Below are three places in Japan that are related to the teachings of Usui Mikao. Two are in Kyoto and these are Kurama Yama and Hiei Zan. Two mountains where it is believed Usui practised and developed his teachings. The third historical place is the graveyard of the Saihoji Temple in Tokyo - the place where the memorial to Usui's life and teachings stands.
Kurama Yama Below is the content of the leaflet which is handed out to visitors on Kurama Yama...
Kurama Yama or Mt. Kurama (570 meters above sea level) is 12 kilometers due north of Kyoto Imperial Palace and can be reached in 30 minutes from Kyoto by car or train.
The Kurama Temple, founded in 770 as the guardian of the northern quarter of the capital city (Heiankyo), is located halfway up the mountain. The original buildings, however, were repeatedly destroyed by fire. The Main Hall was last rebuilt in 1971. The temple formerly belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but since 1949, it has been included in the newly founded Kurama-Kokyo sect as its headquarters.
More than six million years ago, Mao-son (the great king of the conquerors of evil and the spirit of the earth) descended upon Mt. Kurama from Venus, with the great mission of the salvation of mankind. Since then, Mao-son's powerful spirit governing the development and the evolution not only of mankind but of all living things on Earth has been emanating from Mt. Kurama, and a priest named Gantei received the spiritual transmission.
In the first year of Hoki (A.D. 770), Gantei, who was the best pupil of High priest Ganjin, the founder of the Toshodaiji Temple in Nara, led by a white horse, climbed up to this holy place. His soul was enlightened with the realization of Bishamon-ten (the protector of the northern quarter of the Buddhist heaven and the spirit of the sun). Following, he founded the Buddhist temple on Mt. Kurama.
Later, in the 15th year of Enryaku (A.D. 796), the chief officer in charge of the construction of the Toji Temple, saw a vision of Senju-kannon (the thousand armed Kannon and the spirit of the moon) and built temples and pagodas on the mountain.
Mao-son, Bishamon-ten, and Senju-kannon are the symbols of the universal soul, forming a Trinity known as "Sonten" or the "Supreme Deity". Sonten is the "Living Soul", the "Supreme Soul of the universe", the "Glorious Light", and the "Activity of the Soul".
These three are the symbols of power, light, and love. We worship Sonten as the composite of all three.
"We trust in Sonten for all things." Sonten is the creator of the universe, and cultivates the development of everything all over the earth. He rests deeps in our individual minds, and causes the "Great Self" or "Atman" to wake up within our hearts. He gives us new power and glorious light.
Seishonagon, an eminent female essayist, wrote an essay (A.D. 1,000) on Kurama. "The road to Kurama is a winding path; at a glance, the distance appears to be quite near, but it is quite far." Now, however, if you take the cable car, it takes only three minutes to get to the upper terminal and then only a ten minute walk to the main hall of the temple. There, the sky is clear and serene, and the air is pure. Mt. Kurama is wonderful throughout the year. During the Heian and Kamakura Periods in particular, literature and the Buddhist arts flourished on the mountain. Kurama is also famous as a historical place. There is the interesting story, for instance, of the warrior called Ushiwaka-maru (later known as Minamoto Yoshitsune, 11,59-1189). When he was a young lad, he took military arts under the "Tengusan" (subjugator of evil) at Kurama, and he went on to become an excellent soldier. A number of historical sites connected with him still remain on the mountain. We lead our lives by virtue of Sonten. Sonten has bestowed his power on us so that we can lead a good life; casting evil out of our minds with the strength of his power. We make every effort to perfect ourselves. We trust in Sonten for all things.
Kurama Honmachi, Sakvo-ku, Kyoto, Japan Phone, Kyoto (075)741-2003
Sites of Historical Interest on Kurama Yama. 1. Nio-mon (Gate of the Guardians) 2. Shuyo-dojo (Exercise Hall) 3. Fumyo-den (Information Office) & San-mon Station 4. Cable Car 5. Taho-to Station 6. Taho-to (Pagoda) 7. Yuki Shrine (its Wari-Haiden or a separated oratory is designated as an Important Cultural Property) 8. Kawakami Jizo-do 9. Monument to Yoshitsune (situated at the site of Tokobo temple, in which Yoshitsune dwelt for nearly ten years) 10. Tsuzura-ori (winding path) 11. Chu-mon (Second Gate) 12. Shinden (this building was once used as a reception hall when Empress Teimei came to Kurama, but it is now used as a writing room for holy texts) 13. Tenporin-do (enshrined here is a great statue of Amida Buddha, beneath its floor is the resting room for believers.) 14. Akai-goho-zenjin Shrine. 15. Honden (Main Hall) 16. Komyoshin-den 17. Honbo (Temple Office) 18. Shoro (Belfry) 19. Stone Poetry Inscription by Tekkan and Akiko Yosano. 20. Reihoden (Museum) 21. Tohaku-tei (Akiko Yosano's study, removed here in 1976) 22. Iki-tsugi-no Mizu (Ushiwakamaru drank water in thirst at this well) 23. Jizo-do 24. Sekurabe Ishi (Ushiwakamaru measured his height with this stone when he was sixteen years old, and was about to leave for the remote region of northern district) 25. Kinone Michi (the path on the exposed intertwining roots of old cedar trees. It is a unique sight) 26. Osugi Gongen (an old cedar tree: the incarnation of Mao-son) 27. Yoshitsune-do (Ushiwakamaru was educated here for the profession of arms) 28. Sojoga-dani Fudo-do (dedicated to Fudo. the conqueror of evil) 29. Okunoin Mao-den (Inner Temple. Mao-son descended 30. Nishi-mon (Western Gate) 31. Kibune Shrine
Prayer for Happiness to the Sonten of Kuramayama (Translation of the Prayer for Happiness to the Sonten of Kuramayama - The Triune Deity) The Spirit of the Moon……..Love The Spirit of the Sun ……..Light The Spirit of the Earth……..Power Oh, Sonten, Beautiful as the Moon, Warm as the Sun, Powerful as the Earth, Bestow your blessing upon us to uplift mankind and increase our riches and glory. In this holy place, grant that peace may defeat discord, unselfishness may conquer greed, sincere words may overcome deceit, and that respect may surmount insults. Fill our hearts with joy, uplift our spirits, and fill our bodies with glory. Sonten, Great Lord of the Universe, Great Light, Great Mover, bestow upon us who gather to worship you, upon those who strive to touch your heart, a new strength and glorious light. We trust in Sonten for all things. (We are grateful to Miss Tenko Matsushita for kind translation.)
Hiei Zan Hiei Zan or Mt Hiei, the sacred mountain known as the mother of Japanese Buddhism, has emitted the light of Dharma for the world for over 1200 years. Here it is also beleived that Mikao Usui studied Tendai teachings as a lay monk.
In December 1994, Enryakuji on Hiei Zan was registered bv UNESCO as a World Cultural Asset. Since being built as a monastery by Saicho Dengyo Daishi in the 8th century, this sacred mountain has produced many of the most important priests in Japanese history.
As the birthplace of a great human culture it has sent out a brilliant light for over twelve hundred years. There is no particular temple building named 'Enryakuji' on Hiei Zan. Rather the mountain as a whole is a temple called 'Enryakuji'.
Nature, the temple complexes scattered around the mountain, those doing ascetic practises, the visitors, all together compose the Buddhist community at Hiei Zan. As Buddha taught that everything on earth has buddha nature, here, religion, the natural environment, culture, and human beings are all integrated into an indivisible unity.Ancient people admired the mountain and composed poems about it, calling it 'Mt. Fuji of Kyoto'.Embraced by an old forest, Hiei Zan has continued as of old to impress visitors.
'Though there are innumerable mountains in the world, Hiei is truly worthy of the name.' Ji en
Below are some of the temples from Enryaku-ji on Hiei Zan:
Jodo-in (Pure Land Temple) This is the mausoleum of the founder, St. Saicho Dengyo Daishi and said to be the purest sanctuary on the mountain. Dengyo Daishi died in 822 and was buried here. The priests living in Jodo-in are called "Jishin," after the Jishin who made a vow to retreat in the mountain for twelve years as a service to Dengyo Daishi. Their lives as monastics are dedicated to spiritual practices involving the strict keeping of precepts.
Hokke Soji-in (Lotus Sutra Holding Temple) Representing the esoteric teachings of the Tendai School, Hokke Soji-in was planned by the founder and built by his disciple St. Ennin Jikaku Daishi, in 862. Oda Nobunaga burned down the original building, which was rebuilt in 1987, 400 years after the attack. This temple complex includes the To-do, Kanjo-do and Jakko-do.
Ninai-do (Benkei's Shoulders Hall) Ninai-do is made up of two identical Buddhist practice halls, the Lotus (Hokke) and Constant Practice (Jogyo) Halls, connected by a covered passageway. It is popularly called Benkei's Shoulders Hall, after a 1211, century monk-warrior, because of its shape. It symbolizes a basic teaching of Mt. Hiei that the essences of Lotus Sutra and Pure Land teachings are united. The Hokke-do is used for meditation and reciting the Lotus Sutra, while the Jogyo-do is for reciting the Amida Sutra.
Joko-in (Temple Of Constant Light) This temple is at the far north end of Yokawa, called Kabo (Fragrant) Valley. St. Nichiren lived here for twelve vears studying and practicing Buddhism.
Amida-Do Temple The Amida-Do is one of the newest temples on the mountain, having been constructed in honor of the 1,150 year anniversary of the opening of Mt. Hiei. In the temple is housed 100 copies of the Lotus Sutra, 500,000 copies of the Heart Sutra and 1 million Nenbutsu admirations unto Amida Buddha. Originally built to mimic Hiean Era construction techniques, visitors remark that, imaginatively, these buildings invoke images of the Pure Land.
It is interesting to note that Mikao Usui is buried in a Pure Land Temple and many of his teachings seemed to come from the Lotus Sutra. It is claimed by living students of Mikao Usui that to meditate in this Amida-Do temple gives you further insights into the system of Reiki.
'Tendai Buddhism practised on Mt Hiei had a deep and profound influence on later Japanese Buddhism. Dogen who later founded Japanese Zen Buddhism, Nichiren, Honene who founded Pure Land and Shinran who founded the popular Jodo Shinshu were all trained on Mt Hiei.' an excerpt from 'Tantric Art and Meditation' by Michael Sasso.
Saihoji Temple The Saihoji Temple is a Pure Land Buddhist Temple in Tokyo. The exact address is Toyotama district, 1-4-56 Umesato, Suginami Ku, Tokyo. Here you can see the memorial stone that was engraved by Mikao Usui's students in 1927, one year after his death. Masayuki Okada composed it with brush strokes written by Juzaburo Ushida in 1927.
The memorial stone is one aspect of Mikao Usui's life as seen through the eyes of his students from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. For a translation of the complete Mikao Usui Memorial stone click here.
Above: Statues inside the Temple's grounds
Above: The Temple Bell
Above: A statue of kannon near the entrance of the Temple
The memorial stone of Mikao Usui
The altar and gravestone marker for Mikao Usui, his wife and daughter
The word, Reiki, on Mikao Usui's memorial stone in kanji
Below the altar at Mikao Usui's site is the Chiba crest used by Mikao Usui's family
A large stone with indent at Mikao Usui's site
A toro where a light can be placed at Mikao Usui's site
Seishonagon, an eminent female essayist, wrote an essay (A.D. 1,000) on Kurama. "The road to Kurama is a winding path; at a glance, the distance appears to be quite near, but it is quite far." Now, however, if you take the cable car, it takes only three minutes to get to the upper terminal and then only a ten minute walk to the main hall of the temple. There, the sky is clear and serene, and the air is pure. Mt. Kurama is wonderful throughout the year. During the Heian and Kamakura Periods in particular, literature and the Buddhist arts flourished on the mountain. Kurama is also famous as a historical place. There is the interesting story, for instance, of the warrior called Ushiwaka-maru (later known as Minamoto Yoshitsune, 11,59-1189). When he was a young lad, he took military arts under the "Tengusan" (subjugator of evil) at Kurama, and he went on to become an excellent soldier. A number of historical sites connected with him still remain on the mountain. We lead our lives by virtue of Sonten. Sonten has bestowed his power on us so that we can lead a good life; casting evil out of our minds with the strength of his power. We make every effort to perfect ourselves. We trust in Sonten for all things. 
Kurama Honmachi, Sakvo-ku,
7. Yuki Shrine (its Wari-Haiden or a separated oratory is designated as an Important Cultural Property)
Prayer for Happiness to the Sonten of Kuramayama
Amida-Do Temple
