Blue Lotus Assembly
Encyclopedia
Blue Lotus Assembly is a form of esoteric Buddhism
established in North America
by Stephen K. Hayes
. Hayes was originally a martial arts
practitioner and instructor who had established the Japanese Bujinkan
in North America and later created his own martial art, To-Shin Do
.
The name, Blue Lotus Assembly (Sho-Ren Ko), was derived from the Shoren-In Blue Lotus Temple of Kyoto, former temple home of the poet-priest Jien
, 62nd Zasu
(Headmaster) of Tendai, whose name inspired the dharma name
given to founder Stephen Kinryu-Jien Hayes.
Blue Lotus Assembly teachings are based on the teachings and practices of Tendai
and the Mountain ascetic practices of the shugendo
yamabushi
.
administration or the Japanese government, but is self-directing and autonomous in its affairs. The biggest implication of this is that the Blue Lotus Assembly training and teaching of esoteric Buddhism (vajrayana
or mikkyo
) is more open than in its parent organization, Tendai. Where the full range of teachings and practices in Japanese Tendai are restricted solely to its priesthood, the Blue Lotus Assembly Order seems to take a more egalitarian approach.
The Blue Lotus Assembly has temples and meeting places in Ohio
and Colorado
.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
established in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by Stephen K. Hayes
Stephen K. Hayes
Stephen K. Hayes is an American Bujinkan ninjutsu master, Buddhist priest and writer.-Life and martial arts:Stephen K. Hayes was born in Wilmington, Delaware and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Fairmont West High School, Kettering, Ohio in 1967. He began formal training in the martial...
. Hayes was originally a martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
practitioner and instructor who had established the Japanese Bujinkan
Bujinkan
The Bujinkan is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi, it is best known for its association with ninjutsu. The system taught by this group, called Bujinkan Budō Tai jutsu, consists of nine separate martial arts traditions .-Origins:Hatsumi's...
in North America and later created his own martial art, To-Shin Do
To-Shin Do
To-Shin Do is a martial art founded by Black Belt Hall of Fame instructor Stephen K. Hayes in 1997. It is a modernized version of ninjutsu, and differs from the traditional form taught by Masaaki Hatsumi’s Bujinkan organization. Instruction focuses on threats found in contemporary western society...
.
The name, Blue Lotus Assembly (Sho-Ren Ko), was derived from the Shoren-In Blue Lotus Temple of Kyoto, former temple home of the poet-priest Jien
Jien
Jien was a Japanese poet, historian, and Buddhist monk.-Biography:Jien was the son Fujiwara no Tadamichi, a member of the Fujiwara family of powerful aristocrats. He joined a Buddhist monastery of the Tendai sect early in his life, first taking the Buddhist name Dokaie, and later changing it to...
, 62nd Zasu
Sokan
અThis is an article on Buddhist rankings. For the artist, see Yamazaki Sōkan.Sōkan is the Japanese system of rankings for Buddhist clergy. There are three ranks comprising ten categories or levels, followed by a series of titles known collectively as sōi...
(Headmaster) of Tendai, whose name inspired the dharma name
Dharma name
A Dharma name is a new name acquired during a Buddhist initiation ritual in Mahayana Buddhism and monk ordination in Theravada Buddhism. The name is traditionally given by a Buddhist monastic, but is also given to newly ordained monks, nuns and laity....
given to founder Stephen Kinryu-Jien Hayes.
Blue Lotus Assembly teachings are based on the teachings and practices of Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
and the Mountain ascetic practices of the shugendo
Shugendo
is a highly syncretic Buddhic religion or sect and mystical-spiritual tradition which originated in pre-Feudal Japan, in which enlightenment is equated with attaining oneness with the . This perception of experiential "awakening" is obtained through the understanding of the relationship between...
yamabushi
Yamabushi
' are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long tradition as mighty warriors endowed with supernatural powers. They follow the Shugendō doctrine, an integration of mainly esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon sect, with Tendai and Shinto elements...
.
Distinctly American
The Blue Lotus Assembly Order of the Tendai Lineage has no direct affiliation with, or oversight from, the Japanese TendaiTendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
administration or the Japanese government, but is self-directing and autonomous in its affairs. The biggest implication of this is that the Blue Lotus Assembly training and teaching of esoteric Buddhism (vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
or mikkyo
Mikkyo
Mikkyō is a Japanese term that refers to the esoteric Vajrayāna practices of the Shingon Buddhist school and the related practices that make up part of the Tendai school. There are also various Shingon- and Tendai-influenced practices of Shugendō...
) is more open than in its parent organization, Tendai. Where the full range of teachings and practices in Japanese Tendai are restricted solely to its priesthood, the Blue Lotus Assembly Order seems to take a more egalitarian approach.
The Blue Lotus Assembly has temples and meeting places in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.