There has always been an air of mystery, beauty, and fascination sorrounding Mikkyo.

Richly colored silk paintings of divine beings, melodious sounds of harmonized human voices, and intricate ritual movements inspire a mystical state of mind to even a casual observer. What do the many complex patterns of figures represent? What is the meaning of the chants in ancient languages? What relashionships do the movements create? What do the many complex patterns of life all around us represent? What relationships do we have with everything around us? These are the sorts of questions practitioners of Mikkyo seek to explore.

This course will explore the "secret teachings" known as Mikkyo, as developed the Tendai and Shingon schools. We will study where they came from, important persons in its formation and dissemination, the theories underlying the teachings, and how Mikkyo is practiced. By the end of this course you will have a good foundation in Mikkyo and will be ready to do further research and practice through subsequent course.