A closer look
Initiations in Japanese Shingon Buddhism leave absolutely zero room for choice. Brought from China by the legendary monk Kukai, the esoteric Kechien Kanjō ritual involves blindfolding a practitioner and having them literally throw a flower onto a sprawling, highly detailed diagram of the cosmos called a Mandala. The specific deity the flower lands on instantly becomes the mystic's karmic patron for life. It’s an ancient, profound game of cosmic roulette that violently shatters the illusion of free will to enforce a deep esoteric bond.
