Founder Master Shinjo Ito
Master Shinjo Ito, born Fumiaki Ito on March 28, 1906, in Akita, Yamanashi, Japan, began his adult life as an engineer. In 1936, he made a life-changing decision, leaving behind his comfortable lifestyle to dedicate himself fully to Buddhist training at Daigoji monastery, a Shingon Buddhism temple, in Kyoto.
He was given the name “Shinjo”, meaning True Vehicle. In 1939, he completed the Ein transmission for the lay dharma stream and in 1943 he was conferred as a Great Acharya or Great Dharma Master after mastering the esoteric monastic dharma stream, which allowed Master Shinjo to establish his own lineage of practice.
Guided by a deep wish to make the wisdom of Buddhism available to all people, he founded Shinnyo-en, a path rooted in Esoteric Buddhism and inspired by the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Buddha’s final teachings.
He continued to teach, guide, and support others in their spiritual journey until his passing on July 19, 1989. His vision lives on through the practices of Shinnyo-en today.
Key Teachings
Finding Peace, Healing, and Happiness
Everyone of us have the inherent ability to awaken to our inner light—shinnyo.
Master Shinjo Ito and his wife Tomoji believed that everyone has the potential to awaken to their inner light, or shinnyo. This light is not something we need to find outside ourselves—it’s already within each of us, waiting to be uncovered through sincere effort and spiritual practice.
The founders of the Shinnyo tradition started out with the direct intent to do what they could, even in small ways, for each person to find happiness.
Early Days
In the 1930s, as Japan was going through a period of uncertainty and change, a quiet sense of unrest was felt across the country. During this time, in a small town west of Tokyo, words began to spread about a young couple who welcomed those seeking comfort and guidance. As the number of visitors continued to increase, Shinjo and Tomoji Ito began to search for a systematised method of training that would help to cultivate each person’s inner light & ability to pave their way towards inner peace, fulfillment, and happiness. The spiritual path and community that was established became what is today known as Shinnyo-en.
Master Shinjo’s Reflection
“I entered the priesthood hoping that Shingon Buddhism would help me guide people towards real happiness. I completed all the training at the monastery, but soon faced a challenge, because Shingon is an esoteric tradition, its teachings were only shared with ordained monastic priests.
This raised an important question: how could I share what I had learned with lay people, those living everyday lives, outside of the monastic path?
With the support of my wife, Tomoji, and without knowing exactly where the journey would lead, I committed myself to developing a practice that would allow lay practitioners to attain the same spiritual depth as any priest.”
Not just a spiritual master, he was also an artist
Master Shinjo Ito, was not only a respected spiritual teacher but also a talented and expressive artist. After completing his training in Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, he dedicated his life to both sharing the Buddha’s teachings and creating art that touched the hearts of many.
He became known as one of Japan’s most versatile Buddhist sculptors, creating statues, portraits, reliefs, calligraphy, and even photography. His artworks reflect both deep respect for traditional Buddhist imagery and a gentle, human warmth that brings his artworks to life.
One of his most well-known works is the Great Parinirvana Image, a 16-foot-long reclining statue of the Buddha at the moment of entering nirvana, completed in 1957. He also sculpted busts of teachers, friends, and fellow practitioners—capturing not just how they looked, but the feeling of who they were.