Writings on Eastern Religion
The Inner Dharma writing project began because of my interest in esoteric Buddhism, Taoism, Yoga, and the Japanese mountain religion of Shugendō. Below are essays on both eastern philosophy, especially relating to older martial traditions from China and Japan.
May 2026
Last in a series. We examine a seal of transmission of self-protective methods dated 1675 and compare it against a different line of transmission from 1812.
May 2026
Examining some evidence for the genesis of upper-level Shinkage-ryū teachings based on information available about Aisu Ikōsai's founding vision of Sarutahiko, Kamiizumi's early training in Kashima, and the arrangement of Shinkage-ryū kata over time.
May 2026
Tracing the threads from the legendary Kyō Hachi Ryū and Kiichi Hōgen at Kurama, through the tengu pantheon of Mt. Atago, Kōyasan, and Kotohira, to the eight cipher-names Sekishūsai used to hide the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū Tengushō kata in his picture catalog.
April 2025
Last year I began additional training in the union of Yoga and Buddhism offered through Tibet House. As part of this training, an essay comparing the Astanga (8-limbs) of Patanjali with the Buddhist Noble Eightfold path.
July 2012
Some notes on Japanese mountain religion from the Tōhoku region of Japan and its importance to pracititioners of arts derived from the teachings of Takeda Sokaku.