Great Construction

Greater Vehicle-type Buddhism in Lesser Vehicle Buddhism


     Hinayama, or, as it is known in Japan, Shojo, as the original form of Buddhism is a topic about which I have written previously, but it does deserve to be understood that even among the forms of Shojo Buddhism, propensities can vary from degrees of Shojo to Mahayana-, or Daijo-like positions. Put in simple terms, it is sufficient to regard Shojo faiths as relying on self-effort and Daijo as depending on other-power. Among the various forms of Buddhism, the Zen sects and the Nichren sects are Shojo, and all the rest are Daijo. I will start my explanation with the subject of Shojo itself. Because Shojo faiths rely on personal effort or power, individual training in austerities is primary. The fundamentals of this outlook, this emphasis on personal training in austerities stem from Brahmanism. These methods are most pronounced in the Zen sects.
     In the chapter “The Origin of Buddhism,” I discussed in detail Shakyamuni’s message, which is, that in the spirit of Buddhism the austerities of Brahmanism were considered to be mistaken, and that instead, the seeker could attain satori through the reading and chanting of Buddhist holy texts, the sutras, so that what Shakyamuni taught could also be called a religion of the sutra, a religion of the book. As history shows, the Buddhist message spread throughout India in a short time. Brahmanism made no attempt to accommodate this new teaching, and there were groups that preserved faith in Brahmanism. Brahmanism steadfastly continued in its conviction and its ways of ascetic austerities were maintained. The model for that faith were the teachings of the Priest Bodhidharma. The essence of Bodhidhharma’s thought holds that it is through learning, in addition to the practice of various kinds of austerities, or, in other words, through two paths, that enlightenment is to be had.
     Several decades after Shakyamuni passed away, there appeared among the ascetics of Brahmanism one who excelled among all others. This was the layman Vimalakirti who can be considered to be the founder of the dhyana, or Zen sects, of which the main current in Japan today is the Rinzai school. Accomplishing his work in India, Vimalakirti left India and went to China, where he traveled the country to spread his teachings. His last great task was ascending Mount Wutai where he opened a school for which he is known as the founder and one of the pioneers of Taosim. Thus it can be seen that Zen did not actually spring from Buddhism, but that it most likely took on Buddhistic aspects after coming to Japan, and that for the sake of propagation, any other way would probably have been difficult. For this reason can be observed how the temples, ways of training, and the everyday lives of priests in the Zen sects differ from those of other Buddhist sects. Needless to say, the way of practicing zazen that is unique to the Zen sects was adopted from the training practices of Bodhidharma. In addition, the practice of the master giving a question and having the disciple come up with a response is fundamental in the Zen sects. In this point as well, Zen sects differ from other Buddhist sects, and this fundamental is most certainly an indication of a background born of academicism. Another phenomenon that reinforces this interpretation are the Zen priests of old in China and in Japan. Among these priests are those of high levels of learning who composed poetry that included aspects of the satori they had attained, so their form of Zen could be called poetic Zen, of which many works were composed. The works of poetry and calligraphy that remain to us today comprise a considerable amount and are greatly prized and highly valued by connoisseurs. A serene, unworldly sense comes upon viewers of their calligraphy, the writer’s character deeply impresses, and one instinctively bows in recognition of their achievement. Well-known works such as the Blue Cliff Record by the Zen priest Yuan Wu K’e Ch’in are considered among the pinnacles of Chinese art.
     The founder of the Zen sects in Japan, the monk Shuho Myocho who received the title Daito Kokushi, also established Daitokuji temple in Kyoto and left many works of incomparable greatness and style. Whether his writings or his calligraphy, they are truly Japan’s best. The priest Mugaku, who founded Engakuji temple in Kamakura, is well-known, and I particularly enjoy his calligraphy. When we observe the development of the Zen sects in such a manner, it would appear that the Zen masters should be thought of as religious scholars rather than as priests. Nowadays, the Zen sects of Japan number three, the Soto school, the Rinzai school, and the Obaku school. The Obaku school is comparatively small in Japan but quite widespread in China. My discussion of the Zen sects ends here, and next I would like to take up the subject of the Nichiren sects.
     The Nichiren sects are of course a form of Shojo Buddhism, and because they stress the practice of austerities through one’s own power or efforts, they do not place that much weight on Shakyamuni or Amida as do the other Buddhist sects. As is well known, followers seek to strengthen their own power through austerities and worship that is centered on their founder, Saint Nichiren. It can be said that the Nichiren sects have exceeded the ideas of the Buddhism of Shakyamuni to draw upon the currents in Brahmanism. Saint Nichiren said, “I am an ascetic of The Lotus Sutra,” and the language of this ascetic is one that comes out of Brahmanism. Even so, Saint Nichiren put much weight on the sutras of Shakyamuni, as can be understood from the fact that the Nichiren sects base their teaching on the twenty-eight chapters of The Lotus Sutra. It could be said that Saint Nichiren followed Brahmanism in spirit but in form learned from Shakyamuni. The Nichiren sects are those that encourage spiritual possession the most and take it to be one of the primary forms of training. Such is not of Buddhism but of Brahmanism.

    Creation of Civilization, unpublished manuscript, 1952
translated by cynndd