Dear O-Henro ... Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Today we will visit the 80th temple on the Shikoku trail, Sanuki Kokobun-ji, and that's the start of our last stage for this pilgrimage.
As you could have read in the last few post I have started a new feature named "Ghost-Writers" and I am glad that two of our family-members of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai already have said that they will be Ghost-Writer in week 15. Jules and Managua have emailed me that have taken the challenge to write a post as "Ghost-Writer". I am glad they did ... their posts will really be a joy to read I think ... we will see.
Sanuki Kokubun-ji (讃岐国分寺?) is an Omuro Shingon temple in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The provincial temple of former Sanuki Province and Temple 80 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage, it is said to have been founded by Gyōki in 741. The main image is of Senjū Kannon and Juichimen. Around Senju also known as Guanyin there are a lot of legends I love to share here two of those legends.The first is "Guanyin and the Thousand Arms" and the second is "Guanyin and Shancai"
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| Sanuki Kokubun-ji (temple 80) |
Guanyin and
the Thousand Arms:
One
Buddhist legend from the Complete Tale of Guanyin and the Southern Seas presents Guanyin as vowing to never rest until
she had freed all sentient beings from the samsara or reincarnation. Despite
strenuous effort, she realized that there were still many unhappy beings yet to
be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, her head split
into eleven pieces. The buddha Amitabha, upon seeing her plight, gave her
eleven heads to help her hear the cries of those who are suffering. Upon
hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokitesvara attempted to reach
out to all those who needed aid, but found that her two arms shattered into
pieces. Once more, Amitabha came to her aid and appointed her a thousand arms
to let her reach out to those in need. Many Himalayan versions of the tale
include eight arms with which Avalokitesvara skillfully upholds the Dharma,
each possessing its own particular implement, while more Chinese-specific
versions give varying accounts of this number.
Guanyin and
Shancai:
Legend has it that Shancai (also called Sudhana in Sanskrit) was a disabled boy from India who was very interested in studying the dharma. When he heard that there was a Buddhist teacher on the rocky island of Putuo he quickly journeyed there to learn. Upon arriving at the island, he managed to find Guanyin despite his severe disability.
Legend has it that Shancai (also called Sudhana in Sanskrit) was a disabled boy from India who was very interested in studying the dharma. When he heard that there was a Buddhist teacher on the rocky island of Putuo he quickly journeyed there to learn. Upon arriving at the island, he managed to find Guanyin despite his severe disability.
Guanyin, after having a discussion with Shancai, decided to test the boy's
resolve to fully study the Buddhist teachings. She conjured the illusion of
three sword-wielding pirates running up the hill to attack her. Guanyin took
off and dashed to the edge of a cliff, the three illusions still chasing her.
Shancai, seeing that his teacher was in danger, hobbled uphill. Guanyin then jumped over the edge of the cliff, and soon after this the three bandits followed. Shancai, still wanting to save his teacher, managed to crawl his way over the cliff edge.
Shancai fell down the cliff but was halted in midair by Guanyin, who now asked him to walk. Shancai found that he could walk normally and that he was no longer crippled. When he looked into a pool of water he also discovered that he now had a very handsome face. From that day forth, Guanyin taught Shancai the entire dharma.
Shancai, seeing that his teacher was in danger, hobbled uphill. Guanyin then jumped over the edge of the cliff, and soon after this the three bandits followed. Shancai, still wanting to save his teacher, managed to crawl his way over the cliff edge.
Shancai fell down the cliff but was halted in midair by Guanyin, who now asked him to walk. Shancai found that he could walk normally and that he was no longer crippled. When he looked into a pool of water he also discovered that he now had a very handsome face. From that day forth, Guanyin taught Shancai the entire dharma.
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| Temple devoted to Guanyin in Surabaya Indonesia |
There are a lot of Buddhistic Legends and Tales, so maybe I will use a few of them in our upcoming Carpe Diem month about Legend, Myth and Saga next May.
Really nice stories full of devotion and spirituality. It is said that Chinese fishermen pray to Guanyin with the Thousand Arms to have a save trip and to come home save. It is obvious that Buddhism one of the most important religions is in the Far Eastern countries and that the Buddhistic boddhisattvas have more than one name in those regions.
many names
for the same boddhisattvas -
one religion
for the same boddhisattvas -
one religion
(c) Chèvrefeuille
Another one more in the sphere of the traditional haiku-art:
Another one more in the sphere of the traditional haiku-art:
fishermen praying
to have a good catch and return save -
koi carp pond
to have a good catch and return save -
koi carp pond
(c) Chèvrefeuille
To conclude this episode another wonderful photo of Sanuki Kokubun-ji Temple.
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| Sanuki Kokubun-ji (temple 80) |
boddhisattvas gather
in front of Sanuki Kokubun-ji
guiding pilgrims
in front of Sanuki Kokubun-ji
guiding pilgrims
(c) Chèvrefeuille
This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open for your submissions until March 27th 11.59 AM (CET). I will (try to) publish our new episode, Negoro-ji (temple 82), later on today.
Have fun, be inspired and share your haiku with us all here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.
Namaste
Really this was an intricate haibun, and the arrangement of interesting text, dedicated and sincere haiku made this a very nice read indeed.
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