As the head priest of Seattle Koyasan, a full ordained Koyasan Shingon monk for 33 years and one of the 53rd generation disciples of Kobo Daishi, I would like to provide my thought on how we position meditation in our temple’s practice and clarify the changes related to meditation, ensuring that our approach remains aligned with the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha and Kobo Daishi.

First of all, if we call ourselves Buddhists, Shingon Buddhism should be a teaching which is also aligned with what Shakyamuni Buddha taught. Otherwise, Shingon Buddhism can be a cult or something else not Buddhism. Then, how did the Buddha teach about meditation? He taught that meditation should be practiced by people who live their lives in accordance with the Buddhist precepts. It means meditation is a practice that shouldn’t be induced to random people whose lifestyle is not aware of the Buddhist precepts.

Step 1. Kai / 戒 (Precepts: to make effort to live one’s life free from the 3 poisons; Selfishness/Anger/Ignorance)

Step 2. Jo / 定  (Meditation: observing one’s mind which is sound and calm by Step 1)

Step 3. E / 慧  (Wisdom: wisdom, hopefully Enlightenment, is attained as the result of rich meditation based on Step 1).

This is the fundamental three steps through the entire Buddhist traditions. Without keeping the Buddhist precepts, or at least without making effort to live our lives observing Buddhist precepts, meditation is useless. What I want all of us to remember is that Seattle Koyasan is not a MacDonalised “mindfulness center”, but a traditional Buddhist temple whose teaching is aligned with the thoughts of the Shakyamuni Buddha and Kobo Daishi, although I admit a certain meaning in MacDonalds in the society.

For this reason, I have decided to introduce the following 2 changes regarding meditation:

1. Beginning Feb. 1, we ask all of you to first understand and experience Step 1: Kai, the Buddhist precepts by attending our Sunday Services, including Goma Fire Rituals, at least 10 times, before jumping into Step 2, which is meditation.

2. In addition, we will also introduce a fee of $10 per person for non-members to attend meditations. Presently, 9 out of 10 in-person meditators don’t donate at all and 7 out of 10 online meditators don’t. Our meditation methods transmitted on Mt. Koya for 1200 years shouldn’t be treated that way. This fee is intended to encourage intentional participation and individual accountability, while also helping us sustain the ongoing operations of our temple. Annual members will continue to have access to meditations for free, or on a donation basis. Our Sunday Services will remain open and accessible to the public at no cost.

 By attending Sunday services, people those who new to Buddhism can learn the importance of Buddhist precepts and people those who have already been familiar with the precepts can refresh their determination to observe Buddhist precepts for the coming week. At our Sunday services, we confirm to live our lives keeping the Buddhist precepts, which ultimately means, to live one’s life as much as compassionately not selfishly. The heart of Shingon Buddhism which is aligned with the Buddha’s teaching is right here.  

For folks who have been attending meditation sessions but not Sunday services, please email contact@seattlekoyasan.com to receive further instructions.

Gassho,

Ven. Taijo Imanaka