I’ve never been a member of any religion, though the closest I’ve come is in being an ardent fan of Alan Watts. If there is such a thing as ultimate truth, he strikes me as best at guiding us towards … Read the rest
Category: Hinduism (Page 1 of 2)
Green Shinto friend Anu has written recently of the difficulties involved in defining Hinduism. The piece can be found on her blog, www.allabouthinduism.info, and comes at a time when Hindu politics are very much in the news through … Read the rest
Mark Schumacher, compiler of the wonderful onmark A-Z Dictionary of Japanese religions, has produced an authoritative guide to the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin). This labour of love includes the following:
INTRO Page. Explores their development in art and … Read the rest
In one of his talks, the late great Alan Watts talked of detachment and mentioned that in Hinduism yoga practitioners are advised to observe without being attached. “Keep your mind like a mirror, pure and clean, free from dust, … Read the rest
This is the last in my mini-series on Hindu connections with Shinto, because I’ve now come across a page that carries a comprehensive overview of all the various links between Hinduism and Japanese culture. My purpose in drawing attention to … Read the rest
Before its conversion to a ‘purely’ Shinto shrine by Meiji nationalists, Yasaka Jinja in Kyoto was a syncretic miyadera (shrine run by a temple), under the control of the Tendai sect on nearby Mt Hiei. The main deity … Read the rest
Bishamonten can sometimes be seen in Shinto shrines as one of the Seven Lucky Gods. He’s recognisable by the pagoda he holds in one hand and often a spear in the other. He is closely associated with the north, … Read the rest