About Agon Shu: Three Elements of Buddhist Religion – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
1. Buddha: The object of Buddhist religion. This is called Honzon or the main object of veneration. Gohoto or stupa contains the authentic relics of the Buddha.
Agon Shu’s main object of veneration is of course Shakyamuni Buddha. Agon Shu does not worship wooden statues or painted statues (idol worship, something Christian and Islamic religions criticize about Buddhist religion) but worship the Buddha’s sacred bones which are venerated as sacred relics with Shakyamuni Buddha’s holy spirit. The Buddha’s sacred bones are called Hosshin-shari in Buddhist term.
This Buddha’s sacred relics are considered the most precious object of veneration in Buddhism.
There are two true pieces of bones of the Buddha in Agon Shu. One is given to Agon Shu by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama in 1983 and the other by then President Jayawardene of Sri Lanka in April 1986. Each relic comes with a historic document issued by the Dalai Lama and the official document by Sri Lanka, attesting the authenticity of these relics.
Unlike many Mahayana Buddhist orders that worship idols such as wooden or painted statues, the members of Agon Shu worship the Buddha’s sacred bones with the holy spirit. The members of Agon Shu are deeply appreciative of this fact and are able to deepen their religious faith guided by the Buddha.
2. Dharma: Methods for ascetic practices.
1. The Buddha’s Jobutsu-ho or dharma of attaining Buddhahood
It shows ways to sever one’s karma and be liberated from one’s innen, regardless of the dead or the living. Kiriyama Kancho calls Shichika Sanjushichidohon, which was taught by the Buddha in Agon Sutras as the Seven Systems and Thirty Seven Curricula to become a Buddha.
2. The Dharma of the Wish-fulfilling Jewel
The Dharma of the Wish-fulfilling Jewel, the highest method of ritual practice, is a true masterpiece. In esoteric Buddhism, the method is considered the ultimate, most esoteric ritual practice in Buddhism. The Dharma of the Wish-fulfilling Jewel of Agon Buddhism produces particularly spectacular signs and miracles because it takes genuine "Holy Relics" of the Buddha as its object of veneration (honzon). Kiriyama Kancho received transmission of this dharma from the great Abbot Venerable Jishu Oda, the resident priest of the Ninnaji Temple. It is quite rare to find a spiritual leader who can perform this dharma.
3. The Buddha’s Dharma – Gumonjisomei-ho
The Shingon Esoteric School has a dharma called Gumonjisomei-ho, which is said to make a person a genius. Based on his own practice and experience, Kiriyama Kancho incorporated the secret method of developing charkas in Kundalini yoga from India and the secret method of breathing techniques of Taoism in China into this Gumonjisomei-ho and came up with his own unique method of the Buddha’s Dharma of Gumonjisomei-ho.
Kiriyama Kancho, who trains his disciples and followers with this method, states in his book that
“If I had to list one cause for unhappiness of the human race, I would have to say that it is the foolishness the human race has. If humans were a little wiser, there would not have been any wars or environmental destruction; they would have created a peaceful and happy world with a prosperous coexistence. There is a system, which would make a human being wise and even make him a genius. This technique is called the Buddha’s Dharma of Gumonjisomei-ho. What is superior about this technique is that it does not just teach the know-how, but it transforms and improves a human being under the sacred principle of religion. We wouldn’t want to make a demon into a genius
The tragedy of the contemporary society lies in the fact that the science and technology human race has created greatly surpasses the ability of the human being, which he no longer can control. This is the cause of the environmental destruction that continues to take place. Furthermore, the increased societal power has destroyed traditional ethics and morals and even religions. Sadly, the human race is unable to create new and alternative ethics, morals and societal guidelines. The society has no choice but to take the road to ruin.
What we now see is the emergence of a new human race with supernatural abilities that can control this society.”
3. Sangha: refers to a Buddhist order and at other times refers to a monk who leads a Buddhist order.
With Seiyu Kiriyama as the spiritual leader, Agon Shu now possesses sacred Buddha’s relics as the object of veneration, Jobutsu-ho taught by the Buddha to sever all karmas, Nyoihojuho that bestows the virtues of Gedatsuhosho or liberation and the Buddha’s Dharma of Gumonjisomeiho that creates human excellence for the 21st century. We believe that Agon Shu, having these three special methods of practice, is the sangha that has the mission of the messiah who saves the human race from the Earth’s crisis and prevents the destruction of the human race.