Shipporyuji Temple
Shipporyuji Temple
4.5
What people are saying
mike g
By mike g
Challenging, rewarding...simply unforgettable
5.0 of 5 bubblesMay 2017
What turned into my OMG day here in the Osaka countryside started out being described on my itinerary as a "waterfall meditation" which I pictured as meditating by a waterfall, possibly feeling the refreshing and calming cooling spray on a hot day. But most of that so-called meditation turned out to be a VERY steep ropes&chains 558m climb over loose rocks, slippery leaves and twisted roots up to a temple, being hung head-first over the edge of a VERY steep precipice, then a VERY steep climb back down (probably even more challenging), followed by a blessing under a VERY steep, slippery waterfall. Our guides were people trained in the Yamabushi, shingon Buddhism sect; shugendo doctrine. They are the Yamabushi guardians of the mountain. The 75-year-old monk leading the climb was a retired postal worker who now tends orchids as a hobby. The other monk on the climb is an operating room nurse. And the chief monk, who did the blessings at the waterfall, is a professional singer. As a key part of their philosophy and program, this sect espouses one of the most extreme physical challenges of any religion. When we reached the small temple, one challenge involved hanging head first further and further down over the edge of a 100m precipice. Supported by a special thick rope wrapped around two people, you are slowly lowered over the edge until you are hanging head down over the gorge = nosoki shugyo (literally “peek training”…peek at the 100m drop) as you shout “yes” to the monk’s questions whether you will be good to family, co-workers, and humanity before being hauled back up. After we returned to the temple at the base of the climb, we then changed into a two-piece garment for the waterfall benediction. We were asked to take it very seriously when we crossed the bridge to the waterfall because of powerful good and bad energy which has been released there over the years. Holding on to a chain, we climbed up to the base of the waterfall, and then a little higher. We called out our name, age and wish. The monk then made a powerful incantation. On this mountain as a religious training ground for Katsuragi shugen-do (mountaineering asceticism), visitors can participate in a one-day training program. Some 50 to 200 people take part in this challenge on the third Sunday of every month, with a few other visitors the rest of the time. The information they provide is only in Japanese so just look for the envelope symbol to receive information in English; there's no charge but the monks welcome a very reasonable donation...considering the scope of the experience. What did it all feel like? Challenging, rewarding, a wonderful combination of the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual – all set in a nature setting in a foreign country. Unforgettable.

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mike g
Burleigh Heads, Australia417 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017
What turned into my OMG day here in the Osaka countryside started out being described on my itinerary as a "waterfall meditation" which I pictured as meditating by a waterfall, possibly feeling the refreshing and calming cooling spray on a hot day.
But most of that so-called meditation turned out to be a VERY steep ropes&chains 558m climb over loose rocks, slippery leaves and twisted roots up to a temple, being hung head-first over the edge of a VERY steep precipice, then a VERY steep climb back down (probably even more challenging), followed by a blessing under a VERY steep, slippery waterfall.
Our guides were people trained in the Yamabushi, shingon Buddhism sect; shugendo doctrine. They are the Yamabushi guardians of the mountain.
The 75-year-old monk leading the climb was a retired postal worker who now tends orchids as a hobby. The other monk on the climb is an operating room nurse. And the chief monk, who did the blessings at the waterfall, is a professional singer.
As a key part of their philosophy and program, this sect espouses one of the most extreme physical challenges of any religion.
When we reached the small temple, one challenge involved hanging head first further and further down over the edge of a 100m precipice.
Supported by a special thick rope wrapped around two people, you are slowly lowered over the edge until you are hanging head down over the gorge = nosoki shugyo (literally “peek training”…peek at the 100m drop) as you shout “yes” to the monk’s questions whether you will be good to family, co-workers, and humanity before being hauled back up.
After we returned to the temple at the base of the climb, we then changed into a two-piece garment for the waterfall benediction.
We were asked to take it very seriously when we crossed the bridge to the waterfall because of powerful good and bad energy which has been released there over the years.
Holding on to a chain, we climbed up to the base of the waterfall, and then a little higher. We called out our name, age and wish. The monk then made a powerful incantation.
On this mountain as a religious training ground for Katsuragi shugen-do (mountaineering asceticism), visitors can participate in a one-day training program.
Some 50 to 200 people take part in this challenge on the third Sunday of every month, with a few other visitors the rest of the time. The information they provide is only in Japanese so just look for the envelope symbol to receive information in English; there's no charge but the monks welcome a very reasonable donation...considering the scope of the experience.
What did it all feel like? Challenging, rewarding, a wonderful combination of the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual – all set in a nature setting in a foreign country. Unforgettable.
Written May 26, 2017
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Shipporyuji Temple, Izumisano

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