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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... things more indistinct than they actually are and often lead to the erosion of clear arguments and to the privileging of theory over reality . In suggesting that peace of mind was the immediate product of prayers to the buddhas and was ...
... things , normally for themselves or their social group . It is normal to make blunt requests and demands of the gods , ranging from peti- tions for protection and safety to petitions for wealth and entry into good schools . Is it not ...
... thing I would like to state here is that there are some people who say that praying for this - worldly benefits such as the healing of illness and business prosperity is not true religion ( tadashii shūkyō de wa nai ) , but in fact ...
... Things that are shared are different from things held in common , and what we are talking about are religious ideas and practices upon which no 28 INTRODUCTION.
... things do not realize the textual complexities and subtleties of a sutra such as the Hannya shingyō — that what they chant are “ mere ” ritual formulas , just sounds without meaning . We take note , however , of two things here . First ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |