道元禅師：2024年9月7日（土）
道元禅師は曹洞宗の開祖である。鎌倉時代の1200年に京都で生まれ，8歳のときに母を亡くし，14歳で比叡山で出家した。建仁寺の栄西のもとで禅を学び，その後，中国（宋）の如浄禅師のもとで正伝仏法を学び，帰国後に『正法眼蔵』を著した。45歳のときに越前（福井県）に永平寺を創建した。
私が現在住んでいる京都市下京区油小路通高辻の近くに「道元禅師示寂の地」（54歳で生涯を閉じた場所）がある（上の写真参照，筆者撮影，2024.9.3）。
曹洞宗のご本尊はお釈迦さま（釈迦牟尼仏）である。お釈迦さまは，今から約2,500年前にネパールの釈迦族の王子として生まれ，姓名はゴータマ・シッダールタとされる。その教えは，諸行無常，諸法無我，涅槃静寂，一切苦行などである。曹洞宗の基本は，お釈迦さまを礼拝し，仏法僧の三宝を礼拝し，その教えを拠り所にして精進して生きることに尽きる。中国禅宗の臨済宗が幕府や貴族階級などの信仰を得たのに対して，曹洞宗は地方豪族や一般民衆の帰依を受けたとされている。
一方，密教天台宗には千日回峰行という比叡山内で行う厳しい修業があり，これを満たしたものは「北嶺大先達大行満大阿闍梨」と称せられる。日本で大阿闍梨はこれまでに数人しかいない。京都のお土産で有名な「阿闍梨餅」は大阿闍梨に因んでいる。
仏教の修行僧は，宗派にかかわらず，日々，厳しい精神の鍛錬に精進していて大変だ。一般に，僧侶は，釣りに興じて檀家の法要を無断でサボったり，外国産高級車に乗って檀家の法要に出向くこともできない。精進して生きるということは大変なことだ。
Zen Master Dogen: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Master Dogen was the founder of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. He was born in Kyoto in 1200 during the Kamakura period. He lost his mother at the age of 8 and entered the priesthood at Mt. Hiei at 14. He studied Zen under Eisai at Kenninji Temple, and later, he studied the authentic Buddhist teachings in China (Song Dynasty) under Zen Master Nyojyo. After returning to Japan, he wrote the Shobogenzo. At the age of 45, he founded Eiheiji Temple in Echizen (now Fukui Prefecture).
The place where Dogen Zenji passed away at the age of 54 is located near Aburanokoji-dori Takatsuji in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, where I currently live (see the photo above, taken by the author on September 3, 2024).
The principal deity of the Soto school is Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha was born about 2,500 years ago as a prince of the Shakya clan in what is now Nepal, and his name was Gautama Siddhartha. His teachings include the impermanence of all things, the selflessness of all phenomena, the tranquility of Nirvana, and the universality of suffering. The basic principle of the Soto school is to worship Shakyamuni Buddha, revere the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and live diligently based on these teachings. While the Rinzai school of Chinese Zen Buddhism gained the faith of the shogunate and aristocratic classes, the Soto school is said to have been embraced by local warlords and the general populace.
On the other hand, the Esoteric Tendai school has a rigorous practice called the Sennichi Kaihogyo, which is performed within Mt. Hiei. Those who complete this practice are titled "Great Teacher of the North Peak, Fully Accomplished Grand Ajari." In Japan, only a few have ever attained the rank of Grand Ajari. The famous Kyoto confection "Ajari Mochi" is named after the Grand Ajari.
Buddhist monks, regardless of sect, diligently engage in strict mental training every day, which is very demanding. Generally, monks cannot indulge in activities like fishing or skip memorial services without permission, nor can they attend memorial services in expensive foreign luxury cars. Living a diligent life is a difficult task.