In this article, Isabelle T. Delorme shares her experience of the healing trip to Japan she took with Spiritours, accompanied by Catherine Agostini.
Isabelle tells us about her last trip to Japan with Catherine
“My trip to Japan still lulls me to sleep, enchanted as I am by its beauty that uplifts the soul, its warm and respectful people who respect the rules of community living, by my encounters with people of the heart, by the feeling of “greater than oneself” that inhabits me.
I was immersed in complete benevolence from the moment I arrived at a Zen monastery where everything was in balance, from nature to the food perfectly arranged in numerous bowls with unique designs.
In the Koya-San cemetery, where living green moss covers the graves of the dead under a radiant sun, I was invited to let a piece of me die to make way for renewal.
The Kumano Kodo drew me in with its wide, intertwining roots, gigantic trees and charming shrines.
Catherine’s teachings on the awareness that we are interrelated, woven together, on impermanence and on Zen conscious presence, “to marvel at the ordinary in complete consent”, continue to guide me. I feel immense gratitude.”
– Isabelle T. Delorme, Qc
Spirituality in Japan: Shintoism
Fascinated by the Land of the Rising Sun for more than 30 years, Catherine is the guide for this trip to Japan. Like everything that symbolizes Japan, its spirituality is rich and complex, interweaving several traditions and beliefs that coexist harmoniously.
Shintoism is Japan’s indigenous religion, with no single founder or sacred text. It venerates the Kami: spirits or divinities present in nature, objects and ancestors. Kami can be mountains, rivers, trees or even meteorological phenomena.
Purification rituals (misogi) are essential to rid oneself of impurities and draw closer to the Kami. Sanctuaries for these rituals are often located in magnificent natural settings. Votive plaques, on which people write their wishes and prayers, are often left for all to see.
Spirituality in Japan: Buddhism
Juxtaposed to this religion is Buddhism, which arrived in Japan from China and Korea in the 6th century. Several schools of Buddhism are present in Japan, including Zen, Jōdo (Pure Land) and Nichiren. Karma and reincarnation are essential concepts, implying that actions in this life influence future lives.
Meditation (Zazen) is the central practice in Zen, aiming to achieve enlightenment through silent contemplation. Most funeral rituals in Japan are Buddhist, with prayers to guide the deceased into the afterlife.
At the heart of this coexistence lies a Shinto-Buddhist syncretism. Many Japanese practice both Shinto and Buddhism, celebrating Shinto rites for life events (birth, marriage) and Buddhist rites for death.
Moreover, it’s not uncommon to find Shinto shrines close to Buddhist temples, allowing practitioners to worship Kami and Buddhas simultaneously.
Japan at the crossroads of spiritual currents
Other spiritual influences include Confucianism, which has a profound influence on social and moral values such as filial piety, loyalty and respect for hierarchical order. Taoism, for its part, calls for harmony with Nature, influencing health practices, martial arts and philosophy of life.
Japanese spirituality is also closely linked to aesthetics, visible in gardening (such as Zen gardens), architecture (temples and shrines), the tea ceremony and poetry (haiku). Every home, with its domestic altars (butsudan) dedicated to the memories of ancestors, invites respect for the elders.
Thus, spirituality in Japan is a harmonious blend of Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs and practices. It permeates every aspect of daily and cultural life, creating a rich tapestry of rituals, festivals and values that link the Japanese to their past, to their environment and to each other.
N.B.: In September-October 2024, Catherine will accompany a group to Japan for the trip “In Search of Present Time at the Heart of the Sacred”! In Search of Present Time at the Heart of the Sacred”!
