Hey there, Haven't seen much on the subject around here...thought I'd share some info on this awesome philosophy.. Hope you guys enjoy. I am a lover of the sacred mountains...There truly is nothing like being on top of the world. Here's a cool little text before I start: Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambitions to achieve. They are grand and pure, the houses of my religion. I approach them as any human goes to worship. From the vantage of their lofty summits, I view my past, dream of the future, and with unusual acuteness, I experience the present moment. In their presence I attempt to understand life, and to exorcise vanity, greed, and fear. In the mountains I celebrate creation, for on each journey I am reborn. Now, here's some info for you guys on the subject.. Shugendo Shugendō is an old Japanese religion in which enlightenment is obtained through the study of the relationship between Man and Nature. Shugendō literally means "the path of training and testing." It centers on an ascetic, mountain-dwelling lifestyle and incorporates teachings from Koshintō (ancient Shinto), Buddhism and other eastern philosophies including folk animism. Shugendo practitioners are the most direct lineage descendants of the ancient hijiri of the eight and ninth centuries. The focus or goal of shugendō is the development of spiritual experience and power. Those who practice shugendō are referred in two ways. One term, shugenja, is derived from the term "shugendō" much as "Buddhist" describes a follower of Buddha or Christian a follower of Christ, though the term centers on an idea as opposed to a person. The other term, yamabushi means "one who lies in the mountains". Modern shugenja in Japan and throughout the world are known to self-actualize their spiritual power in experiential form through challenging and rigorous ritualistic tests of courage and devotion known as shugyo. Pilgrimages involving mountain treks (Mts Ominé, Dewa, Hakusan, etc in Japan) are embarked upon by shugenja and, through the experience of each trek, as well as years of study, "rank" is earned within the sect. The rituals are kept secret from the neophyte shugenja and the world at large. This denju ensures the true faith of the neophytes and maintains the fear of the unknown as they embark upon the austere journey. This secrecy was also borne out of previous episodes of persecution and oppression of shugenja as a threat to the ruling military hegemony. Many modern shugenja maintain the practice of relative anonymity in their daily lives. Links on Shugendo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugendo http://members.shaw.ca/shugendo/intro.html http://arvigarus.bravehost.com/main.htm Yamabushi Yamabushi (Literally: "One who lies/hides in the mountains") are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long tradition as endowed with supernatural powers and mighty warriors. They follow the Shugendō doctrine, an integration of mainly esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon sect and Shinto elements. For the most part solitary, they did form loose confederations, and associations with certain temples, and also participated in battles and skirmishes alongside samurai and sōhei on occasion. Their origins can be traced back to the solitary hijiriof the eight and ninth centuries. Shingon Buddhism was one of the primary sects of mikkyo or Esoteric Buddhism, according to which enlightenment is found through isolation, and the study and contemplation of oneself, as well as nature, and esoteric images called mandala. In their mountain retreats, these monks studied not only nature and religious/spiritual texts and images, but also a variety of martial arts. Whether they felt they had to defend themselves from bandits, other monks, or samurai armies is questionable, but the idea of studying martial arts as a means to improve onself mentally and spiritually, not just physically, has always been central to Japanese culture, outside from the specific tenets of one religious sect or another. Yamabushi also served as sendatsu, or spiritual guides, since medieval times for pilgrims along the Kumano Kodo to the Kumano Sanzan, included retired emperors and aristocrats. In addition to their spiritual or mystical abilities, yamabushi are often attributed with being skilled practitioners of ninjutsu, the art of the ninja. The mountain monks are known to have hired ninja to fight alongside them, and to aid them in various, more clandestine ways. Links on Yamabushi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamabushi http://arvigarus.bravehost.com/history_004.htm Well thank you for reading and I hope some of you find this stuff as interesting as I do! Enjoy, and nice to meet you all.
