The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

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如傑優婆塞
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The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

Post by 如傑優婆塞 »

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旧正御影供 Kyūshōmieku (Solar Commemoration, 21st March)

My life will not last much longer. Live harmoniously and preserve with care the teachings of the Buddha.
I am returning to [Kōyasan] to remain there forever.


According to Shingon tradition, while in the capital the previous year (in May 834) Kūkai gathered his disciples around him and said, “My life will not last much longer. Live harmoniously and preserve with care the teachings of the Buddha. I am returning to [Kōyasan] to remain there forever.” (MW, 59). It is at about this time that his close disciple Prince Shinnyo, third son of former Emperor Heizei, is believed to have painted his portrait. In September 834, Kūkai selected his burial place at the eastern end of Kōyasan where the stream Tamagawa flows out of a small side valley formed by three mountains. Kūkai thought this area to be the most beautiful at Kōyasan and the most conducive to meditation.

Disciple Shinzei tells the end of the story: ‘From the first month [of 835], he drank no water. Someone advised him to take certain herbs as the human body is readily subject to decay and a celestial cook came day after day and offered him nectar, but he declined even these, saying that he had no use for human food. At midnight on the twenty-first day of the third month, Master Kūkai, lying on his right side, breathed his last. One or two of his disciples knew he had been suffering from a carbuncle. In accordance with his will, Kūkai, clad in robes, was interred on the Eastern Peak. He was sixty-two years of age.’ (MW, 59-60)

Chapter Three: The Life and Legend of Kōbō-Daishi (Kūkai): The 'Death' of Kūkai, pages 71-2 Sacred Kōyasan: A Pilgrimage to the Mountain Temple of Saint Kōbō-Daishi and the Great Sun Buddha
如傑優婆塞
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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

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Okunoin (J: 奥の院), located at Kōyasan in Wakayama Prefecture is the abode of Kōbō-Daishi's (774 C.E - 835 C.E) ‘eternal samadhi’ and where his mausoleum (J: 御廟; Gobyō) is. Along with him are over 200,000 graves, many dating back to his time & up until now, it is reputed to be Japan's most famed and populated burial site where new ones are still being added by individuals, families and corporations. It's accessible from its traditional entrance at the 'First Bridge' (J: 一の橋; Ichinohashi) which leads to a 'Middle Bridge' (J: 中の橋; Nakano-hashi) and culminates at the 'Mausoleum Bridge' (J: 御廟の橋; Gobyōnohashi), where all forms of photography & videography are prohibited from this point on. Another shorter route is at 'Front of Okunoin' (J: 奥の院前; Okunoin mae).
如傑優婆塞
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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

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如傑優婆塞
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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

Post by GDPR_Anonymized001 »

Great posts, thank you 如傑優婆塞!

Okunoin is also home to the last cho marker for the Choishimichi trail. Don't let the video fool you, it takes more than 11 minutes to complete the pilgrimage :)

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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

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如傑優婆塞 wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2019 4:00 pm (J: 奥の院前; Okunoin mae).
You miss the beautiful walk that really enhances the mindset on reaching Okunoin. That walk is amazing.
There is no suffering to be severed. Ignorance and klesas are indivisible from bodhi. There is no cause of suffering to be abandoned. Since extremes and the false are the Middle and genuine, there is no path to be practiced. Samsara is nirvana. No severance achieved. No suffering nor its cause. No path, no end. There is no transcendent realm; there is only the one true aspect. There is nothing separate from the true aspect.
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
如傑優婆塞
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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

Post by 如傑優婆塞 »

Today is the Japanese Lunar Kyūshōmieku celebration (also corresponding with the Chinese Lunar calendar of the 3rd Month, 21st Day).
Here's some highlights of the event as seen here & here
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Re: The Kyūshōmieku (旧正御影供) of Kōbō-Daishi

Post by 如傑優婆塞 »

Past videos on the all day (one video below featuring a day time processional of the ordained at the Okunoin Mausoleum area) & evening of the Lunar Kyūshōmieku, where in the evening part, all shrines halls at the Kōyasan Danjo Garan area (J: 壇上伽藍) will be open with ceremonies and the faithful will gather to join in and light candles. All temples on this mountain will place out special decorative plants and leave their main door post lanterns on throughout the night in commemoration.
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