PACIFIC WORLD - The Institute of Buddhist Studies

22Pacific WorldOne should not forget feeling obligation ( =on). Many people saythat we have four important on, but few really understand the truemeaning of on and return the obligation…. I feel on not only to thenation, to the parents, but also to the Head Temple for I owe whatI am to the Temple entirely; I was born in a lay family and chosenby the Temple to enter clerical life. 9Recognizing his potential, the Higashi Hongwanji sect sent him to Tokyofor study in 1882. At the Imperial University he studied Western philosophyintensively, graduating in philosophy as a student of the noted ErnestFenollosa (1853–1908). 10 Here Kiyozawa studied the dialectical philosophyof G. W. Hegel, while also being greatly influenced by numerousWestern philosophers such as Spinoza, Fichte, Schelling, Leibniz, Spencer,and Lotze. He graduated in 1887.While he advanced intellectually, fast becoming an influential leader,Kiyozawa was summoned by the sect to return to Kyoto in 1888 to becomeprincipal of the Kyoto Prefectural Middle School, administered by theHigashi Hongwanji sect. Responding to their request, Kiyozawa wasalways mindful of his obligation to the sect for its support, so thatdespite his sense of insincerity, he was quite sincere.As a Shinsh¥ priest, over the years he loyally served the Øtani branchof Hongwanji in various educational roles, beginning with his tenure asprincipal of the Kyoto Prefectural Middle School. Soon after assuming thisposition he married into the priestly Kiyozawa family, which served theSaihøji temple in Øhama in Aichi-ken. He also lectured on Western historyof philosophy at the Takakura Daigakuryø, the seminary for trainingpriests, in Kyoto. As the product of these lectures he authored thefamous The Skeleton of a Philosophy of Religion in 1892, which wasthen translated into English and distributed at the World Parliament ofReligion in Chicago in 1893.In this early period Kiyozawa has been described as maintaining goodsocial relations, and while severe in manner, he had few friends who weremostly intellectuals. 11 In his bearing he was reported to be “young andmodern…a very up-to-date, fashionable and smart person with a scent ofFrench perfume.” 12However, while mourning the death of his mother, he also realizedthat he had not attained a living faith within himself. Thereupon in 1890 heresigned from his position as principal and began a life of severe asceticism,though he continued to lecture at the Middle School and the Hongwanjiseminary. He transformed himself from a modern, intellectual gentlemanto a monk-like individual with stubble hair, coarse robes, geta, and byeating only meager food. Following a Self Power (jiriki) path of “theminimum possible” life, he tried to experience the spirit of Buddhism.