The definition of civilization looks at multiple aspects of the word, including technology. Growth in technology is a huge part of civilization, and in the last few days a big topic for Japan has been their new technology innovation. In Japan, the religion of Buddhism is very prominent and important to them. On the New York Times website, an article was released on September 20th, 2016 that had to do with Japan’s innovative technology and religion. This new piece of technology is called Priest Delivery, and allows people to hire Buddhist priests for special events. The article follows a man by the name Yutaka Kai, as he is trying to find a Buddhist priest to visit with on the anniversary of his wife’s death. When Kai moved from his hometown for work, his new town did not have a Buddhist temple that allowed him to perform a ritual important in the Buddhist religion. …show more content…
While some people find the new use of technology wonderful, because of the amount of people that can now be in contact with a priest, Buddhist leaders condemn the innovation. One thing that the Buddhist leaders to appreciate is that the use of this service does allow temples to receive generous tax breaks in the country, because the traveling priests are receiving a fee instead of a donation the temple is now seen as a regular business. Mr. Kakubo of the Buddhist federation stated, “ …many temples had done a poor job of adapting” (Soble, 2016). This idea of the traveling priest is called Obosan-bin, and can be accessed through Amazon. This new business is allowing people to access the religion they grew up on, and allows them to partake in rituals that are important to
In American religion has expanded over time with many categories. In many specific religions, Americans have found interest in the something new and different. In the nineteenth century, Buddhism in America became the new form of religion. In “The American Counter With Buddhism,” Tweed researched the depth of the Victorian culture in relations to the expansion of American Buddhism.
For this experience, I decided to explore Buddhism in order to enhance my involvement with the religion and build a strong understanding. What intrigued me about Buddhism was the social aspect and diversity that it had to offer. In order to explore this religion from a critical and analytical viewpoint, I decided to attend a weekend service offered at San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin. The San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin main temple is located in the Japantown section of Central San Jose. What made this temple stand out amongst the others was its historical standing in the community. It is one of the oldest temples established in the United States. In order to learn more about the history, environment, and community as a whole, I decided to contact the temple’s staffs. After a brief phone call, I was able to schedule a tour. In preparation, I decided to do a brief research on Buddhism to familiarize myself with the religion beforehand. With all preparations and research necessary, I was ready to visit San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
Based on Robert Ellwood’s (2008, 226) point of view as “In Japan, religion is something done, not just thought, seen, or believed. Its “doing” is by means of specific objects or gestures that bear religious meanings, not thing else”, using traditional equipments means preserving sacred meanings of the pilgrimage. Any attempts to modify pilgrim’s belongings may lead to an unexpected bias in the religious meanings. From these two perspectives, what I believe that Kūkai would say is not critics but sincere and constructive suggestion bringing benefits to people from both
The role of tradition within religion in medieval Japanese society was of great significance. Shinto and Zen Buddhism were two of the major religions practiced in medieval Japan. Shinto was mainly concerned with daily life, while Zen Buddhism prepared the people for the life to come. The samurai also followed an important code called Bushido, a form of warrior philosophy. The ancient Japanese religions helped people understand the universe and also provided a connection between the physical world on earth and the spiritual world.
“What does Eastern Religions mean to Americans?” Starting in the 19th century, Buddhism began to make its way to America through the immigration of the Chinese whom brought their religious traditions with them. Buddhism continued to gain popularity in America when Buddhist texts, as well as Buddhist teachers, were brought here to share and spread their religion. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s/early 1960’s that we see the interest in Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism, blossom throughout the country. Through the memoir “Sacred Hoops” by Phil Jackson, an NBA player and coach, we are able to see how Zen Buddhism not only altered his life, as well as his players, but how the religion also adapts to American culture. From reading both “Sacred Hoops” and learning about Buddhism throughout this semester, I would argue that Eastern religions, specifically Zen Buddhism, is not only a way for Americans to escape the reality of American culture but also provides a complete alternative to Christianity and other similar religions that are predominate in America.
Many religions are popular within the Japanese culture. Two of the most influential religions, Shinto and Buddhism that help shaped a lot of Japanese values are Shinto and Buddhism, played a large role in shaping Japanese values. Numerous similarities and differences run between these two religions; nonetheless, the Japanese often believe in more than one religion at the same time. This is possible due to the polytheistic nature of most popular religions in Japan. It is not hard to say that religion is a big part of Japanese culture because a lot of religious beliefs can still be seen in their everyday lives.
On October 24, 2015 the New York Buddhist Church was holding an Autumn Festival Service. Amanda and I attended the event from 12-4 pm. This Buddhist Church in particular is Jodoshinshu Buddhism which originated in Japan. This type of Buddhism is also called Shin Buddhism for short, within the school of True Pure Land Buddhism, which is based on Mahayana Buddhism. The main temple is in Kyoto, Japan and was founded by Shinran Shonin. This type of Buddhism is practiced widely in Japan. The New York City location in particular was established in 1938 by Reverend Hozen Seki and his wife, Satomi.(NYBC)
Nirvana for Sale by Rachelle M. Scott is an anthropological investigation into the intersection of wealth and piety in Thailand Theravada Buddhism. Through ethnographic methods, the book seeks to describe this relationship in a historically situated context. Thus, the book is concerned with cultural praxis within the context of religious discourses about wealth and piety.
The conflict between Japanese Culture and Christianity is a main focus within Endo’s work, and we are led to think that Christianity will have to adapt to take root in the ‘swamp’ of Japan. As Kichijiro puts it, “A tree which flourishes in one kind of soil may wither if the soil is changed. As for the tree of Christianity, in a foreign country its leaves may grow thick and the buds may be rich, while in Japan the leaves wither and no bud appears. Father, have you never thought of the difference in the soil, the difference in the water?” (Endo 179) When we look to scripture regarding culture, and the East
Horsheads, N.Y. (WENY) -- Voters are heading to the polls in the southern tier and throughout New York State. This year's primary is shaping up to have a strong impact on the presidential race.
Buddhism in the twenty-first century is still applicable in such a fast paced and confusing world. Despite all of our advanced science and technology, we understand even less our reason for existing and we know more than ever just how big the universe is and how uncaring. These circumstances drive people to seek out spirituality even today in order to achieve the basic comfort required for them to conduct their daily lives. The recent episodes of tremendous violence have placed an unsavory patina of stifling ignorance over the religions of Christianity and Islam as they continue to carry on like demented spinsters in the decaying finery of their former glory with no intention of acknowledging the catastrophe of their current circumstances. Buddhism, with its sterling values of moderation, peace, and detachment from the impermanent things of this world, now appears dignified and splendid as the ancient beauty of Asia to modern seekers. No longer do we seek judgment and rigid, inexplicable rules from our God, with the hellfire and damnation that once drove us onward. We crave logic and sense from our world and in those circumstances, this faith tells us that lusting after expensive cars and clothes which we do not need will make us miserable. That is easy to understand. That makes
Adolescence is a difficult time period in a young person’s transition into their later stage of both physical and mental development. Mood disorders are often overlooked during this time for the brain becoming more developed; however among children, anxiety disorders seem to be the most common disorders to be experienced (Nelson; Israel, pg 112). Barlow (2002) defines anxiety as a future-oriented emotion that is characterized by the inability to be in control and predict future events that can be potentially dangerous to the individual. Anxiety shares commonalities with fear, but the difference between the two being that fear is the initial response made from a present threat, where anxiety is due to a unknown future event. A common
In the United States there are over four million buddhists, one thousand temples, study groups, or Buddhists associations (Monroe 108). This number has come from just one man searching to find happiness and eventually enlightenment. Buddha’s story is how buddhism became a religion all over the world. It teaches a peaceful manner, reveals the key to happiness for the mind, and eliminates the desire in life. Not just the history of buddhism is important, but how it has spread through the world and what it looks like today.
All around the world, religion is a dominant idea for many cultures; exemplifying a certain way of life, serving as a basis for faith, and bringing charity to the world, religion is a extensive concept. For several cultures and countries religion may vary according to demographics, socio-economical class, and ethnicity. Main concepts of religion in Japan are natural and superstitious based. The leading religion in Japan remains Shinto, while other religions have come and go, interweaving themselves among the Japanese society.
HOTLANTA’S ENTREPRENUER AGYEI PITTMAN, C.E.O. OF GRIND MEDIA, LLC. TALKS SUCCESS AND WHY THE GRIND DOESN’T STOP