In Buddhism (including Kōyasan Shingon):
Enlightenment (bodhi) is not a once-for-all, world-saving historical event.
It is not comparable to the Resurrection of Christ, which is:
unique,
unrepeatable,
salvific by belief in that event.
Instead:
Buddhist understanding of enlightenment
Bodhi is realizable by anyone with the causes and conditions.
Śākyamuni’s awakening is exemplary, not exclusive.
The historical story (Bodhi tree, night of awakening) is didactic, not salvific.
Shingon Buddhism formulation (very clear here):
Dainichi Nyorai (the Buddha’ body) is always enlightened.
Awakening is ontological and present, not historical.
Practice does not “remember” enlightenment; it enacts it.
Hence 即身成仏 (sokushin jōbutsu) — awakening now, in this body.
Key contrast with Christianity.
Christianity vs. Buddhism (Shingon)
Resurrection is a single historical event.
Enlightenment is repeatable and timeless.
Salvation depends on belief in that event.
Liberation depends on realization.
Christ alone resurrects.
All beings can awaken.
History-centered.
Practice-centered.
“Enlightenment is not Christ resurrection”
—that is doctrinally exact, especially from a Kōyasan Shingon point of view.
Buddhist calendar-keeper functions symbolically rather than historically, and Bodhi Day is secondary in Shingon Buddhism.
