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Shinto---or Living Mindfully With The Kami

Saturday, April 27, 2013 23:50

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I have made something of a study of Shintō, both here in Australia as well as in Japan, and for the most part I see much to admire and like in this quite unique system of spirituality. (As is the case with Buddhism, Shintō is a religion in some of its manifestations but not others. It is not really an ‘ism’, but more of a teaching or set of teachings.)

Shintō is the authentic, indigenous spirituality of Japan with its roots stretching back to 500 BCE. Today, there is a lot of interest in the West in this spiritual path which has no dogma or doctrine, no concept of sin, no sacred books as such, and no mandatory precepts or commandments. Shintō, with its respect and reverence for nature—Shintō calls it ‘Great Nature’—and its acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of all things, has great relevance to the Japanese as well as non-Japanese.

If you want to appreciate the fragility of life, delve into Shintō. If you want to say rooted in nature, Shintō has something special to say to you. If you want a simple, flexible, and largely naturalistic spiritual system with no religious fundamentalism attached to it, and which provides numerous opportunities for personal improvement, look into Shintō.

The word ‘Shintō’ means, variously, the ‘Way of the Kami,’ the ‘Way from the Kami,’ the ‘Way according to Kami,’ the ‘Kami-like Way,’ and the ‘Way to [the] Kami.’

Who or what are kami? ‘Gods,’ we are ordinarily told, but that is not quite right. Some say ‘angel,’ ‘spirits,’ ‘souls,’ or ‘natural forces’ are better English descriptions, but none of those is quite right. Indeed, there is no one English word that encapsulates what is meant by the Japanese word kami. This is how I see it. The word kami is a shorthand description, a code-like word, denoting the innate sacredness or holiness of all life. There is a myriad of kami in and over all things, but collectively they are all one. Again, it’s the case of the One—that is, the one life—becoming the many, but remaining forever One. We all are children or descendants of the kami, we all have the ability to get closer to the kami (particularly through Great Nature, which is the living sacred scripture in Shintō), and we all have kami nature (cf buddha nature in some forms of Buddhism), and the innate potential to not only restore our original kami nature but also actually become kami.

Now, one doesn’t have to believe in the literal truth or existence of the kami. I don’t, and I also reject those bits of Shintō that I regard as crass superstition. (I do, however, respect the right of others to see things quite differently, as many do.) For me, the use of the word kami is in the nature of a metaphor, referring, as mentioned, to the innate sacredness and holiness of life—all forms of life. If you want to cultivate your kami nature—that is, renew yourself—perhaps the best way of doing that is to revere and get closer to nature. Shintō reminds us that we all have a duty to properly manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the natural environment.

Shintō has no theology in the Western sense, but it does have a very colourful mythology. Again, one need not believe in the literal truth or existence of the mythological hierarchy comprising myriads of superior and inferior deities that, it seems, developed out of the old ancestor-cult in Japan. And gone is that rather nasty national cult that was once the state religion of Japan. It is no longer a case of the divine descent of the Japanese race, who on that ground believed themselves to be superior to the people of other countries, but rather the case that all people come from the same sacred, holy source. Amaterasu, the sun goddess,is the mythological ancestor of us all, and not just the emperor of Japan. Thus, Shintō now ascribes divinity—that is, basic goodness and holiness—to all human nature, not just the Japanese. (Shintō has always shown a remarkable ability to evolve and adapt.)

Shintō ritual and practice is designed to bring us into more conscious—and for the most part, largely spontaneous—communion with nature and the divine. We need to cultivate purity, cleanliness, honesty, sincerity, and a reverence and respect for all forms and manifestations of life. A commitment to the all-pervading path or way of Shintō does not exclude the pursuit of other spiritual traditions and practices.

So, how might someone who is not Japanese practice Shintō without actually being or becoming Shintō? Well, here are some suggestions—note that word ‘suggestions.’ First, spend more time mindfully appreciating Great Nature, and do all you can to protect, restore, enhance and conserve the natural environment. Develop a sense of the sacred (particularly in trees, plants, animals, and all natural matter, but also, of course, as respects your fellow human beings), and learn to live in harmony with nature, for we are not above, beyond or separate from nature. Maintain a real, ongoing sense of awe, reverence and gratitude toward nature, recognizing the interconnectedness of all things. As Shintō teaches, we are all offspring or ‘child-spirits’ of the great original Spirit of Life to which we all ultimately return, and in which we all live and move and have our being.

Secondly, practise physical (‘outer’ or ‘bodily’) and spiritual (‘inner’) purity. (Note. This is not asceticism in some narrow flesh-denying sense, nor does Shintō have any hang-ups about sexual orientation or behaviour.) There is a Shintō saying, ‘To do good is to be pure. To commit evil is to be impure.’ That applies at the personal level as well as to society and the world at large. Pollution is ‘evil,’ as is anything that obstructs the workings of Great Nature. Another Shintō saying is, ‘Leave the things of this world and come to me daily with pure bodies and pure hearts.’

Thirdly, strive to be happy, for Shintō encourages a cheerful way of life, and places great value on the pursuit of happiness.

Fourthly, be sincere in all your actions. Along with purity, sincerity is the guiding principle of Shintō. It is written, ‘The first and surest means to enter into communion with the divine is sincerity.’

Fifthly, respect the spiritual paths and traditions of others. Live in conscious, mindful communion with all forms and manifestations of life. There is a Shintō saying, ‘The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form.’

Finally, if you want to go further into the practice of Shintō, locate and contact your nearest Shintō organization, for you will now ordinarily find at least one—and sometimes, more than one—such organization in most non-Japanese countries. If you happen to live in Japan, well, you know what to do—if you’re interested.

Note. The photos of Shintō shrines were all taken by the author on his trips to Japan.

2013-04-27 23:47:51

Source: http://ianellis-jones.blogspot.com/2013/04/shinto-or-living-mindfully-with-kami.html

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