Shugendō Now film screening and informal discussion with producer Mark Patrick McGuire

“Shugendō Now is a beautifully filmed, aesthetically pleasing, and religiously challenging presentation of traditional ascetic practices…. One learns not just about traditional Japanese religion, but how it is alive and fits into contemporary Japanese society, as well as its more cross‐cultural appeal. It has stunning and well edited visuals, a fine and appealing sound track, and informative yet unobtrusive narration.”

-Paul Swanson

Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

About the Film:

How does one integrate lessons learned from nature in daily life?

This feature documentary is an experiential journey into the mystical practices of Japanese mountain asceticism. In Shugendō (The Way of Acquiring Power), practitioners perform ritual actions from shamanism, “Shintō,” Daoism, and Tantric Buddhism. They seek experiential truth of the teachings during arduous climbs in sacred mountains. Through the peace and beauty of the natural world, practitioners purify the six roots of perception, revitalize their energy and reconnect with their truest nature – all while grasping the fundamental interconnectedness with nature and all sentient beings.

How does one return to the city after an enlightening experience in the mountains?

More poetic than analytical, this film explores how a group of modern Japanese people integrate the myriad ways mountain learning interacts with urban life. With intimate camera work and a sensual sound design the viewer is taken from deep within the Kumano mountains to the floating worlds of Osaka and Tokyo and back again.

Might the two be seen as one?

This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Program in Religious Studies.

Shugendo Now website

Shugendo Now review