Great Construction

The Deity Izunome

     The following essay is from “Book of Religion” in Creation of Civilization that I am presently writing. Believing it would provide excellent reference, I wanted to release it as soon as possible.

The Deity Izunome

     In the previous chapter on the origin of Buddhism, I explained how Maheshvara was the chief presider, as it were, during the flourishing age of Brahmanism. In those days the deities of Japan were incarnated as buddhas in India, and the leader of the incarnated buddhas was the Deity Izunome, who occupied the highest position in Japan. Many Korean deities, however, with the deity Susano-o as their guiding force, crossed over to Japan with the intent of secretly taking over the position held by Izunome. Susano-o’s party was not cordially received, however, and as a result, his group oppressed, persecuted, and finally plotted to take the life of Izunome. Izunome, however, suddenly gave up the top position, managed to flee Japan through transformation, and arrived safely in India by way of China. Using the name Boddhisattva Who Can Observe Freely, a new, immaculate villa was built for dwelling on the mountain called Potalaka, which was not so high in elevation, on the southern coast of India. The Sutra of the Compassionate White Lotus Flower says concerning this fact that on the soft grasslands of Mt. Potalaka Boddhisattva Who Can Observe Freely, attended by twenty-eight disciples, sat in the lotus position upon the Diamond-Treasure seat, and preached. The young Shakyamuni, who still had the name Sudhana-svesthi-daraka, heard the sermon, was deeply impressed by the eminent teachings, and, reforming himself completely, abandoned his status as Prince Siddhartha. Leaving a world then terribly corrupted, he immediately went to Mt. Dandaloka, and with crossed legs, sat on a stone under a bodhi tree, also known as olive, and devoted himself to ascetic exercises in order to attain wisdom. As to the span of this training period, opinions vary. It was revealed to me that the period was seven years.
     Having finished his training, he came down from the mountain and started spreading the Buddhist message in the name of Tathagata Shakyamuni, so it is certainly a fact, therefore, that the real founder of Buddhism is the deity from Japan, Izunome. There is one more piece of evidence which cannot be ignored that testifies to the fact that Buddhism has its origin in Japan. This evidence is the phrase known as honji-suijaku, or “manifestation of the prime noumenon,” which is often used in Buddhism. According to my own observations, honji means “prime noumenon” or “the origin,” which is a reference to Japan, and suijaku, “manifestation,” means “to hand down.” So, the significance that has been hidden for so long is that the teachings of Buddha will be taught throughout their native land, Japan, they will bloom there, and produce fruit. This significance is also concealed in the most striking peculiarity of the physical figure of Regarder of the Cries of the World, coal-black, flowing hair, and is characteristic of the Japanese people. In comparison, the figures of Shakyamuni and Amida have completely different kinds of hair, reddish and curly, which clearly shows that both Tathagatas were natives of India. The crown and necklaces of Regarder of the Cries of the World also speak to noble status. The hood over the head shows the appearance when hiding status.
     Among the disciples of Buddha, there was a distinguished person named Dharmakara. He trained himself apart from his master the Buddha. One day after completing his training, he visited the Buddha, promising him, “I have now selected sacred land in the west of India and have constructed the Jeta grove monastery which I have named Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I built it in order that you might send there those people who by your teachings become enlightened and have attained the rank of buddha. There, these beings may dwell in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, also named the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light, with abundant pleasure, joy, and ecstasy throughout their lives.” The ideograms for Eternally Tranquil mean the light of the moon. Later, when Dharmakara went to the spiritual world, he received the Buddhist name Tathagata Amida and saved all the beings in the spiritual world. Thus, he is for the spiritual world what Shakyamuni is for the physical world.
     Finally, Boddhisattva Who Can Observe Freely took on the name Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World. In Sanskrit, this is Avalokiteshvara, which was translated by the scholar, Kumarajiva into Chinese ideograms that sound in Japanese: Kanzeon. The name of Kanzeon, that is, Regarder of the Cries of the World, reflects a very profound mystery that I will now explain.

Chijôtengoku, Issue 29, page 8, October 25, 1951
    translated by cynndd