Blog Entry #4 – What would your immediate society around you have looked like and how might this have influenced your meaning and purpose in life?

My Cousin's Wedding

Today I attended my cousins wedding, shown in the lovely photo above, which caused me to think about the way that my society impacts my search for meaning within my faith. Within Shinto, the divine have two aspects, firstly that the kami are transcendent and love and care for human kind. In a philosophical approach, kami are the essence of reality. I find this difficult to wrap my head around sometimes, but kami incredibly important to me as they have a social function as well. Kami are kind to all those who behave ethically and cooperate with one another. Due to this, my society lives harmoniously with one another, ensuring that we do not upset kami. Shinto is also a very accepting faith, in that a number of Shinto adherents are also members of the Buddhist faith. 

Another part of Shinto that impacts my life is that there is no immediate separation between both the natural and the supernatural and the divine and human. Tradition tells us that Japanese people such as me are decedents of kami. There are two types of Shinto, Shrine Shintoism and Sect Shintoism. My family and I are members of Shrine Shintoism, as we practise our devotions at a public shrine, whilst Sect Shintoism is made up of differing groups of adherents. Despite the differences between these groups, we all live in contentment with our lives and search for meaning within the Shinto faith. 

There is no formal code of ethics within my faith, as it is considered immoral to have one informing us of what to do. We are more concerned with our emotional and felt experiences, and these are demonstrated with rituals and rites. Art is incredibly important in our society as it allows us to express our spiritual origin and the nature of our reality. A piece that my mother drew recently is shown below. 

My Mother's Piece of Shinto Art

As a Shintoist, I embrace the natural world and seek the truth through nature, as when truly known and followed, it becomes fulfilling in all areas. My society is in constant awe of our surroundings rather than abiding by a strict moral code and laws. In my personal search for meaning within my faith, I allow my mind to be free and open to the spirit of life and enjoy the experience of being alive. This poem perfectly sums up my belief in Shinto: “Unknown to me what resides here: Tears flow from a sense of unworthiness and gratitude.”