Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of JapanPraying for practical benefits (genze riyaku) is a common religious activity in Japan. Despite its widespread nature and the vast numbers of people who pray and purchase amulets and talismans for everything from traffic safety and education success to business prosperity and protection from disease, the practice has been virtually ignored in academic studies or relegated to the margins as a uh_product of superstition or an aberration from the true dynamics of religion. Basing their work on a fusion of textual, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary studies, the authors of this volume demonstrate the fallacy of such views, showing that, far from being marginal, the concepts and practices surrounding genze riyaku lie at the very heart of the Japanese religious world. They thrive not only as popular religious expression but are supported by the doctrinal structures of most Buddhist sects, are ordained in religious scriptures, and are promoted by monastic training centers, shrines, and temples. |
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... discussion , for her perceptive comments , and especially for providing us with the book's title . Gen and Kelly Yee Tanabe were pleasant and insightful companions on many trips to temples and shrines . We also thank St. Pauli Girl for ...
... discuss lev- els of faith and belief , they are also concerned with observance of ca- lendrical rituals and festivals , ranging from memorial visits to graves to New Year visits to shrines and temples , and with matters such as the ...
... ( as many have done in conversation with the authors ) readily turn to a discussion of skillful means to explain why they do so . The concept also allows academics who are disturbed by Japanese Buddhism's ap- 12 INTRODUCTION.
... discussing . The first is that , in affirming the centrality of genze riyaku , we are arguing that Japanese religion in general is governed by a world - affirming reli- gious viewpoint . This does not mean that we are disregarding the ...
... discussions with a Buddhist priest on the topic of genze riyaku was less a formal interview than a relaxed conversation with the head priest after the New Year's celebrations at a Sōtō Zen temple in north- ern Japan.44 Questions were ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |