meant that everybody and everything contained an element of him,however small. In other words, all mankind and other forms of life would eventuallydevelop their inherent Buddha-nature. Nobody was too bad to be saved. This idea of theessential unity of existence weakened the rigid Hinayana distinction between monks andlaity, and ran classes of humans were completely beyond redemption. The powerfulHosso sect in Nara to which Saichos main antagonists belonged held such a view.Tendai was broadly founded on the teachings of the Mahayana or Greater Vehicleschool of Buddhism. Its basic scripture, the Lotus Sutra, purportedly contained Gautama'slast sermon, in which he revealed to his disciples the universality of the Buddha potential. The Buddha asserted that until this time he had allowed individuals to practice Hinayana,the Lesser Vehicle, and to seek their own enlightenments. Now mankind was prepared for the final truth that everyone could attain buddhahood. In the Buddha's words as found inthe sutra:Those harassed by all the sufferings To them I at first preached NirvanaAttainable by one's own efforts. Such were the expedient means I employed To lead them to Buddha-wisdom.Not then could I say to them,you all shall attain to Buddhahood.For the time had not yet arrived.But now the very time has comeAnd I must preach the Great Vehicle.Shingon BuddhismShingon Buddhism came to Japan from China in the 9th century by the monkKukai whose teachings have been little changed since. Earlier Buddhist sects had beenvery esoteric and secretive, but Shingon proved considerably more popular. It placedgreat emphasis on chants, magical rituals, and ceremonies for the dead, much to thedelight of the average worshipper. The sect was responsible for spreading the Chinesereligion far beyond the ruling class and continues to be a major faith today.Shingon Buddhism resembled Tendai in the general circumstances of its foundationand development. It was ...
