Myōe
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Myōe (Japanese: 明恵) (1173-1232), was a Japanese Buddhist monk active during the Kamakura period who also went by the name Kōben (Japanese: 高弁). He was originally ordained in the Shingon school, although in the latter half of his career he served as abbot of Kōzanji, a temple of the Kegon sect. In Medieval Japan it was not uncommon for monks to be ordained in multiple sectarian lineages, and Myōe alternately signed his treatises and correspondence as a monk of either school through much of his career. Myōe is perhaps most famous for his contributions to the practice and dissemination of the Mantra of Light, a mantra associated with Shingon Buddhism. Myōe also kept a journal of his dreams that was held in high regard by later Japanese Buddhists.
During his lifetime he was a scathing critic of Pure Land Buddhism, which was developing under the influence of Myōe's contemporary Honen. As a counter to the increasingly popular nembutsu practice, Myōe sought to promote the Mantra of Light as a practice that would be easily accessible to masses while avoiding, what he considered, "heretical" practices such as Pure Land Buddhism.
Myōe also sought to restore the strict monastic practices originally taught by the Buddha. His administration of Kōzanji was marked by strict adherence to the moral precepts for him and his monks, and an equally strict regiment of chanting and meditation. It was Myōe's intention to reform monastic practices at the time, which increasingly developed a reputation for materialism and corruption.
Myōe was also flexible and often adopted practices from other Buddhist sects, notably Zen, if it proved useful. Myōe had intended to go to China to learn more about Buddhism early in his career, but for reasons not fully understood, cancelled both trips.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Mark Unno: Shingon Refractions: Myōe and the Mantra of Light. Somerville MA, USA: Wisdom Publications, 2004 ISBN 0-86171-390-7
