Table of Contents Provided by Blackwell's Book Services and R.R

Preface p. 11 Shinto for the New Millennium p. 18 Times are changing p. 20 A wake-up call to the Shinto establishment p. 22 Revival of original Shinto p. 23 Exchange and co-existence among religions p. 25 The idea of child-spirit (bunrei) p. 26 Reverence towards nature p. 29 Variety of religious perception p. 31 The flexibility and tolerance of Shinto p. 32 What is Shinto? p. 34 Shinto is a religion unique to the Japanese people p. 36 Shinto has no founder p. 38 Shinto has no doctrines p. 39 Shinto has no precepts or commandments p. 43 Shinto has no idols p. 46 Shinto has no organization p. 51 The tragedy of "not-having-any" p. 51 Japanese atheists and faithless Japanese p. 53 Characteristics of Shinto p. 56 What is koshinto (ancient Shinto)? p. 159 What is Jinja? p. 62 No need for a "building" p. 64 Kannabi, iwasaka, himorogi p. 66 The mystery of iwakura-rock seat p. 69 After the Spirit of Kami descends a place becomes jinja p. 72 The proper attitude of mind for welcoming Kami p. 74 Why jinja avoids kegare (impurity or uncleanness) p. 78 Opening the path to Kami p. 79 The domain for the lower-level spirits p. 81 What is the household shrine (kamidana)? p. 83 The Idea of Misogi (Purification) p. 86 Four types of purification (seimei seichoku) p. 88 Misogi is the cornerstone of Shinto p. 89 Misogi was originally practiced in the ocean p. 91 The conceptual level of misogi p. 94 Purifying materials p. 99 Cutting off contact with unclean spirits p. 102 Keeping our thinking "clean and bright" p. 104 The Idea of Harai p. 106 What is Harai p. 108 Harai with heaven or celestial cleansing p. 109 The mystery of the great purifying words (oharai no kotoba) p. 112 The great incantation (daijinju) of Yamakage Shinto p. 114 Harai of the spirit of sounds (otodama) p. 115 Harai with earth and salt p. 116 Harai with human beings p. 117 What is kegare? p. 121 Human beings have the potential to become Kami p. 124 The idea of musubi p. 125 Koshinto: Theory of One Spirit, Four Souls p. 128 The philosophy of one spirit, four souls (ichirei shikon) p. 130 One Spirit (ichirei) p. 130 Four Souls (shikon) p. 130 The great spirit of the universe of the great circle p. 131 Systematic table of ichirei shikon p. 132 The function of shikon p. 137 The spiritual structure of human beings p. 140 Death and the theory of Four Souls p. 142 Koshinto: View of the "Other World" p. 146 Where do human beings go after death? p. 148 Ancient views of the world after death p. 149 The spirit-soul's journey p. 155 The spirits of kami protect the dead during the transition to the other world (yukai) p. 157

Why do kannushi not perform the funeral at the Shinto shrine? p. 159 What is the memorial service for the dead? p. 163 The Systematic Training Method of Chinkon p. 166 The Kami within p. 168 Living in the flow of eternity p. 169 The meaning of chinkon p. 171 The sequential order of chinkon p. 173 The awakening of the soul (furutama) p. 175 The breathing method p. 180 How to get rid of worldly thoughts p. 182 Beginning with "one thought, one mind" p. 183 Various realms p. 184 The secret knowledge of Yamakage Shinto p. 186 Seeking the clean and bright heart/mind p. 188 What are the characteristics of persons experiencing the deep realm? p. 189 The path to service p. 191 What is prayer? p. 193 Prayer as a dedication of gratitude toward Kami p. 195 Sincere wishes are truly realized p. 196 What to do when you visit a shrine to pay respect to Kami? p. 197 Prayer is chinkon p. 200 Looking steadily into your inner mind is chinkon p. 200 Afterword p. 202 Notes p. 204 p. 208 The many names of Kami p. 208 The hierarchy of Kami p. 211 Polytheism and monotheism p. 212 p. 215 Practice chinkon at Yamakage Shinto training center p. 215 Misogiharai no kotoba p. 216 Oharai no kotoba p. 217 Daijinju and ajimarikan p. 221 Ama no kazoeuta p. 222 Dedication of gratitude toward Kami p. 223 Additional Terms p. 224 Biographical Notes p. 228 Table of Contents provided by Blackwell's Book Services and R.R. Bowker. Used with permission.