Observations placeholder
Myōe – The 'three mysteries' (sanmitsu)
Identifier
021377
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
From Shingon Refractions – Professor Mark Unno
Myoe, having rejected the authority of existing historical lineages, could appeal to the cosmic dimension of Mahavairocana's exposition at the level of the dharma body. Such concepts as the buddha bodies and the mystic power of the buddhas and their associated practices enabled Myoe to bring to life his own sense of belonging to the lineage of celestial beings. The appeal to the cosmic or mythic dimension within the existing Shingon view of lineage made it easier for him to take the next logical leap in terms of religious authority, which was to appeal directly to the buddhas and bodhisattvas, those divine figures who appeared so frequently in his thoughts, dreams, and visions. He may have been ordained in orthodox historical lineages, but he considered that the real dharma was transmitted to him by cosmic and celestial beings. The "three mysteries" (sanmitsu) in the following refers to the body, speech, and mind of the practitioner becoming infused with the body, speech, and mind of the buddhas. As Myoe explains,
When there are sentient beings who even hear just some of the syllables of this mantra, all of the virtues of the tathagatas' great wisdom and compassion are bestowed on them. [In the Sino-Japanese compound kaji,"mystic power,"
- The first character] ka signifies "adding" to sentient beings the virtue of the tathagatas' great wisdom and compassion.
- The second character ji signifies that the tathagatas "grasp and hold" the sentient beings. The meaning of ji, "to hold," should also be applied to the sentient beings [who hold what has been added to them].