TRAINING IN NATURE

Mountain Training, a central focus of Shugendo for centuries and perhaps its best-known practice, is conducted at several places in Japan.  But now recognized Shugendo training places have also been established at natural areas in North America and Europe, and we are using these regularly.

During these outdoor trainings conducted throughout the year, mountains, valleys, and forests become places of meditation and mirrors revealing our intrinsic wisdom and compassion. Through ritual and ascetic practices like takigyo - meditation under waterfalls - the Shugendo practitioners purify themselves and awaken to a new life.

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Shugendo is truly a way to be reborn through nature.​

For more details regarding our curricula for both lay and ordained practitioners, please see the Curriculum page.

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DAILY PRACTICE

Shugendo practitioners learn many meditation and ritual practices integrating the "three mysteries" of body, speech, and mind - mudra, mantra, and visualization. These are studied in a graduated curriculum that begins with recitation of basic sutras and mantras and then progressively introduces the student to more complex practices. Perhaps the most famous practice is the Shugen goma, the fire ceremony, a form of deity yoga centered on Buddhist figures such as Fudo Myo-o.

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Anyone can study these things if they have sufficient time and diligence. Ordination and kegyo - immersive periods of residential practice - are required to learn beyond a basic level. But Shugendo is historically a tradition centered outside monasteries. This means that you need not be a full-time monastic or professional clergy to learn mikkyo (vajrayana) and other hidden practices. The most important thing is your own dedication and effort. If you are committed and willing to work hard over time, there is a path open to you.

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For more details regarding our curricula for both lay and ordained practitioners, please see the Curriculum page.

COMMUNITY

Community is central to Shugendo in two ways.

First, we practice together. People from many walks of life can meet "on the mountain" - within the circle of our training -  where they support one another. In our way of thinking, none succeeds unless all succeed. 

Second, we practice not only for ourselves but for all beings: though we enter places of solitude to test ourselves, we return again to society to apply our practice for the benefit of all. This is the Shugendo way.

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Shugendo is based upon respect and friendship. When you enter this path, you join a spiritual family.