The Exoteric Teaching (Kengyo) and the Esoteric Teaching (Mikkyo)
The founder of Japanese Shingon Tradition, Kobo Daishi (Kukai),
divided the whole of the Buddhadharma into two types : the Exoteric
Teaching (Kengyo) and the Esoteric Teaching (Mikkyo). According
to Kobo Daishi, it is only the Shingon Tradition which is the
Esoteric Teaching, while all of the rest of the Buddhadharma are
the Exoteric Teachings.
The Exoteric Teachings were all taught by the Nirmanakaya Buddha,
the historic Buddha Sakyamuni. These Exoteric Teachings were modified
in some ways when Sakyamuni taught the common people depending
on their understanding skills. Furthermore, these teachings contained
illustrative stories to hold the attention of his listeners. Stories
which were not absolutely true. Such teachings are termed "Upaya
teachings" (hoben-gyo) or "teachings which employ expedient means"
to get their point across. These stories were devices to raise
the spiritual consciousness of his listeners but were not teachings
which contained the full presentation of the absolute level of
Truth. Kobo Daishi commented that it would take the devotee a
very long time to reach the state of Buddhahood if he were to
cultivate his religious practices solely on the basis of the Exoteric
The Esoteric Teachings, on the other hand, were preached by the
dharmakaya Buddha, the Tathagata Mahavairocana. Mahavairocana
understood the real aspects of the existence of all things in
the universe, and through this enlightenment experience he came
to possess, in perfect measure, all of the qualities of perfection.
He then directly presented the full content of his enlightenment
experience in the scriptures of the Shingon Tradition. He did
not employ any "teaching devices" or ?expedient means? in this
full presentation of the Truth. There was no consideration for
the spiritual capacities or the intellectual facilities of his
hearers. This was a presentation of the Truth with no admixture
of anything less than the absolute level of Truth. Therefore,
if the devotee cultivates his religious practice based on the
directions given in the scriptures of the Shingon canon, he will
attain to the unsurpassed state of Buddhahood in the shortest
amount of time possible. It is for this reason then that the Esoteric
Teachings were considered by Kobo Daishi to be the highest of
the teachings contained within the Buddhadharma.
At the foundation of true religious belief lies doctrinal teachings
and ritual practices to put those teachings into effect every
day. Shingon Buddhism in particular is formed by the two pillars
of doctrine and practice established by Kobo Daishi. Shingon Buddhism,
teaches a profound doctrine and the right practices for human
development. Therefore it must be understood that Shingon Esoteric
Buddhism does not present itself simply as a religion of practical
benefits, but is also a religion that recommends proper human
development through right teachings.
The ultimate objective of the teachings of Shingon Buddhism is
"to excel in skillful means," as explained in the Mahavairocana
Sutra. The manner by which we pursue our lives, the way in which
we relate to people, in other words, our own actions in life are
to be regarded with utmost importance.
In one sense this is a religion that takes as its ideal what is
spoken of as "personally becoming a buddha" as a result of correct
practice, that is, becoming a perfect buddha in one's own body,
the "perfect body of the Buddha" that is spoken of in the Kongocho-kyo.
The teaching of Shingon Buddhism is based on the belief in these
two pillars, and it allows each one of us to live fully the life
we treasure as our one and only life safeguarded, as it was explained
earlier, by the vows and protective powers of many buddhas.
©1998,1999 Shingon Buddhist International Institute