Shōkū

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Shōkū (1147-1247), sometimes called Seizan was a disciple of Hōnen, founder of the Jodo Shu Buddhist sect. Shoku later succeeded another disciple of Hōnen, Jōhen as the head of a former Shingon Buddhist temple, Eikandō, established a separate branch of Jodo Shu called the Seizan branch (after its namesake), and completed the conversion of Eikandō from a Shingon temple into a Jodo Shu one.

[edit] Biography

According to the temple's biography, Shoku was born into a noble family, but by 14 years of age. According to legend, his mother stood before a famous bridge to have his fortune told. At that time, a monk passed by chanting the Lotus Sutra, which convinced her that he should be a priest. It was then that Shoku studied under Hōnen for 23 years. Later in life, he became a disciple of Jōhen, who had recently converted from the Shingon faith to the Jodo Shu faith, subsequently converting the Eikandō as well. Later Shoku took over as head of this temple, and fully converted the temple into a Jodo Shu temple, and began the Seizan branch.

After Honen had died, Shoku also studied Tendai and esoteric Shingon Buddhism extensively with a focus on Pure Land teachings and practices. He wrote an extensive commentary on the Taima Mandala at the invitation of the head priest there.

The temple biography mentions that Shoku was very intense in his study and practice, and would recite the nembutsu up to 60,000 times a day, in addition to other ascetic practices. Shoku described his practice of the nembutsu as Shiraki no Nembutsu, meaning that after studying the Buddhist sutras extensively, and engaging in other Buddhist practices, one should then recite the nembutsu with their whole heart. This echoes the words of Hōnen where one should study Buddhist teachings, but then return to the humble self to be saved by Amida Buddha.

This approach to Pure Land Buddhism won favor among the established Tendai sects, and so Shoku was one of the few of Hōnen's disciples who was not exiled or executed in the year 1207.

[edit] References

Eikandō's official website Contains history of Jodo Shu, the Seizan branch and Shoku
Hattori, Sho-on (2001). A Raft from the Other Shore : Honen and the Way of Pure Land Buddhism. Jodo Shu Press. ISBN 4883633292.
The Taima Mandala Image of the Pure Land from a medieval Japanese scroll, based on the descriptions found in the Contemplation Sutra. This site offers explanations in English of the various motifs of the scroll.
The History of Honen's Disciples