In short Kuji-In is this in essence -
Nine Symbols = Nine Syllables = Nine Seals = Nine Gates = Nine Chakras = Nine Levels of Consciousness
The kuji-in technique is composed of a combination of the application of the mudra, mantra, and the mandala or kanji symbol in this case. Here, I will give the mudra, or hand position, and the associated mantra in Japanese and Sanskrit. There are focus points - chakra areas, however it is better to start association of mudra with mantra, and sometime later do a deeper analysis of the energy centers when one is familiar with each mudra and mantra.
Rin - Dokko-in/kongoshin-in, "Seal of the Thunderbolt."
Mudra - There are two hand positions commonly used with this syllable or chakra. In one, the middle fingers are extended while the other fingers turn inward with the finger tips touching.
Mantra -
Japanese: On bai shira man taya sowaka
Sanskrit: Om vajraman taya swaha
(Pronounced: Om vajramaanatayaa Swaha)
Notes: The mudra dokko-in is associated with Tammon-ten/Bishamon-ten. Whereas the mudra kongoshin-in is the mudra of Taishaku-ten (Indra). The mantra is associated with Tamon-ten or Bishamon-ten.
Kyo - Daikongorin-in, "Seal of the Great Thunderbolt."
Mudra - Extend your index fingers and bend your middle fingers over your index fingers so that the tips of your thumbs are touching the tips of your middle fingers. Interlace all your other fingers with the finger tips touching.
Mantra -
Japanese: On isha naya in tara ya sowaka
Sanskrit: Om isha naya yantraya swaha
(Pronounced: Om ishaanayaa yantrayaa Swaha!)
Toh - Gejishi-in, "Seal of the Outer Lion."
Mudra - point your thumbs and the last two fingers of both hands forward while keeping your index and middle fingers interlaced inside your hands with the finger tips touching. In an alternative mudra, the tips of the small and ring fingers are touching and pointed forward. The index finger touches the web between the middle and ring finger on both hands. The middle finger turns in to touch the tip of the index finger on both hands. The thumb tips are together and parallel.
Mantra -
Japanese: On je te ra shi itara ji ba ra ta no-o sowaka
Sanskrit: Om jit rashi yatra jiva ratna swaha
(Pronounced: Om jitraashi yatra jivaratna Swaha!)
Notes: This mudra is not found in Shingon. But is rather a Shugendo mudra. The mudra is associated with the pair of lions which stand guard over Buddhist temples, in particular the lion who utters the sound "a", the alpha.
Sha - Naijishi-in "Seal of the Inner Lion."
Mudra - the small and index fingers are extended and touching. The middle and ring fingers are intertwined inward with the finger tips touching. The thumbs are together with the tips touching. For the alternate version, the tips of the small fingers are touching, parallel and projected forward. The tips of the ring fingers touch the web between the index and ring fingers on the opposite hands. The middle fingers curl inward to touch the tips of the ring fingers. The tips of the index fingers touch and project forward. The tips of the thumbs touch and project upward.
Mantra -
Japanese: On ha ya baï shi ra man ta ya sowaka
Sanskrit: Om vajraman taya swaha
(Pronounced: Om vajramaanatayaa Swaha)
Notes: This mudra is not found in Shingon. But is rather a Shugendo mudra. The mudra is associated with the pair of lions which stand guard over Buddhist temples, in particular the lion who utters the sound "Un" (hu), the omega. Also, the Sanskrit word haya as in the prefix of the God Hayagriva means "horse" (bato - Jpn.) and is used to denote the concept of "swift", "to ride", "to harness", etc.
Kai - Gebaku-in "Seal of the Outer Bonds."
Mudra - the finger tips are touching the web between the fingers on the opposite hand. The thumbs are overlapping and touching the web between the thumb and index finger on the opposite hand.
Mantra -
Japanese: On no-o maku san man da ba za ra dan kan
Sanskrit: Om namah samanta vajranam hâm
(Pronounced: Om namah samanta vajranam ham!)
Notes: This is the "One Word Mantra" of Fudo Myoo (Acalanatha). Additionally, the Sanskrit bija/bonji (esoteric syllable) ha (Kan - Jpn.) is a concept that cannot be exactly defined. It is the bija of Hayagriva and also Acala, and symbolizes a divine weapon of sorts, like a vajra spear or vajra sword thrown or wielded against an enemy, and denotes something like "split", break", "devour", or "crush", referring to the devouring of all evils.
Jin - Naibaku-in "Seal of the Inner Bonds."
Mudra - the small, ring and middle fingers are interlaced with the tips touching. The tips of the index fingers and thumbs are touching and the two circles formed are interlaced.
Mantra -
Japanese: On aganaya in maya sowaka
Sanskrit: Om agnaya yan maya swaha
(Pronounced: Om agnayaa yanmayaa Swaha!)
Retsu - Chiken-in, "Seal of the Wisdom Fist"
Mudra - make a fist with the index finger extended. Wrap the fingers of the other hand around the index finger with the tip of the opposite thumb and index finger contacting the tip of the extended finger.
Mantra -
Japanese: On I ro ta ki cha no ga ji ba tai sowaka
Sanskrit: Om jyota hi chandoga jiva tay swaha
(Pronounced: Om jyotihi chandoga jiva tay Swaha!)
Notes: This is the primary mudra associated with Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana)
Zai - "Seal of the Ring of the Sun"
Mudra- index and thumbs touching - as shown.
Mantra -
Japanese: On Chi ri Chi i ba ro ta ya sowaka
Sanskrit: Om sRj iva Rtaya swaha
(Pronounced: Om srija iva ritaya Swaha!)
Zen - Hobyo-in/ongyo-in "Seal of the Hidden Form"
Mudra - the fingers are in a cupping position, one hand inside the other. The thumb tips are touching.
Mantra -
Japanese: On a ra ba sha no-o sowaka
Sanskrit: Om ah ra pa cha na dhi
Notes: This is mantra of Monju bosatsu (Mañjusri Bodhisattva).
The mudra hobyo-in is associated with Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra) in the Kongo-Kai mandara, as well as Ichiji Kinrin. Whereas the mudra ongyo-in is a mudra associated with Marishi-Ten (Marici).
Additionally, each letter of this bija mantra is associated with some point of the Dharma, and all together are referred to as the syllable-doors (to the Dharma). The 'power' of these syllables is somewhat cryptically explained, but the point is that all of the reflections are pointing towards the nature of sunyata.
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