View Single Post
Old 07-18-2015, 03:07 PM   #70
Robert Cowham
Dojo: East Sheen Aikido and Kashima No Tachi
Location: London, UK
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 289
Offline
Re: Shinto Clapping in Aikido

Quote:
Erick Mead wrote: View Post
In fairness to the nature of Shinto -- Shinto has mythic history and experiential but not doctrinal teaching -- the tales and the rites are the thing -- not the analysis. Christianity possesses mythic history, and both doctrinal as well as experiential elements. Christianity's oft criticized and often violent debates about the finer points of doctrine -- are part and parcel of its less fluid and more stable character of development over these two millennia of many forms of dissension. Shinto has been more fluid in its development over a much shorter period of time. Feature or bug -- your call.
Indeed - this was the explanation - there are no doctrinal texts. And further elaborated by others - Japanese tend to "follow along" and Shinto feelings are absorbed over a period of time (osmosis).

The Shinto priest mentioned that many Japanese follow Shinto rights in early years (for example with certain children's milestones such as 5/7 years old), have a Christian marriage, and a Buddhist funeral! But they may have a Shinto shrine in their home throughout their lives...

There are pros and cons for both approaches. And I see them replayed in the world of learning aikido (or other budo).
  Reply With Quote