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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 39

Caring for the World

By Ven Dr Nathan Jishin Michon

Venerable Dr Nathan Jishin Michon is a Japan Society for the Promotion
of Science (JSPS) researcher at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan and a
founding director of the “Inward Journeys Japan” initiative through KYOEN.
Jishin is co-author of the Oxford research Encyclopedia entry on Buddhist
chaplaincy and editor of volumes such as Refuge in the Storm: Buddhist
Voices in Crisis Care and A Thousand Hands: A Guidebook to Caring for your
Buddhist Community. Jishin is ordained both as a Shingon Buddhist priest and
as an interfaith minister through the Unity and Diversity World Council for
chaplaincy work. Jishin previously completed an MDiv in Buddhist chaplaincy
at University of the West and a PhD in Culture and History of Religions
through Graduate Theological Union and the Institute of Buddhist Studies.
Benny Liow had a discussion with Ven Michon about his experience practicing
in both the Thai Forest tradition and Shingon, differences between Tibetan
Buddhism and Shingon, and his role as a Buddhist priest in crisis care.

Benny: You are ordained as a Buddhist priest in the his student. Although some people are surprised, I
Shingon lineage, and also practice in the Thai Forest think Thai Forest and Shingon meditation practices fit
tradition. How and when did this deep interest in rather smoothly together. Both offer many different
Buddhism started? meditations in a toolbox-like approach and I find those

tools can compliment each other very well.
Michon: I grew up in Michigan, near Canada, where
there was almost no exposure to Buddhism, but I often How is Shingon Buddhism which is also Vajrayāna
thought about religion and had spiritual experiences. different from Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayāna?
When I entered college and read my first books about
Buddhism, it felt almost like I was finally reading the In some ways, they are very similar and Shingon even has
words for something I felt for a long time. I almost had a close relationship with the Dalai Lama in modern
instantly knew I was Buddhist. However, there were times. He has been to the main Shingon university,
no monastics, temples, or meditation teachers I knew provided empowerments there a couple times, and visited
in the area. So it was still a couple years before I finally other Shingon temples, and sent some of his monks to
tried formal meditation. I began in Zen, during a study with Shingon priests. However, Shingon basically
study abroad experience to Japan. I practiced a lot of comes from an earlier dissemination of Vajrayāna
Zen meditation for several years, but later felt more Buddhism that made its way out of India and into Tibet
connection to the Thai Forest teachings. I am incredibly and China. After this, a newer dissemination went into
indebted to a couple of my Thai Forest teachers who Tibet, but not eastward. So this is where some differences
deeply impacted my practice and life. In many ways, come from. But also, Shingon has over 1200 years of
that is still the base of my personal practice. However, history in Japan. Of course, traditions change, develop,
I also met a Shingon priest who I learned so much and adapt over time. So there have been numerous little
from, and from our very first encounter, he answered changes and adaptations with local ascetic traditions
all my questions so clearly and I knew I wanted to be and practices, like Shugendo. Sometimes combining