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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... worker, the company wanted her to stay on and become a senior in charge of training all new office lady employees. Michiko was overjoyed. In that moment she realized the efficacy of her prayers and could. 1 Introduction.
... become famed as prayer temples (kito ̄dera), auspicious locations at which to petition for worldly benefits. In particular the sect has three major prayer temples (sandai kigansho),29 usually cited as Saijo ̄ji in Kanagawa prefecture ...
... become priests and practice meditation and other spiritual austerities.33 Like the guidebook mentioned earlier, which considered So ̄to ̄'s most famous monastic training center, Eiheiji, to be a good place to pray for worldly benefits ...
... become more evident as the book continues. Here, however, we note that when we talk of genze riyaku (and the various English translations, such as “practical benefits,” that we introduced earlier) we are, in effect, using a shorthand ...
... become spiritually at ease (shakkin o hayaku kaeshite seishinteki ni ochitsukemasu yo ̄ ni).” The person appended a second wish, as well, asking that she might be cured of an illness.45 Were anshin the primary goal of petitioners, it ...
Contents
1 | |
Settings and Dynamics | 37 |
2 Scripture and Benefits | 71 |
Morality Belief and Prayer | 107 |
Gods Saints and Wizards | 140 |
5 The Dynamics of Practice | 178 |
The Marketing of Efficacy and Truth | 206 |
7 Guidebooks to Practical Benefits | 234 |
8 Conclusions | 256 |
Notes | 263 |
Bibliography | 285 |
Index | 297 |
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |