Shintoism

(Shen-Tao Òthe way of the gods. Ó) Ancient polytheistic religion of Japan that focuses more on Japanese Culture, traditions, attitudes and ideology rather than a system of doctrines or code of ethics.

The roots of the movement are obscure, but it eventually developed into the idea that Japan, unlike other countries, was uniquely fathered by the god Izanami, whose consort, the goddess Izanagi, gave birth to the Japanese islands. Consequently the concept evolved that Japanese people are divine and superior to other humans.

In one form of the religion, State Shintoism, the Japanese emperors were seen as infallible descendants of the gods. Today devotion centers around public shrines and home altars dedicated to ancestors and gods. The sun goddess Amaterasu is the chief deity worshipped, and a belief in kami, a form of spiritism, is also maintained.

(See also: Shintoism , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Shinto: The Way of Kami in Japanese Thought

Japanese culture has been influenced by two spiritual traditions, Shinto or Shintoism and Buddhism. Shinto is Japan's ancient indigenous religion which evolved over hundreds of years.

When Buddhism took roots in the sixth century Shinto existed more as a way of life, realised by the people in their natural surroundings, rather than as an organised religion. Shinto shaped both the spiritual as well as material aspects of Japanese lifestyle. Japanese culture, psyche and ethos are so closely intertwined with Shinto that it can be called the national religion.

Read more here: » Shinto: The Way of Kami in Japanese Thought - Shintoism

Afterife - Life After Death

An encyclopedia of different cultures mythology  around afterlife, including : Adiri, Ama-No-Hashidate: , Asamando, Asgard, Astral Plane, Avalon, Bralgu, Chalmecacivati, Ching Tu, Chinvato Peretav, Dilum, Djanna, Elysium, Fortunate Isle, Gwenved, Happy Hunting Ground, Hawaiki, Inkolwe, Isle of the Blest, Kevala, Khun-Lun, Ki-Agpga-Pod, Kotluwalawa, Land of the Moon, Lewu Liau, Limbo, Mizumu, Moksha, Mormon Heaven, Mount Kailasa, Mount Meru , New Age Afterlife, New Jerusalem, Nirvana, Otherworld, Sheol, Summerland, Tain, Tamoanchan, The Pole Star, Tlalocan, Tum and Valhalla.

Read more here: » Afterlife: Encyclopedia of Afterlife Mythology in Different Cultures

Izanagi and Izanami (Japanese) In Shintoism, the primordial male and female ancestors of humanity, who begot the first god of earth, Tenshoko doijin.

"These 'gods' are simply our five races, Isanagi and Isanami being the two kinds of the 'ancestors,' the two preceding races which give birth to animal and to rational man" (SD 1:241). This heavenly pair was said to have created Japan from drops of brine.

(See also: Izanagi and Izanami , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Kami

1. (Japanese) Nature gods of Shintoism. 2. Vital life force

(See also: Kami , Body Mind and Soul)

Kuni-toko Tachi-no-mikoto In Japanese Shintoism, the first man (SD 1:241)

(See also: Kuni-toko Tachi-no-mikoto , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

animism: The belief that everything (including inanimate objects) is alive with soul or spirit, a conviction pervasive among most indigenous (tribal/pagan/shamanistic) faiths, including Hinduism, Shintoism and spiritualism.

(See also: Animism , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

ANCESTOR WORSHIP: The belief inherent in some religions, such as Shintoism, that asserts the continued existence of the deceased and the influence that the living descendants have upon their existence. Descendants have an obligation to support their ancestors through their actions and reverence.

(See also: ANCESTOR WORSHIP , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

A critical in-depth analysis of the differences and similarities between the New Age movement and the Vedic traditions by Henry Makow PhD

Read more here: » New Age Spirituality: New Age vs. Vedic tradition

Isu (Tse)

-no-gai-no-kami (Japanese) In Shintoism, the male aspect of the duality appearing in the fourth creation. (SD 1:217)

(See also: Isu , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Buddhism: Relations with other faiths

Some Hindus (primarily in the northern regions of India) believe that Gautama is the 9th incarnation (see avatar) of Vishnu; there are accounts of the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu that are pro- and anti-Buddhist (i.e., either Vishnu "really meant" what he said while incarnated as Buddha or he was just messing with the Nastikas). This is not a majority view, however.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Relations with other faiths

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

In (Japanese) Equivalent to the Chinese yin; in Shintoism, the feminine principle of matter or earth, impregnated by Yo (the heavens), the male ethereal principle, and then precipitated into the universe. She forms the first ethereal, sexless objective being, and with him produces the seven divine spirits who emanate the seven creation.

(See also: In , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Shintoism

(Shen-Tao “the way of the gods. ”) Ancient polytheistic religion of Japan that focuses more on Japanese Culture, traditions, attitudes and ideology rather than a system of doctrines or code of ethics.

The roots of the movement are obscure, but it eventually developed into the idea that Japan, unlike other countries, was uniquely fathered by the god Izanami, whose consort, the goddess Izanagi, gave birth to the Japanese islands. Consequently the concept evolved that Japanese people are divine and superior to other humans.

In one form of the religion, State Shintoism, the Japanese emperors were seen as infallible descendants of the gods. Today devotion centers around public shrines and home altars dedicated to ancestors and gods. The sun goddess Amaterasu is the chief deity worshipped, and a belief in kami, a form of spiritism, is also maintained.

(See also: Shintoism , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)