Robin Beck

Yakuo-bo's Studies at Seicho-ji

Nichiren's Training at Seicho-ji
Life and legends of Nichiren

Stone of Tears and 1000 Year Old Cedar

Yakuo-bo's mother was barred from visiting her son because women were not regulartly permitted on the grounds of the Seichoji Temple Compound at Mt. Kiyosumi.

One day, she was sitting on a large stone by the mountain road, lamenting. An employee of the temple was out gathering firewood and happened by. He took pity and agreed to go fetch her son.

Yakuo-bo may have been embarrassed. He had left home to become a monk. He felt that seeing his mother now was like looking for a stone after having thrown it away. But he was moved by her affection and agreed to see her.

Yakuo-bo explained to his mother that he wanted to become a priest to save all people, including his mother and father, from suffering.

It is said that Mother Umegiku was so moved by her son's words that she shed tears of joy, wetting the stone. This "Stone of Tears" is still there. There is also a 1000 year old government protected cedar tree located on the temple grounds. The tree was already nearly 200 years old when Zennichi{Nichiren} was there.

Yakuo-bo's Studies

Most likely Yakuo-bo primarily studied Heian Buddhism --Tendai-Hokke, Tendai-Mikkyo {Taimitsu, and Shingon-Mikkyo {Tomitsu}; along with the older Nara Buddhism such as Kegon, Hosso, Ritsu, etc., as well as Confucianism. The native Shintoism would have been an impilicit part of this.

I am fairly sure that Yakuo-bo’s training would not have included martial arts. Kendo {”way of the sword”; Japanese fencing} would have been out; as Tendai monks of that time were forbidden to carry weapons. While Seichoji had a seminary to train monks, I doubt there was a convent or other facilities for women.

He undoubtedly learned Tendai Shikan {Samatha-Vipashyana}. However neither the Zen minimalist version known as shikan taza (“just sitting”) zazen; nor koan contemplation, were likely part of his training. Also, he probably learned Contemplative Nembutsu; but not the simplified devotional version of Shan-tao and Honen.

HG Lamont has written: “These were his main points of focus:
1. As life is impermanent, what is the most sound philosophy of life?

2. Though the teachings of the one Buddha Shakyamuni, the World Honored One, has branches of eight or ten sects, which is the correct one?"

"3. At the time of the Jokyu Disturbance (Japanese: Jokyu no Ran”), the Emperor and the retired emperors attempted to overthrow the Kamakura Shogunate. They had the priests of the Tendai and Shingon sects place a curse upon the Hojo’s. But Hojo Yoshitoki, an enemy of the Imperial Court, crushed the Emperor’s army without asking for any divine assistance. Why was the Imperial side defeated?"

"Also, the common people suffered from disasters, plagues and famine which continued year after year. How could they stop the misfortunes and become happy?” -- The Life and Times of St. Nichiren Shonin, From the Analects of the Kempon Hokke-Jumonryu

Yakuo-bo's namesake, Yakuo Bosatsu

Yakuo-bo's namesake, Yakuo Bosatsu {Bhaisajyaraja, Medicine King} is an ancient healing Bodhisattva who is sometimes considered an emanation of Kanzeon . Medicine King is mentioned in several chapters of the Lotus Sutra; and there is a chapter {23} dedicated to him.

He is the elder brother of Yaku-jo {Superior Medicine Bodhisattva.} Yakuo also appears on Nichiren's Great Mandala, along with Miroku, Fugen, and Monju; as one of four {4} beings representing the provisional Bodhisattvas.

Posted by rbeck at December 15, 2006 12:58 AM