> From: Meðal Mikit Stór-ljon Oddhinsson <medhal8@...>
> Subject: Samurai and Mikkyo
>
> Studying much of Miyamoto Musashi history
> I saw that much of the samurai spirit and thinking was related with
> esoteric buddhism.
Hi Mr. Oddhinsson,
While I find your question a very interesting one I sadly can't help
but to point you to a few sources (some of which you might already be
familiar with):
Colin Hyakutake's web page. Mr. Hyakutake trains Hyoho Niten Ichi ryu
under Imai Masayuki soke and has translated some of soke's writings
(including some info about Musashi and Buddhism) here:
http://www.bunbun.ne.jp/~sword/Hyoho1.html
In Koryu Bujutsu book (edited by Diane Skoss, ISBN: 1-890536-04-0,
www.koryu.com) there is an article by Mr. David A. Hall: Marishiten -
Buddhist Influences on Combative Behavior.
At www.e-budo.com there are couple of people who could propably point
you to better sources, so you might want to try there. Mr. William
Bodiford is an associate professor in UCLA and has specialized (IIRC)
on Buddhist studies and has trained Kashima-Shinryu for a long time.
Mr. Karl Friday is a history professor in University of Georgia and
Menkyo Kaiden in Kashima-Shinryu and might also have some thing to say
about the subject.
A little older book: Blomberg, Catharina: Samurai Religion (1977,
Uppsala University) might also have something on the subject. The book
might be quite hard to get, but maybe you could try a local University
library.
Btw. our iaido teacher Takada Gakudo sensei is mikkyo buddhist. At
least one person who has visited him in Japan has taken part of some
of his religious practises. Takada sensei has only once briefly talked
about his religion, so I don't have much knowledge about it. Maybe
next Autumn I can find something out as I was lucky enough to get
accepted for an exchange student program and will spend a year in
Japan near where our sensei lives (yes, I know I'm a lucky bas**** :).
Please share with us if you find something more about the subject! I
believe many are familiar with the over emphasized zen buddhist
influence in budo, while mikkyo buddhism (which propably has had more
influence) is not very well known.
--
Mikko Vilenius - co-admin:
http://www.hiphop-directory.com
"As private parts to the gods are we,
they play with us for their sport"
-Lord Melchett, Black Adder S2 EP06