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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... petitioners seeking blessings , good luck , and protection from misfortune . Deities such as Inari are called upon to support a good harvest , bless new business ventures , or assist in their particular spheres of influence . Tenjin ...
... petitioners was peace of mind ? After all , there is nothing to prevent someone asking directly for peace of mind in a prayer . Yet requests ( onegai ) to the gods and bud- dhas usually focus on a particular benefit . When requests are ...
... petitioners . This in itself is an indication of the central role the concept of benefits plays in Japanese religion : it is the concept of benefits , based on faith in the power of a Buddhist deity , that has been the primary factor in ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |