Inzo - positions / postures / seals

Kiko deals with GoDai the 5 Elements of Shingon: Chi = Earth; Mizu = Water; Hi = Fire; Kaze = Wind; and Ku = Emptiness. We use the GoDai when we create Inzo. Inzo are postures and movements that seal the spells and invest our intent with energy. When we create the Inzo (seals/postions) with our hands, each digit represents one of the elements. In the esoteric teaching: The thumb is Ku; The index/pointing finger is wind; The middle finger is Fire; The ring finger is Water; and the little finger is earth. In the exoteric tradition they are reversed, how confusing is that? When we continue the Inzo with our bodies... Ku is the centered in crown of the head; from the third eye up to infinity and throughout the cosmos. Kaze includes the nose mouth and throat. Hi is from the bottom of the neck to the solar plexus and centered in the Heart. Mizu is the stomach including the solar plexus and the tanden Chi is the whole lower half of the body also including the tanden and tail/root/sacred bone. Each of these Inzo can be combined to represent different energies. Each energy has it's own sets of sounds and meanings that correspond with eachother and interact. In our tradition there are currently 1664 + 2 = 1666 different combinations being used; But it is said there are 18,400 of them. Or sometimes we just say 10,000 which can mean infinite; since ultimately everything we think, say, and do is Kiko.

Natural Kiko of Jizo Bosatsu

There are 'natural' kiko that everyone knows. Holding up an empty hand to say hello for instance. This movement says 'have no fear... my hand is empty... I'm not carrying any weapons.'

Another natural one is to hold out our open hand to offer someone something.

Walking is a natural kiko. Walking upright or being able to maintain a completely upright posture is a human practice... one of the movements that both demonstrates our humanness and promotes it as well.

The combination of these three, by holding up our right hand and offering with our left while standing slightly on one foot (the right one, in this case) as if walking, is the inzo (seal) for Jizo Bosatsu (a saint of Daijozen-shu). When combined with the chant 'ka ka kabi sam ma ei sowa ka' we can address the conditions of traveling both through this life, and any life, in any time or space. To Repeat the ritual 7, 49, or 4900 times has quite an amazing effect.

As with all rituals our intent is very important. How often we perform it... how many times we repeat it... The consciousness, mindfulness, and passion we have when preparing, performing, and cleaning up after really begins to interact with ourselves and our environment.

There are 1000's of these kiko, and there are over 1600 of these combinations currently used in our tradition. Each one includes an inzo, like this one; which attaches to a saint or ancient master (or two); a root sound ('ka' in the case of Jizo Bostasu); this root sound becomes a short phrase (like the one mentioned above); then there may be a paragraph sized incantation; plus usually a longer chant and/or story associated with the saint.

Sokushin Jobutsu

Kiko is based on the basic premise of Shingon Buddhism.
Shingon-shu is the school of the true sound/word.
The basic premise of this school is Sokushin Jo(u)butsu.
Sokushin Jobutsu = Attaining Buddhahood in this very life/body.
This is done through San-Mitsu.
San-Mitsu = The Practice of the 3 Mysteries.
First is the Body. We form the inzo(u) or seals with our hands and bodies, these are our positions. With our breath we move between these seals from one to another.
The second is speech/sound. It refers to our breath, and the 'shingon' or true words we read, chant, and speak.
The third is the mind, and refers to our meditation. We dwell in a meditative state throughout every heartbeat and breath.