Diligence - Shojin

To make an effort wholeheartedly. To eliminate evil, practice good, and work single-mindedly. A translation of the Sanskrit word vīrya. In Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures, it is transliterated as Viriya or Biriya, and is also translated as diligence or diligence. It is one of the eightfold path, which are the practical virtues of Buddhism. It was later organized and counted among the four right efforts, five roots, and five strengths, which indicate the workings of the mind. It was considered one of the six paramitas, which are the basis of Mahayana Buddhism, and was highly valued. In Japan, it also means purifying the body and mind, cutting off worldly ties and becoming pure, and living the life of a Buddhist monk. It has also come to mean a pure vegetarian diet, not eating meat from fish, birds, or animals.

[Yoshiaki Ishigami]

Derived from a Buddhist term meaning to devote oneself to Buddhist training, it refers to withdrawing from the secular world for a certain period of time, such as before a festival, to moderate one's mind and body and avoid impurity. Sejin can be broadly divided into three elements: fire, food, and water. One wears purified robes and stays in a shojin-ya (a Buddhist lodge), purifying oneself by taking a water ablution in the morning and evening. Meals are cooked over a clean fire separately from family and others, and one avoids eating meat as well as strong-smelling foods such as garlic. Some people stay in seclusion for a long period of time, distinguishing between sansai (araimi) and chisai (maimi), but usually one begins about a week before and stops sesjin-otoshi (a Buddhist ritual to stop the practice of sesjin) when the festival is over.

[Masaru Sasaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ひたすら努力すること。悪を断ち善を実践し、ひたすら進み勤めること。梵(ぼん)語ビールヤvīryaの訳。漢訳仏典では毘梨耶(びりや)、毘離耶(びりや)と音写し、勤、精勤(しょうごん)などとも訳す。仏教の実践徳目である八正道(はっしょうどう)の一つ。のちに整理され、心の働きを示す四正勤(しょうごん)、五根、五力(りき)などにも数えられる。大乗仏教の基本である六波羅蜜(ろくはらみつ)の一つにあげられ重視された。日本では、身心を清めること、俗縁を断ち切って清浄にし、仏門の生活を送ることもいう。さらに一般には、魚、鳥、獣などの肉を食べない、純粋の菜食をいうようになった。

［石上善應］

　仏道修行に励む意の仏教用語から転じて、祭前などの一定期間世俗から離れて心身を慎み不浄を避けることをいう。精進は火・食物・水の三つの要素に大別できる。浄衣を着用して精進屋に籠(こも)り、朝夕水垢離(みずごり)をとって身を清める。食事は別火(べっか)といって家族などとは別に清浄な火で調理したもので、肉食はもちろんのことニンニクなどの臭気の強いものを慎む。散斎(さんさい)（あらいみ）・致斎(ちさい)（まいみ）と区別して長期間籠ることもあるが、普通は1週間前ぐらいから始め、終われば精進落としをする。

［佐々木勝］

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