What is Shugendo? A Simple Introduction 

Shugendo (修験道) is a Dharma tradition characterised by combinatory ritual-practice and mountain-asceticism. At its basic level, Shugendo refers to a path of cultivation and the testimony of wakefulness.

Buddha-Dharma is a teaching of cause-and-effect concerned with developing aspiration, self-scrutiny, discernment and insight in regards to the nature of reality (self and phenomena), with 'knowing one's mind as it truly is', and with addressing epistemological misunderstandings in regards to duḥkha. Among the various doorways and vehicles of the Buddha-Dharma, Shugen can be said to be an expression of the Mahāyāna conception of the One Vehicle, orientated towards the cultivation of the Bodhisattva path, built upon the bedrock of what can be referred to as ancient and pre-modern mountain-faith, re-contextualised as skillful-means.

Shugendo's defining methods are based around periodic retreats involving the ritual entering of the mountain-as-maṇḍala, summed up in our lineage as the training of the three barriers and three crossings. Shugen can be said to possess, in the words of Riten Tanaka, a glocal outlook, combining both global/universal and localised/particular approaches to doctrine, faith and practice. 

Another important aspect of Shugendo is that it is a tradition orientated towards the householder, though formal paths of commitment into ordination (tokudō) and initiation (abhiṣeka) do exist. In the gate of ordination, retreat is complimented and deepened through the anchor of ritual-practice (sādhanā) taught in the context of the teacher-student relationship. These include various altar practices, such as homa and pūjā, as well as mindful-recollection and contemplation. 

Due to Shugen's historical intertwining with esoteric-Buddhism (East Asian Tantra/Vajrayāna), abhiṣeka, sādhanā and the direct teacher-disciple relationship are considered paramount. The esoteric approach  - an expression of the Mahāyāna orientation - is characterised by yoga; the adhiṣṭhāna of the three-mysteries and the practice of the principal image.

Questions are welcome. Find further introductions here. 

— ubasoku | what is shugendo?