, as we do physically during mountain training, expresses the intent and spirit of the Shugendo practitioner. Within nature, among mountains, waterfalls, and forests, we come to realize the mandala of our own deepest wisdom-nature. In the everyday world, we must embody and manifest that wisdom for the benefit of others.
If you have any questions regarding our curriculum, including tokudo, kegyo, denbo kanjo, or anything else, we invite you to inquire.