Rachel Thorn on Nostr: It’s interesting to me how non-Japanese struggle with Japanese ...

It’s interesting to me how non-Japanese struggle with Japanese “religious”practices and beliefs. Very few Japanese are passionate about any religion, and most of those who are are people who are in a cult. Even literal Shinto or Buddhist priests probably are in those roles just because it’s the family business. I think the category of people most shocked and disillusioned by Japanese religious practice are white converted Buddhists who come to Japan expecting to commune with kindred souls, because Buddhism in Japan is largely transactional. “Philosophy” or “belief” play almost no role in day-to-day Buddhism. (1/3)