A series of initiatory steps serve as "mile markers" on the spiritual path, affirming ever-deepening commitments, and signaling new beginnings in ever-advancing training.
The Blue Lotus Assembly offers a life-long series of initiations for those who choose formal connection to the lineage. There is absolutely no obligation or expectation for anyone to take these initiations. They are offered only as encouragements to those who wish to make a personal statement of commitment.
The “Three Pure Precepts” are your promise to work towards the awakening and cultivation of spiritual power.
You state as your personal commitment as a Deshi, a disciple of Shugendo, a promise to...
As a first step, study our philosophy, history, and practices through books, DVDs, internet research, and workshops. Learn to meditate. Practice being morally mindful of the impact of all your thoughts, words, and actions. Join a study group if possible.
Begin to work on mastering the following 3 purification challenges on your own:
Misogi purification verse (or 100-syllable Vajrasattva) recitation, placing hands or head-and-body under flowing water, contemplating the meaning of physical, mental, and spiritual detoxification of physical corruption. Do 1,000 purifications!
Go-Tai-To-Chi vow salutes to self development potential, reciting OM AH HUM "3 secrets" verse of body, speech, and mind commitment, contemplating the meaning of the 3 keys to voicing spiritual alignment. Do 1,000 salutes!
Hanya Shin Gyo “Heart of Transcendent Wisdom Sutra” recitation, in original Japanese or English, contemplating the meaning of purifying the mind through recognizing emptiness and interdependence. Do 1,000 recitations!
Deshi Disciples of Shugendo wear a green wa-kesa 輪袈裟 stole over the shoulders, and receive an authorization diploma.
Practice is based on meditations from the books How To Own The World and Gyoja Recitation Handbook.
To apply for initiation, email to info@BlueLotusAssembly.org a written statement of where you live and why you want to take this initiation. Why do you want to become a Deshi of Shugendo? For Deshi initiation, minimum donation to cover materials for the ceremony is $150.
San-Ki-E "Promise to Live the 3-fold Vows of the Seeker"
With your San-Ki-E Three Treasures promise, you make a public promise to live every day with those three vows as your bedrock foundation for thought, speech, and action. You further purify yourself to be ready for mountain and river group gyo.
As one wishing to become a Deshi-Gashira (弟子頭) Senior Disciple of Shugendo, continue to practice all rites learned so far, along with daily centering meditation, and work on understanding and practicing as a minimum the following 7 spiritual practices:
帰 敬 文 KI GYO MON Commitment Affirmation
懺 悔 文 SAN-GE MON Purifying Affirmation
四 聖 諦 SHI SHO TAI Noble Ones’ 4 Truths of Life
八 聖 道 HAS-SHO DO Noble Ones’ 8-Fold Path
十 四 戒 JU-YON KAI 14-Point Mindful Action Code
九 條 錫 杖 KU-JO SHAKU-JO 9-Stanza Ringed Staff Verse
回 向 文 EKO MON Dedicating Merit
Deshi-Gashira (弟子頭) Senior Disciple of Shugendo wear a green wa-kesa 輪袈裟 stole over the shoulders with a juzu bead practice counter on the left wrist, and receive an authorization diploma.
Practice is based on meditations from the books How To Own The World and Gyoja Recitation Handbook and Action Meditation.
To apply for initiation, email to info@BlueLotusAssembly.org a written statement of why you want to take this initiation. Why do you want to become a Deshi-Gashira of Shugendo? For Deshi-Gashira initiation, minimum donation to cover materials for the ceremony is $150.
Go Kai "Promise to Live the 5 Precepts"
Gyoja (行者) translates as “person committed to spiritual practice”. You make a commitment to striving to live the 5 vows as an example for others. You make a promise to be as authentic and thorough as possible in your own personal study and self-perfection. No part of your personality is "off the table" for examination and perfection.
Continue to practice all rites learned so far, along with daily centering meditation, and work on mastering the following spiritual practices:
護身法 GO-SHIN-BO
...perfecting body, speech, and mind
不 動 明 王 念 珠 法 FUDO MYO-OH NENJU HO Prayer Beads Meditation
...pulling in restoring energy to build up power
ア 字 観 A-JI KAN A-Syllable Meditation
...sending healing and protection to the universe
Gyoja (行者) Avowed Practitioners of the Path of Purification wear a brown wa-kesa 輪袈裟 stole over the shoulders with a juzu bead practice counter on the left wrist.
Practice is based on meditations from the books How To Own The World and Gyoja Recitation Handbook and Enlightened Warrior Sen-datsu Advanced Handbook and Action Meditation and A-ji Kan and Fudo Nenju Meditations
You should also make a commitment to attend spirit-building mountain training at least once.
The usual minimum donation to cover materials for the ceremony is $150.
Ju-Yon Kai "Promise to Live the 14 Precepts"
Gyoja-Gashira (行者頭) Senior Avowed Practitioner on the Path of Purification is the highest level of ranking outside vows of joining the order. You take the remaining 9 vows in the 14 point ethics promises. You are regarded as an apprentice working towards qualifying to receive the formal ordination ceremony.
Continue to practice all rites learned so far, along with daily centering meditation, and as a minimum work on mastering the following spiritual practices:
九字 十字 KUJI- JUJI PROTECTION
..."nine syllable protection" process
線 香 護 摩 SENKO GOMA offering
...practice of offering benefits to the world
Gyoja-Gashira (行者頭) wear a brown wa-kesa 輪袈裟 stole over the shoulders with a juzu bead practice counter on the left wrist, and carry a 錫杖 shakujo 6-ring-staff.
Practice is based on meditations from the books How To Own The World and Gyoja Recitation Handbook and Enlightened Warrior Sen-datsu Advanced Handbook and A-ji Kan and Fudo Nenju Meditations and Action Meditation. and Senko Goma Kito Ho.
You should also make a commitment to attend spirit-building mountain training at least once.
The minimum donation to cover gathering materials for the ceremony is $150.
Has-Sho Do "Promise to Follow the Eight Fold Path"
You may find yourself so dedicated to the Path of Awakening that you want to make the practice a part of your identity. You may apply for the ceremonial step of Rei-bu (霊峰) Ordained Shugendo Practitioner through which you become a member of the order.
The English words “member of the order” best describes this role, though words like priest or monk are often used in the West to describe ordained persons – even though one might not lead a congregation or live in a monastery as a possessionless celibate.
Continue to practice all rites learned so far, along with daily centering meditation, and receive personal instruction in the vajrayana practice of hero-identification yoga, working on mastering the following spiritual practice:
行者大菩薩法 GYOJA DAIBOSATSU HO KATAKU SHIKI Aspiration
...practice of identifying with Shugendo founder En no Gyoja
Rei-bu (霊 峰) Ordained Shugendo Practitioners receive a Shugen ordination name, wear an optional Maroon knotted kesa (or full kesa cloak stole over the left shoulder) with a juzu bead practice counter on the left wrist, wear a Jikitotsu 直綴 robe as ritual clothing, and possess a set of vajra wand and bell. The work begins with personal instruction in the vajrayana practice of hero-identification yoga.
You should also make a commitment to attend spirit-building mountain training.
The usual ordination fee is $500.
Bosatsu Kai “Bodhisattva Vows” 6 Promises of the Hero
You may find your practice of the Path of Awakening takes you so far into personal development that you realize for you to progress, you must make a promise to aid all other beings - whether they know to seek your help or not.
Rei-bu-Gashira (霊峰頭) Senior Ordained Shugendo Practitioners wear an optional Maroon knotted kesa (or full kesa cloak stole over the left shoulder) with a juzu bead practice counter on the left wrist, and continue to practice all rites learned so far, along with daily centering meditation, and work on mastering the following spiritual practice:
不動明王供私記 FUDO MYO-OH KU SHIKI Fire Meditation Rites
...fire meditation purifying ceremony
You should also make a commitment to attend spirit-building mountain training.
The usual advanced ordination fee is $500.
To take the vows of a Kesa-Gashira (袈裟頭) “Advanced Kesa Wearer” Ordained Shugendo Priest means to serve the order full-time. You make the spiritual life your primary identity. For those very few persons who will take this step, the process leading to Shugendo Priest ordination is demanding. It is designed to clarify what life as a teacher-minister is. Remember – once you don the robe of Shugendo Priest, everyone in your community will be watching you every minute of the day to see what a life of spiritual commitment looks like. You will never again ever have a “day off”.
Candidates for ordination as Kesa-Gashira (袈裟頭) Ordained Shugendo Priest learn and practice the:
柱源神法 HASHIRA-MOTO SHIN-PO
... learning the foundations of the coming-into-being of the world
Kesa-Gashira (袈裟頭) Ordained Shugendo Priests wear an optional Silver knotted kesa (or full kesa cloak stole over the left shoulder).
You should also make a commitment to attend spirit-building mountain training.
Candidates for ordination as Sho-Kesa-Gashira (正袈裟頭) “Honored Advanced Kesa Wearer” Senior Ordained Shugendo Priest learn and practice the:
柴燈護摩 SAITO GOMA
...grand outdoor fire ceremony
Under appointment by the Headmaster of the Order, Sho-Kesa-Gashira (正袈裟頭) Senior Ordained Priests supervise ordained Shugendo Priests under their direction at a number of temples, and are authorized to perform the ceremonies for Shugendo ordinations. Sho-Kesa-Gashira (正袈裟頭) Senior Ordained Priests wear an optional Silver knotted kesa, (or full kesa cloak stole over the left shoulder).
You should also make a commitment to attend spirit-building mountain training.
Sho-Sendatsu (正先達) Honored Path Leaders are senior "teachers of teachers" who have dedicated many years to living Shugendo practice, know all ritual manners of rites, and have produced others who have taken the vows of Senior Ordained Shugendo Priest (正袈裟頭) Sho-Kesa-Gashira. Sho-Sendatsu (正先達) Honored Path Leaders wear an optional Gold knotted kesa (or full kesa cloak stole over the left shoulder).
An extremely rare title of special honor, Dai-Sendatsu (大先達) Grand Path Leader is a full teacher priest, "outside and above" all 9 formal ranks, the highest most honored rank in Shugendo. Dai-Sendatsu (大先達) Grand Path Leaders wear an optional Gold knotted kesa (or full kesa cloak stole over the left shoulder).
