THE SACRED MOUNTAIN

Our Tendai tradition began some 1200 years ago when our Dharma grandfather, Saicho, established his main temple in the mountains above the main cities of Nara and Kyoto, overlooking beautiful Lake Biwa. Hie-zan (Mount Hiei) has been the home for Tendai ever since and comprises dozens of small and large temples and shrines, all spread over an expansive natural landscape. The entire grounds of Hiezan Enryakuji is thousands of acres of natural mountain and forest, which was designated by the UN as a world cultural and heritage site in 1994. I can attest to the stunning beauty of The Mountain, as it is called locally. My visit in 2013 left me with powerful impressions and memories of our own Dharma home.

 
If you would like some detail and images of the site and many of the buildings on Enryakuji, here is an official brochure which provides photos and description.

http://www.hieizan.or.jp/_att/english.pdf


Yours in the Dharma,                          
Innen, doshu
om namo amida butsu