The beauty of Koyasan

[Luke]

I saw this video of Koyasan a long time ago and I was deeply moved by it. Koyasan looks like such a powerful and beautiful place. In a world which is full of suffering, Koyasan is like an island of peace and purity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s2FT32A ... re=related

Does anyone know what the mantra being chanted in the video is? Is it a real Shingon mantra/chant?

People could also post any other pictures, videos, or first-hand accounts of Koyasan in this thread.

[tktru]

I saw this video of Koyasan a long time ago and I was deeply moved by it. Koyasan looks like such a powerful and beautiful place. In a world which is full of suffering, Koyasan is like an island of peace and purity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s2FT32A ... re=related

Does anyone know what the mantra being chanted in the video is? Is it a real Shingon mantra/chant?

People could also post any other pictures, videos, or first-hand accounts of Koyasan in this thread.

It sounds new-agey/Tibetan. Ask the Tibetan Buddhism section

And yes, Koyasan is a glorious place of refuge, cultivation and reflection. I hope to be able to go there when my training is finished.

[Yogicfire]

A friend of mine was disappointed in Koyasan. He couldn't get past the material while he was there. I suspect that was as much to do with him as with Koyasan.

You do have all the shops, the trinkets, the cards, and everything else, as well as paying for accommodation, etc. I think it can be a bit of a shock to the system if your expectations are so high. I want to go sometime soon, and I am sure that there are some refuges to be found, but it might take some finding.

Thinking back, Kyoto was a disappointment for me because of all the hustle and bustle of the town. With the big tourist spots like Koyasan and Kyoto, you need to focus in on where you want to go, and filter out all the external distractions.

[Jikan]

Does anyone know what the mantra being chanted in the video is? Is it a real Shingon mantra/chant?

It sounds new-agey/Tibetan. Ask the Tibetan Buddhism section

It sounds like it could be a kind of shomyo. Just speculating.

EDIT: no.

[kirtu]

Does anyone know what the mantra being chanted in the video is?

OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU PEDME SIDDHI HUNG

(pronounced OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEDME SIDDHI HUNG)

It is one of the main mantras of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, the prince from Oddiyana who brought tantric Buddhism to Tibet. I have this music on one of my CD's and it is sung by a lama. It is not clear at first what is being sung but I have heard it previously for many hours as I used to play that CD a lot and I played it for my cats as they entered their final stages of life.

Is it a real Shingon mantra/chant?

It's a Tibetan Buddhist mantra.

Kirt Undercoffer

[Luke]

[quote="kirtu"]
OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU PEDME SIDDHI HUNG

...I have this music on one of my CD's and it is sung by a lama.
[quote]
Thanks, Kirtu. No wonder I liked it so much! hehe.

But this still leaves me curious as to what real Shingon mantras and chants sound like.

[Tatsuo]

But this still leaves me curious as to what real Shingon mantras and chants sound like.

Take this for example:

It's from Shingonshū Buzanha and not Koyasan Shingonshū. The chanting is Yakushi Nyorais Mantra (skt. Bhaisajyaguru) "On koro koro sendari matōgi sowaka".

[enjitsu]

But this still leaves me curious as to what real Shingon mantras and chants sound like.

Take this for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfzZNOj0cVQ
It's from Shingonshū Buzanha and not Koyasan Shingonshū. The chanting is Yakushi Nyorais Mantra (skt. Bhaisajyaguru) "On koro koro sendari matōgi sowaka".

Tatsuo,

It is a violation of the rules of Buddhism to teach mudra's, mantra's, dharani, mikkyo etc., publically, this includes online.

Enjitsu

[Tatsuo]

Not all mantras etc. Look at the page of the Shingon Buddhist International Institute (http://www.shingon.org/ritual/daily.html) or at the Book 'Shingon Esoteric Buddhism: A Handbook for Followers', written by Yusei Arai, the Administrative Chief Priest of Koyasan Shingonshu and authorized by Koyasan Shingon Mission. The Mantra "On koro koro sendari matōgi sowaka" in included in both (and obviously publicly chanted. Not to mention, that no monk seemed to care about the camera)

[eijo]

But this still leaves me curious as to what real Shingon mantras and chants sound like.

Take this for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfzZNOj0cVQ
It's from Shingonshū Buzanha and not Koyasan Shingonshū. The chanting is Yakushi Nyorais Mantra (skt. Bhaisajyaguru) "On koro koro sendari matōgi sowaka".

Tatsuo,

It is a violation of the rules of Buddhism to teach mudra's, mantra's, dharani, mikkyo etc., publically, this includes online.

Enjitsu

That may be true for some mantras, but not for all. Some are public and published by authoritative entities, as was noted.

Enjitsu, if you feel so strongly about this, why do you have an avatar that publicly posts the single most important Shingon mantra in its mandala?

[Su DongPo]

OK, here goes. Forgive the naïveté, and I don't intend to be offensive, but why the need for secrecy at all? It doesn't seem compatible with the Dharma in its basic form, as taught openly and freely by Shakyamuni Buddha for forty years, and by countless disciples since.

[Blue Garuda]

OK, here goes. Forgive the naïveté, and I don't intend to be offensive, but why the need for secrecy at all? It doesn't seem compatible with the Dharma in its basic form, as taught openly and freely by Shakyamuni Buddha for forty years, and by countless disciples since.

Well, I can think of two reasons:

Pronunciation is important. It is important to receive this from a guru in the language used by the lineage you wish to follow. For example, whilst the example given in the earlier post may be a 'Tibetan' mantra, it is in Sanskrit and may be pronounced very differently from what may be assumed from merely reading it. For example, 'Vajra' is pronounced 'Benza' by Tibetans.

Secondly, without an understanding of the deity and purpose to which the mantra relates, it is not entirely pointless, but almost so. Gurus teach us mantras for a purpose and are able to decide on our readiness to perform the practices associated with them. A mantra may encapsulate a whole sadhana practice, and have associated visualisations etc.

An online source may be incorrect, lack context and offer a practice indiscriminately.
Didn't Buddha discriminate between teaching villagers and his core disciples, in terms of style and content?

A mantra chanted incorrectly but with pure intention is still powerful, but a mantra chanted incorrectly and with no undertsanding of its purpose (and therefore intention) is about as useful as chanting the telephone directory.

Even the simplest of words, 'OM', actually has four sound components 'A' 'U' 'M' 'N' (five if you count the silence between the words). Each of the components has a very precise pronunciation according to the culture and lineage of those teaching it.

Anyway, maybe we should return to the topic.

[Su DongPo]

Anyway, maybe we should return to the topic.

Yes, indeed! I began reading the thread because I may visit Koyasan in Feburary or in August of 2011. I am prepared for the "necessary hell realm" of tourism kitsch and am already busy tuning it out --



If I can find affordable temple lodging in the world heritage area, I will try to stay there, but prices appear to be beyond -- sometimes waaaaay beyond -- my academic budget. Hmm, maybe a capsule hotel in Wakayama instead?

Will report back as events dictate.

[Dodatsu]

Anyway, maybe we should return to the topic.

Yes, indeed! I began reading the thread because I may visit Koyasan in Feburary or in August of 2011. I am prepared for the "necessary hell realm" of tourism kitsch and am already busy tuning it out --



If I can find affordable temple lodging in the world heritage area, I will try to stay there, but prices appear to be beyond -- sometimes waaaaay beyond -- my academic budget. Hmm, maybe a capsule hotel in Wakayama instead?

Will report back as events dictate.

Actually Koyasan is good enough for a day-trip from Osaka or even Kyoto so unless you are really willing to spend for a night's accommodation, a day trip from Osaka/Kyoto using the "Kansai Thru Pass" http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/index.html should be more than suffice.

[Su DongPo]

Interesting. I have never been to Osaka or Koyasan, so a couple of days with the transit pass might be just the thing. Plus I have homies in Kyoto I must visit, so maybe I'll do a circuit. I know summer is hot and humid, but I live on a tropical island a few hours south so I can bear it, I think.