Abstract

The idealist Saicho, who viewed all people as 'children of Buddha', aimed for the establishment of the first lay-centered Buddhism in Japan. This book is the definitive guide to Saicho, reinterpreting his teachings based on the "Lotus Sutra" established at the secluded Hieizan mountain, by tracing his life from a new perspective.

Author’s Information

Sachiya Hiro, born in Osaka city in 1936, is a graduate of the Department of Indian Philosophy, Faculty of Letters, the University of Tokyo, and also completed his doctoral program in Indian Philosophy at the Graduate School of Humanities, the University of Tokyo. After serving as a professor at the Meteorological College for 20 years since 1965, he is now active in writing books broadly ranging from explanations of religions, including Buddhism, to essays on Buddhist life and giving lectures around the country. His works, such as "History of Buddhism (10 volumes)", "Shaka", "Buddha" (all published by Shunjusha), "Kannon Sutra: Scripture of Miracles" (Daizou Publishing), "What is Nenbutsu" (Shinchosensho), "Advocacy of 'Madness'" (Shueisha Shinsho), "My 'Namu Myoho Renge Kyo'", "My 'Namu Amida Butsu'", "Sachiya Hiro's 'Daily Sermon'" (all published by Kosho Publishing) are popular across all ages and genders.