Shinto: The Way Home

Dimensions of Asian Spirituality

De: Thomas P. Kasulis

Narrado por: Dean Sluyter

Nine out of ten Japanese claim some affiliation with Shinto, but in the West the religion remains the least studied of the major Asian spiritual traditions. It is so interlaced with Japanese cultural values and practices that scholarly studies usually focus on only one of its dimensions: Shinto as a "nature religion", an "imperial state religion", a "primal religion", or a "folk amalgam of practices and beliefs". Thomas Kasulis' fresh approach to Shinto explains with clarity and economy how these different aspects interrelate.

As a philosopher of religion, he first analyzes the experiential aspect of Shinto spirituality underlying its various ideas and practices. Second, as a historian of Japanese thought, he sketches several major developments in Shinto doctrines and institutions from prehistory to the present, showing how its interactions with Buddhism, Confucianism, and nationalism influenced its expression in different times and contexts.

In Shinto's idiosyncratic history, Kasulis finds the explicit interplay between two forms of spirituality: the "existential" and the "essentialist". Although the dynamic between the two is particularly striking and accessible in the study of Shinto, he concludes that a similar dynamic may be found in the history of other religions as well.

Two decades ago, Kasulis' Zen Action/Zen Person brought an innovative understanding to the ideas and practices of Zen Buddhism, an understanding influential in the ensuing decade of philosophical Zen studies. Shinto: The Way Home promises to do the same for future Shinto studies.

©2004 University of Hawaii Press (P)2012 Redwood Audiobooks

Reseñas de la Crítica

"An outstanding introduction to the basics of the Shinto tradition and its many practices." ( Philosophy East and West)

"Kasulis takes a comparative, philosophical approach, identifying both Japanese and universal characteristics of ‘Shinto spirituality'.... The book has a clear thematic structure, reads well, and will certainly provoke lively classroom discussion." ( Journal of Asian Studies)

"Through illustration and example, Kasulis explains Shinto as have few previous scholars. As in his earlier Zen Action/Zen Person, the author demonstrates without recourse to jargon and agreed-upon models. His concern is not that you be impressed but that you understand, and the result is one of the finest books on Shinto now available." ( Japan Times)

A perfect blend of academic and actual experience

An excellent incite on Shintoism. Rife with historical and experiential commentary. The author did well to cover a wide variety of opinions on the topic and deliver a personal account that was relatable and relevant. This book is certainly a reliable text on the experience, history, and existence of the religion of Shinto. It isn't a guide to start performing shinto rituals, or delving into yokai lore, but it's an excellent basis to understanding the real meaning behind Shinto in the pre-modern and modern traditions.

A bit of a yawner.

I was looking for a book on Shinto because I wanted to learn more about it after a trip to Japan. I did learn some interesting things in the first 2 chapters, but the rest of the book was not very interesting.

The Best Starting Point Shinto Studies

Overall, the performance of the narrator was consistent and enjoyable throughout the work. "Shinto: The Way Home" is not a look at what practices are Shinto and how they are done. Instead, it is looking at the philosophical development of Shinto and why it is what it is. of course, ove the course of the book you may learn various practices, but they are not the main concern. After listening, you'll have a better understanding of the feeling of Shinto, spirituality, and how people think about relgions today.

Words one must hear

Ever feel like somebody said something to you that made miss a beat, and had to ponder their words?
Fantastic presentation of Shinto in its whole; from the ancient, to its medieval Buddhist synchronization, and its eventual rise as an ideological basis for the Imperial Japanese. Many questions were raised, and given the appropriate space to be argued in, my opinion, a fair way. This analysis was essentially what I needed to hear for my own spirituality; simply observe, and enjoy.

Suitable for Audio?

This may be one of the very few books I have run into out of the 400 that I have listen to from Audible, that I might say is not as suitable for audio. It really needs to be read very slowly and studied. It’s one of those books I would read the paragraph, do some underlining, make notes in the margin and so on. It’s excellent but I found myself rewinding sections or even chapters a couple times. I was not familiar with Shinto before.