Seisui-ji Temple Kannon-do

飯山観音 - Iiyama Kannon. Atsugi, Kanagawa Japan

飯山観音 - Iiyama Kannon is an 800 year old Koyasan Shingon sect Buddhist temple located in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Popular in the Kamakura period, this temple was a centre for all embracing studies linking the Shingon sect with the Tendai, Ritsu and Zen sects.

The main hall of the temple was reconstructed in the early Edo period (1600-1868). It enshrines a bronze Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu statue that dates back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333).

Young people looking for a life partner come to the temple to pray to Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu that the Buddhist god will help them to find a partner.

HORAKUAN ZEN RETREAT

Horakuan is located in the mountains of Suzaka in Japan’s Nagano prefecture. The land on which the Horakuan compound is situated is called Terakubo, referring to Seisui-ji, a former temple on the site which was built in the 15th century. Natural disasters and fires destroyed the flourishing temple. Only the former Kannon statue can be seen now in a small hall nearby.

The programs at Horakuan and Ryuyukutsu intend to resume the spiritual tradition of Seisui-ji.

25 Bodhisattvas Procession Nijugo bosatsu Oneri 二十五菩薩お練供養 泉涌寺、即成院 Kari Gröhn karigrohncom

Nijugo-bosatsu Oneri Kuyo
二十五菩薩お練供養
Sokujoin, Sennyuji, Kyoto
泉涌寺、即成院

25 Bodhisattvas Procession by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom

In this unique ceremony at Sennyuji Sokujoin temple children wear gorgeous brocade costumes and masks. They are twenty five bodhisattvas, who help all beings to find the path to salvation. The children cross the bridge between two temple buildings carrying Amida Buddha on the palanquin into the Pure Land of Happiness. Amida is the god of mercy, tolerance, clemency, generosity, and magnanimity, and it is believed that the most sinful villain will be able to go to the Pure Land by praying in Amida’s name: Namu Amida Butsu (Homage to Amida Butsu).

A bodhisattva is an individual who discovers nirvana, but postpones his own enlightenment until he has guided all his fellow beings to this same source of fulfillment. The path of the bodhisattva is thus one of extreme self-denial and selflessness. This is their great sacrifice for others. They lead all beings to liberation and will stay here till the end, even for the sake of one living soul.　

The Heian nobility adopted the belief in Amida’s coming to welcome the newly released spirit with twenty five bodhisattvas to the Pure Land. There is the special ceremony ´mukaeko` to celebrate the central hope of Amida’s coming as one is dying. When a believer faces death it is important to recite ´namu amida butsu` in the hope of birth in the Pure Land. But it is also thought that the rites on deathbed don’t compensate good life, which produces the confidence in Amida.

In an old Japanese painting the brilliant golden Amida surrounded by twenty five bodhisattvas sits cross legged in the middle while descending on a cloud to a house where a dying person lies inside. Seishi bodhisattva prays and Kannon bodhisattva holds the golden pedestal for the spirit of the deceased. All this is encircled by purple clouds, flowers, perfume, and music. Amida has a five coloured string in her hand and the other end of the string is in the hand of the dying person. Kannon is the female bodhisattva of compassion.

Another well-known bodhisattva is Jizo, the guardian deity of children. According to a common belief children who die prematurely are sent to the underworld, where they have to pile up small pebbles in a river to climb out of limbo into paradise. The work is hampered by a demon with an iron club. But there is no need to worry, since Jizo comes to the rescue and hides the children in his sleeves and helps them cross the river safely. In Japan we can see little piles of rocks around Jizo statues put by Japanese to help the suffering souls of their deceased children. Most statues of Jizo also wear red bibs or hats made by mothers who want encourage Jizo to take special care of their children's spirits.