An Introduction to the Simorghian Culture and ... - Kaveh Farrokh

third Esoteric Buddhism (9th Century) and fourth Pure Land Buddhism (12th Century).
Vijnâna-vâdin flourished under the name Hossôshû 法相宗 in Nara era (710-794) (Nakamura.
Iwanami Dictionary of Buddhism, p627-628, 742).
Origin
Vijnâna-vâdin 唯識派(Yuishikiha), also called Yôgcâra 瑜伽行派(Yugagyôha) was
founded by Maitreya 弥勒(Miroku), succeeded and expanded by Asanga 無着(Mujaku).
Maitreya is believed to have lived in 4th-5th centuries. Asanga lived in 4th century and came
from a Brahmin family living in present-day Peshawar (Pakistan). The historicity ofMaitreya
is a matter of controversy. According to tradition Asanga received the inspiration for his
teaching direct from Maitreya Buddha. They thought all the material creatures are illusion,
there only exists manas (mind), ultimately the great manas. They practiced yoga to attain this
recognition. Vijnâna-vâdin is thought to have prepared philosophical and practical basis for
the Esoteric Buddhism. (Fischer-Schreiber. The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen,
p137, 12; Nakamura. Iwanami Dictionary of Buddhism, p810)
Link to Mithra
According to Manichaeism, Mihryazd (the Living Spirit) is the creator of the cosmos,
creatures and the reincarnation process by his maya. It seems there is a certain link between
Manichaean Mihryazd (or rather Iranian Mithra) and Maitreya of Vijnâna-vâdin.
Esoteric Buddhism 密教
When 9 th century began, Esoteric Buddhism was brought into Japan. In the Esoteric
Buddhism, Miroku (Messaih-Kannon) was identified with Mahâvairocana 大日 and
began his new history.
Origin
Esoteric Buddhism was formed in 7 th century in northwest India (Sacastan), modern
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some Japanese scholars think Esoteric Buddhism is a revival of
Indic asura worship in guise of Buddhism under strong influence of Iranian and Hellenism.
The origin of Mahâvairocana is Mithra more than likely. Mithra-Zeus of Bactria,
maga-brahmin, Bamiyan, all these indicate that Mithra became Mi-l’әk (Miroku), then
developed to be Mahâvairocana by absorbing Aditya, Surya and Helios.
Mahâvairocana’s Japanese name is Dainichi 大日. Dai 大 means great, Nichi 日 means
the Sun. Therefore Dainichi means the Great Sun (God).
There are ten thousands of websites which introduce this theory in Japan today.
This theory still has some disputations, however, combining it with Shingon doctrine,
there remains no room for disputations nor refutations. The Shingon doctrine is explained
in section “Shingon-sect”.
Remark
It is stated about Dainichi (Mahâvairocana) in Iwanami’s Dictionary of Buddhism as
follows (p53):
Dainichi has a keen relationship with ancient Iranian Ahura Mazda in its origin, and
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