Buddhist tales of Kamo no Chōmei about lay people and worldly passions.

Abstract

Kamo no Chōmei’s Hosshinshū (early 13th century) contains tales not only about
righteous monks, but also about lay people from noble courtiers to commoners.
Their examples show how everyday life itself pushes a person to «escape from this
world», to enter the Buddhist path. The narration focuses on suffering, natural and
social disasters, as well as unquenched passions such as love, vanity, greed, or on a
completely prosperous existence, when it is suddenly revealed to a person in all its
senseless impermanence. Anything can awaken a person’s heart, and in this sense a
layman and a monk are equal: neither learning, nor even diligent adherence to the
precepts prevent the heart from dozing in ignorance – nor passions, nor sins prevent
awakening. But if the heart has once awakened, then the best way for a person after
that is to become a hermit. The appendix to the article contains a translation of the story
«On Saishōgonsuke Narikiyo’s son living on the Mount Kōya» made by the author.
Keywords: Japanese Buddhism, setsuwa tales, Kamo no Chōmei, Hosshinshū