INTERNATIONAL SHUGENDO ASSOCIATION
Shugendo - the spiritual path of the yamabushi ("one who bows down on the mountain") - is a 1500 year old Japanese religious tradition distilling the profound wisdom teachings of Asia. Combining esoteric Buddhist practice, Shinto awareness of the sacredness of nature, Daoist teachings, and outdoor asceticism such as
mountain pilgrimage, Shugendo is an intensely embodied path of awakening.
Traditionally a lay rather than monastic tradition, Shugendo is open to all sincere persons regardless of background or profession. We invite you to join us:
Shugendo should be a platform welcoming various religions and philosophies. My students have many backgrounds, including priests from different Buddhist traditions, practitioners of religions such as Daoism, Christianity, and many others. The reason why we gathered together is that Shugendo is a teaching coming from this planet. We are all living on the same planet in this Universe. There is no reason not to share this treasure of Shugendo for everyone.Our most powerful weapon is our different backgrounds and abilities. We must have more strong confidence in ourselves. Everyone has an amazing history and character. Please be proud of your religion, nationality, gender, and whatever identity you have. Then, we can visit each other to explore new worlds and cultures, and share them. This is our style of Shugendo, as a religion belonging to this planet. - Shodo Koshikidake, Soke (Headmaster) of the Mt. Koshikidake tradition of Shugendo
ABOUT ISA
The International Shugendo Association (ISA) - a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the United States - is the overseas outreach of the Mt. Koshikidake tradition of Shugendo centered on Kannon-ji temple in Yamagata prefecture, Japan. Our Headmaster is the current heir of that tradition, Shodo Koshikidake. Koryu Shugen Honshu, a recognized religious denomination in Japan, was founded by him to promulgate the teachings of Shugendo in the modern era. The official Advisor of Koryu Shugen Honshu is Kakudo Mitsunaga Dai-Ajari, the most famous living "marathon monk" of Mt. Hiei (and Koshikidake Soke's master).
Persons interested in Shugendo, from any country or religious background (including other Shugendo traditions), are welcome to apply to join ISA or participate in our public events. You may contact us (or one of our groups) to begin learning.
For a detailed history of our Shugendo tradition see this article.
OUR PRACTICE
"It is a pity that some people think Shugendo is only a kind of technique to perform ritual.
戒律: Buddhist Precepts, 懺悔: Repentance, 奉仕: Service,
布施: Offerings
My translation of the above things may not be perfect. But you may be able to understand that there is no technical matter mentioned in this list.
Your mind and attitude toward deities and human beings is the most important thing. We cannot be dishonest to them."
- Koshikidake Soke
TRAINING IN NATURE
Mountain Training, a central focus of Shugendo for centuries and perhaps its best-known practice, is conducted annually at Mt. Koshikidake in Japan. Other Shugendo gyoba - training fields - have been established at natural areas in Japan and North America.
During these outdoor trainings conducted throughout the year, mountains, valleys, and forests become places of meditation and mirrors revealing our intrinsic wisdom and compassion. Through ritual and ascetic practices like takigyo - meditation under waterfalls - the Shugendo practitioner can shed old patterns and awaken to a new life.
Shugendo is truly a way to be reborn through nature.
DAILY PRACTICE
Shugendo practitioners learn many meditation and ritual practices integrating the "three mysteries" of body, speech, and mind - mudra, mantra, and visualization. These are studied in a graduated curriculum that begins with recitation of basic sutras and mantras and then progressively introduces the student to more complex practices. Perhaps the most famous practice is the Shugen goma, the fire ceremony, a form of deity yoga centered on various Buddhist figures such as Fudo Myo-o.
Anyone can study these things if they have sufficient time and diligence. Ordination is required to learn beyond a basic level, but Shugendo is historically a tradition centered outside monasteries. This means that you need not be a full-time monastic or professional clergy to learn mikkyo (vajrayana) and other hidden practices. The most important thing is your own dedication and effort. If you are committed and willing to work hard over time, there is a path open to you.
COMMUNITY
Community is central to Shugendo in two ways.
First, we practice together. People from many walks of life can meet "on the mountain" - within the circle of our training - where they support one another. In our way of thinking, none succeeds unless all succeed.
Second, we practice not only for ourselves but for all beings: though we enter places of solitude to test ourselves, we return again to society to apply our practice for the benefit of all. This is the Shugendo way.
Shugendo is based upon respect and friendship. When you enter this path, you join a spiritual family.
OUR TEACHER
Shodo Koshikidake was born in 1958 to a family whose members had been Shugendo priests at Mt. Koshikidake for centuries. Inheriting these traditions, along with a historically significant family archive of Shugendo knowledge that had elsewhere disappeared, he has devoted his life to sharing Shugendo teachings.
In 2005, after training extensively as a Tendai priest and in the Shugendo of Mt. Haguro's Kotaku-ji Shozen-in, he founded Koryu Shugen Honshu: an independent religious organization with the mission of preserving and reviving the Shugendo of the Mt. Koshikidake tradition. To this end, he has uniquely also welcomed non-Japanese students.
International Shugendo Association was founded at Koshikidake Soke's urging, in order to make these teachings more widely known outside Japan. Our mission is to plant Shugendo across the world, in ways matching the needs of different people and cultures.
MEMBERSHIP
ISA members may begin learning Shugendo practices under the guidance of our Headmaster and his students. They are also eligible to attend Mountain Training and other events throughout the year in the USA and Europe, and Mountain Training in Japan.
Members submit an entrance fee upon joining, and thereafter a small monthly donation that supports our events and our headquarters in Japan. Some other things you will eventually need - such as juzu (prayer beads) - can be obtained online, and we can recommend sources.
To apply, read the information on this page, and fill out the online application. You will also be able to submit your entrance fee there securely using PayPal.
Attention to new members who have already been accepted:
if you have already submitted your application and been notified of acceptance by ISA, here is the page where you may set up your monthly donation and learn what comes next.
GROUPS
These are places where ISA teachers or members are organizing practice and events. Please contact them.
JAPAN
Koryu Shugen Honshu/Kannon-ji - Our headquarters temple
Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture
Please contact through www.koryu-shugen.com
AUSTRALIA
Shugendo Studies Oceania, Brisbane
Please contact through www.ubasoku.net
DENMARK
Odense
Please contact by email: Anshinshugendo@gmail.com
More info via this Facebook page
CANADA
Tenmyoji Temple, Toronto
Please contact via this Facebook page
UNITED STATES
Puerto Rico:
Koryu Shugendo Puerto Rico, San Juan
Please contact through www.shugendopr.org
Washington:
Enkyoji Hokke Shugen Dojo, Seattle
This group is focused on exploring Shugendo practice connected to the Nichiren tradition
Please contact by email: shugendopnw@gmail.com
(Link coming soon)
Wisconsin:
Korinji Shugen Dojo, Reedsburg
Please contact through www.korinji.org
PRAYER REQUESTS
Several times a month, Koshikidake Soke conducts goma - fire ceremony - dedicated to various Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and deities including Fudo Myo-o, Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha), Juichimen Kannon, and others. During these ceremonies he will burn prayer boards in the goma fire that contain wishes and dedications. The power of such ritual, when conducted by a qualified master, can be extraordinary.
If you would like to have a prayer - for yourself, for others, for those who have passed away - included in Soke's dedication, please contact ISA. Include the details of your prayer sufficiently that Soke can inscribe them on a wishing board. We will then notify you of the day/time of the ceremony, and if you are on Facebook we can invite you to a closed page where it will be livestreamed.
The suggested donation for prayer requests is $30, which you can submit via PayPal using the button below.
PRACTICE ITEMS
Provided as a service to ISA members.
Please be patient, as we order from Japan periodically and will send your items to you as soon as possible.
Due to Covid, for some items there may be a shipping delay of some weeks or several months.
This special hardcover version of the Koryu Shugen Honshu Sutra Recitation Service, bound in the Japanese manners, contains Shugendo morning and evening services including important texts, mantra, and mudra. These daily recitations are the foundation of our training and crucial preparation for further ritual study. English translations are included. An appendix includes scores for the traditional calls played on the horagai, the conch shell trumpet that is an important ritual item and symbol of Shugendo. 146 pages.
For ISA members only, one per member. Note: a softcover version of this book is INCLUDED with your ISA entrance fee as a new member. Please apply for membership.
PRICE: $150.00 includes postage.
WAGESA
The wagesa is a kind of stole worn by practitioners during daily recitation and other practice. It expresses connection with our Shugendo lineage and community.
This wagesa for laypersons is made from beautiful dark brown silk, embroidered with the symbols of Koryu Shugen Honshu and the Mt. Koshikidake tradition of Shugendo.
For ISA members only, one per member. Please apply for membership.
PRICE: $85.00 includes postage from Japan.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY: SPECIAL SANKOSHO FOR SHUGENDO PRACTITIONERS
Now available in limited numbers: this remarkable ancient style sankosho (three-point vajra), recreated precisely from an existing artifact kept as a treasure in Shoso-in temple. Koshikidake Soke describes its significance:
"According to Shugendo tradition, En no Gyoja caused the deity Zao Gongen to manifest through his ascetic prayer in the Kumano mountains. The implement which was held by Zao Gongen was this Sankosho. Its shape was simple but powerful, called 忿怒型 (wrathful style). It is a very ancient style of 鈷 (vajra). One of these 忿怒型三鈷杵 (wrathful 3 points vajra) still existing is known as a Shoso-in byobutsu (正倉院御物, Shoso-in Imperial Property), a treasure of that temple.
Some say that the wrathful 3 point vajra is an image of lightning because En no Gyoja met Zao Gongen among thunderbolts. It is interesting that the image of the thunderbolt is found in ancient religions across the world, including Greek, Mesopotamian, and those of the Far East including in Japan. The power of our planet and nature is revealed in this shape. Please take this thunderbolt in your hands for your practice."
18.5 cm long, high-quality copper alloy. This is a rare item specially commissioned by Soke for our training: please obtain it while its still available. For ISA members only, one per member. Please apply for membership.
PRICE: $399 includes postage.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please join our email list to be updated about events.
MAY 23-26, 2024
Mountain Training at Mt. Koshikidake
Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Led by Shodo Koshikidake Soke. Special Guest: Kakudo Mitsunaga Dai-Ajari.
Mitsunaga Ajari will give kechien kanjo on the 21st.
Please inquire for more information.
JULY 26-28, 2024
Intensive Shugendo Practice Weekend in Switzerland
Shugendo intensive training weekend in the village of Chironico in Ticino.
Perfect for beginners, this training will include lecture regarding the meaning and purpose of Shugendo,
he Jukkai Shugyo (Ten Realms training), and more. We will experience practice in nature, takigyo (waterfall training),
along with various meditation and ritual practices including extended mantra recitation.
Note that the hiking portion of this year's training is much less rigorous than our usual mountain training,
and this event is open to persons with no experience. Organized by International Shugendo Association.
Details and regisration here. Questions, please contact Myoen Ciucci: nicole.ciucci@vtxmail.ch
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