Yet in 1038, once Myoson of Onjo-ji Temple became the Tendai-zasu (the highest post of Tendai sect), the "sansoron" (the mountain debate) broke out; Ryoen, who was expected by Yorimichi to persuade the priests residing in Enryaku-ji Temple, was defeated in the debate, and what's worse, the following year he was blamed for gathering the clergy around him and inciting a crowd of 3000 priests to march on Yorimichi's Takakura palace and stage a goso (forceful protest).
ところが、長暦2年（1038年）、天台座主に園城寺明尊が任ぜられたことから勃発した「山相論」において、頼通から延暦寺大衆(仏教)の説得を期待された良円は説得に失敗したのみならず、翌年には彼らに擁されて頼通の高倉殿に大衆3千人と強訴する事件を引き起こして罪に問われる。