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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... one's life path , as well as less tangible benefits such as an increased sense of personal well - being and free- dom from problems . Such practical benefits have been widely re- garded as an integral feature of the new religions and a ...
... one's life . In framing this book around the nature , role , and position of genze riyaku in Japa- nese religion , we see genze riyaku both as a descriptive term , referring to a particular phenomenon and practice , and as a means ...
... one's willingness to act in accordance with the deity or buddha one prays to , thus committing oneself to a particular course of action based on faith and ethical duty . In connection with these spiritual and material questions , we ...
... one's day - to - day condi- tions , one's work , the success of one's business , good health , one's children's health and ( most certainly in Japan ) their academic suc- cess , and so on . One person we talked to regularly used traffic ...
... one's wishes realized , " the mind of the believer becomes peaceful and at ease , sufferings are swept away , and one penetrates into the spirit of the law . " 46 Arai Ken , writing about the new religions , has argued in this context ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |