Meditation In Shinto: A Spiritual Practice Or Cultural Custom?

Meditation is not a formal part of Shinto, an indigenous animistic faith of Japan, which has few sacred texts or formal religious practices. However, visitors to Shinto shrines often engage in periods of informal meditation as they commune in silence with the gods. Shinto is a path to communion with the divine through nature, and some Shinto rituals, such as misogi, a waterfall purification ritual, can be considered meditative practices.

Meditation is not a formal part of Shinto, but it is common at Shinto shrines

Meditation is not a formal part of Shinto, an indigenous faith of Japan, which is an animistic religion with no central deity and few sacred texts or formal religious practices. However, meditation is a common occurrence at Shinto shrines, where visitors often engage in periods of informal meditation while communing in silence with the gods.

Shinto shrines, which are typically outdoors, usually lack any type of formal meditation space, and people seldom go there with the sole intention to meditate. Instead, they go to visit the souls of the deceased, pray for good fortune, and honour the spirit of Nature. These activities may involve contemplation, but rarely formal meditation.

Shinto is a traditional religion of Japan that involves the worship of kami, or deities, and the observance of rituals and customs. It has a long history in Japan and has played an important role in the culture and way of life of the Japanese people. The word "Shinto" means "the path of the gods" in Japanese and can also be rendered as "kami no michi".

Shinto is said to have evolved from ancient nature-worshipping religions and is characterised by the belief that everything, from sentient beings to rocks, waterfalls, and trees, has an innate quality. If this essence or spirit is awe-inspiring enough to spark a feeling of wonder in people, they worship it as a kami. Some of the most popular kami include Inari, the kami of rice, agriculture, and prosperity; Amaterasu, the sun goddess; and Hachiman, the protector kami of warriors.

While meditation is not a central practice of Shinto, there are other forms of spiritual practices and rituals associated with the religion. One example is misogi, a ritual purification practice that involves washing the entire body. People often travel to sacred waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, such as Mount Ontake and the Kii mountain range, to perform misogi. This practice is believed to purify the individual and foster a connection with the kami.

Shinto is an animistic religion with no central deity and few sacred texts or formal practices

Shinto is a polytheistic religion that revolves around supernatural entities called kami, which are sacred spirits believed to inhabit all things, including forces of nature and prominent landscape locations. Humans can become kami after they die and are revered as ancestral kami. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu is considered Shinto's most important kami.

Unlike many monotheistic religions, Shinto does not have absolutes, and there is no absolute right and wrong. It is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Shinto shrines, which are typically outdoors, are the places of worship and the homes of kami. While there is no formal meditation space in Shinto shrines, visitors often engage in periods of informal meditation while communing in silence with the gods.

Shinto occupies a ceremonial function in Japanese society rather than that of a formal religious practice. Purification, renewal, and communion with the Divine through Nature are important aspects of Shinto ceremonies, along with reconciliation with ancestral spirits and a strengthened sense of community. While Shinto may not have a strong tradition of formal meditation, it remains a vital vehicle for religious expression in Japan.

Shinto is often cited as one of Japan's two main religions, alongside Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan in the 6th century. The two religions have co-existed and even complemented each other, with kami being considered manifestations of Buddha. However, in the Meiji Period, Shinto was made the state religion of Japan, and efforts were made to separate it from Buddhism. After World War II, Shinto and the state were separated again.

Shinto is indigenous to Japan and involves the worship of kami, or deities

Shinto, or "the way of the gods", is indigenous to Japan and is as old as the country itself. It is Japan's major religion alongside Buddhism.

Shinto has no founder, sacred scriptures, or formal religious practices such as meditation. However, it is deeply rooted in Japanese traditions and involves the worship of kami, or deities.

Kami are sacred spirits that take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers, and fertility. They can also be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or the spirits of venerated dead people. Humans can become kami after death and are revered by their families as ancestral kami.

The concept of kami is broad and ever-changing. While some kami are considered ancient ancestors, others are anthropomorphic spirits with nobility and authority. The number of Shinto deities is vast and includes natural phenomena, primary elements, and even specific shapes of rocks and waterfalls.

The worship of kami is central to Shinto belief. Followers seek support and blessings from the kami by praying at home altars or by visiting shrines. Shinto shrines are places of worship and the homes of kami. Visitors to the shrines perform purification rituals and offer gratitude and praise to the kami.

Shinto priests, who can be men or women, perform rituals and often live on the shrine grounds. They are aided by younger women, called miko, during rituals and shrine tasks.

Shinto is an optimistic faith that believes humans are fundamentally good, and evil is caused by evil spirits. Most Shinto rituals aim to keep away these evil spirits through purification, prayers, and offerings to the kami.

Purification is an important part of Shinto, with rituals such as misogi and harae

Meditation is not a formal religious practice of Shinto, an animistic religion indigenous to Japan. However, visitors to Shinto shrines often engage in periods of informal meditation as they commune in silence with the gods.

Shinto occupies a ceremonial function in Japanese society, and its priests preside over ceremonies that involve purification, renewal, and communion with the divine through nature. Purification is an important part of Shinto, with rituals such as misogi and harae.

Misogi is a Japanese Shinto practice of ritual purification by washing the entire body. Every year, people take pilgrimages to sacred waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, either alone or in small groups, to perform misogi. Before the ritual, members generally undergo some sort of preliminary purification, such as prayers, fasting, or physical activity. They then begin furitama or "spirit shaking" by clenching their hands in front of their stomachs and shaking their upper torsos to become aware of and unify with the spirit's presence within. This is followed by a "warm-up" or calisthenics. These exercises are sometimes accompanied by deep breathing, and the participants may be given purifying salt to spit into the waterfall in three mouthfuls. The participants then enter the waterfall while continuously chanting a liturgy, asking the kami to wash away the impurity from the six elements that make up human beings: the five senses and the mind.

Harae is the general term for ritual purification in Shinto and is one of four essential elements involved in a Shinto ceremony. It is often described as purification but is also known as an exorcism performed before worship. Harae involves symbolic washing with water or having a Shinto priest shake a large paper shaker called ōnusa or haraegushi over the object of purification. People, places, and objects can all be the object of harae.

Harae is closely linked to misogi, and in contemporary Shinto, it is unclear if they are different practices. The main distinction is that misogi involves water, while harae does not. In harae, the impurity or kegare is often symbolically transferred to another object, such as a small piece of paper cut into a doll shape, which is then disposed of by burning or throwing it into a river. Salt is also used in harae, often being sprinkled on people or dissolved in water, connecting it to misogi.

The samurai class in Japan were closely connected to the practice of Shinto

Shinto, an animistic religion with no central deity, few sacred texts, and few formal religious practices, is indigenous to Japan. It has existed since prehistoric times, and the word "Shinto" means "the path of the gods" in Japanese. While Shinto lacks formal meditation practices, visitors to Shinto shrines often engage in periods of informal meditation as they commune in silence with the gods.

In feudal Japan, the samurai were soldiers who served as retainers to lords, including daimyo. They emerged during the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from around 1185 to 1333, and became the ruling political class. During the Edo period, they represented a hereditary social class defined by the right to bear arms, hold public office, and their high social status.

The religious ideas of Shinto were deeply ingrained in Japanese culture and influenced the way the samurai thought and behaved. The samurai's worldview was shaped by Shinto's belief that everything in nature, from rocks and waterfalls to trees, possesses an innate quality. This worldview informed the samurai's reverence for nature and their understanding of their role as protectors of the natural order.

Zen Buddhism, with its emphasis on meditation and spiritual discipline, also played a significant role in the lives of the samurai. The spread of Zen Buddhism among the samurai in the 13th century helped shape their standards of conduct, particularly in overcoming the fear of death and killing. The Buddhist concept of reincarnation and rebirth led some samurai to abandon torture and needless killing, and a few even gave up violence altogether, becoming Buddhist monks.

Additionally, Confucian thought was an important influence on the samurai, who often prioritised Confucian ideals when judging their actions. The first book that samurai children learned was a Confucian classic text, which they memorised through recitation. This early exposure to Confucianism instilled a strong sense of duty and a code of conduct in young samurai.

Thus, the samurai class in Japan drew from multiple religious and philosophical traditions, including Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism, to shape their beliefs and way of life.

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