"Shingon Buddhism arose in the eighth century and remains one of Japan's most important sects, at present claiming some 12 million adherents. Despite this prominence, Shingon remains uninvestigated territory for many Western students of Asian religion and culture. Here, Mark Unno illuminates the most central of Shingon practices, the tantric practice of the Mantra of Light, complete with translations and an in-depth exploration of the scholar-monk Myoe Koben, the Mantra of Light's foremost proponent."--BOOK JACKET.