What is Shingi no worship

When I saw the title of the question, I was surprised that an amazing question came up.
Then I looked at the respondents, and among those who answered often, I was the only one who answered the Jodo Shinshu, so I thought I had to answer.

Now, as you said, the Jodo Shinshu does not actively affirm enshrining kamidana or praying at a shrine. Shinran Shonin is also in Japanese (poem in 75 keys)...
It is a poem called “Kanashiki Kanaya: Good Time by Dosoku, Yoshihi, Elabashime, Tenjin, and the Earth, while praising Tenjin and the Earth.”
(Meaning: It's sad, monks and the general public worry about good or bad days, praise the gods of heaven and earth, and rely on fortune telling and prayers)

However, on the other hand, it is said that they visited Kashima Shrine during their stay in Kanto (apparently they wanted to see the books in their collection), and when they returned to Kyoto, they visited Hakone Gongen.

At that time, temples and shrines were not clearly divided as they are now, and there were parts where they were fused, so I think Shinran Shonin also had a more relaxed sense. However, like the praise above, I think they had a wish not to be swayed by superstition or fortune telling.

There are temperature differences depending on the monk, but I think it would be good to pray at a shrine or go to the first pilgrimage. I also went to Kamakura with a parishioner the other day, and I visited a Rinzai sect temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

Of course, they also put their hands together. However, since the only thing I rely on is Amitabha Buddha, I don't remember my wishes there. We don't “believe anything because it seems to be beneficial.”

My feeling is that praying to another denomination or religion is like “greeting the king of a neighboring country with respect,” and I think “I offer absolute loyalty and trust to the king (Amida) of my country.”
Is this analogy easy to convey?

Natsubaki-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is a humble answer to the question.

When it comes to religion, like Tetsuya Urakami, I believe that mutual respect and tolerance are really important.

Conflicts have arisen due to conflicts of ideology, principles, and religion, and humanity has repeated tragedies over and over again until now.

Even in Buddhism, conflicts with original indigenous religions, beliefs, and ideas in India and in various countries/regions caused various adverse effects, and of course blood sometimes flowed, and of course, each religion tried to expand its power by strengthening ties with the power of time, and of course, there were many disputes involved in that.

However, Buddhism originally taught immortality, immortality, innocence, and patience, and since there is a tendency not to like conflict or confrontation originally, they are determined to try to reconcile with indigenous religions, beliefs, and ideas without conflict, and conversely, incorporate them. For example, Brahmin Hinduism in India, Confucianism, Taoism, etc. in China and Korea, Bon religion in Tibet, and Shinto in Japan.

In terms of general trend, I think it can be said that confrontation will be avoided by worshiping each god or dignity that is the object of worship as the guardian deity and guardian deity of Buddhism. Among those gods and honors, there are many that have been exalted to beings such as King Myō, Bosatsu, and Nyorai.

Of course, I think it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that gods and honors that have been upgraded to Buddha and Bodhisattva do not exist as entities, but rather that each one is given a role as an expression of Buddha's teachings, and exists as help towards enlightenment, liberation, and nirvana, which is the purpose.

Based on the above, in my humble opinion, I know that even monks and Buddhists do not have any particular problems with visiting Uji or Chinju-jinja Shrine to pray for peace, safety, health, longevity, etc. on the premise that it is to proceed with Buddhist training.

I hope you find it at least a little helpful.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

I don't think it's necessary to put faith and customs on the same playing field.

Being a Buddhist before being a disciple of the Shinshu sect.
Before being a Buddhist, I value religion.

If the devotion is shaken after working for Parishioners several times due to relationships within the town, that is not called devotion.
The teachings of Shinshu are not that narrow.

If you successfully finish the mikoshi as a parishioner, and if you can take a wonderful photo in Shichiko-san, I would be happy if you put your hands together at that time.

I'm a Zen monk, and some of my friends are Christians, people from other denominations, and my classmates believe in the Soka Gakkai.
But to me, they're all friends.
If you look at countries where the same religions often fight with each other, I think Buddhism is a really good religion without conflict.

I think what's even more amazing is the high level of religion of Japanese people.
We celebrate Christ at Christmas,
On New Year's Eve, ring the bell on New Year's Eve and pray at the temple,
We visit shrines on New Year's.
Still, they have the flexibility to become familiar with each one.

If you compare it to food, soba noodles, and ramen are the same noodles.
Apart from that, the noodles didn't fight with each other.
It accepts both tongue and throat without distinction.

That is until confrontation only occurs when humans wake up competing minds in their hearts.
Even the ingredients are unique, and each flavor and taste is different.
There is still no history where the world was once dyed all color ramen or udon color (laughs)
That is why I believe that a spirit of mutual respect is the high level of religion in this modern age.

In a way where people compete and fight, assert only their own superiority, and destroy things and culture that have been cherished since ancient times, no matter how much the name of religion is used, it is not a religion, but a world of secular strife.

This is a funny story,
The monk is wearing an Indian costume.
Underneath is a Chinese monk's uniform.
The white coat underneath is traditional Japanese clothing.
And underneath that, I wear UNIQLO shirts made in the USA and Vietnam (laughs)

There is a shrine torii gate in the precincts of the temple where the humble monk was born and raised.
When I was little, I was curious why temples have torii gates and shrines.
People who walk around the precincts are praying with their hands in front of the shrine, and then quietly put their hands together to pray in front of the main hall.

With the attitude of not praying because it's a shrine and not getting involved because it's Christianity, I'm sure Buddha will lament.
I think the extent of Buddhism is that neither the torii gate of the shrine nor the palm tree has been destroyed until today.
The Buddhist spirit is by no means an exclusive spirit.
I think it's a way of respecting each other's individuality and coexisting and co-prospering.