A Myriad of Kami: A Personal Perspective

Introduction

This is only my personal interpretation of kami. To restrict the definition of kami to "ghost", "god" or "spirit" may be due to the Western concept of diety as a single god and the limitations of the English language.

For kami is a more complex spiritual essence.

In Shinto, the concept of "kami" refers to spiritual essence. It may be good or evil, diety or ghost, soul or spirit.

Kami as Spiritual Gem

In my humble opinion, kami may be likened to a spiritual gem.

Even if it were to shatter into a thousand pieces, each shard of kami contains the essence of that person, all of her beloved family, friends and teachers, and her beloved ancestors.

Thus, the spiritual essence of each person lives on in a myriad of kami.

Kami as Spiritual "Particles"

Another analogy for kami: the billions of atoms that make up my body which turns into dust after death. Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and minute amounts of minerals are recycled by nature, completing the cycle of birth-life-death.

Thus, kami is similar to those atoms, but only in the spiritual sense. Essentially neutral, a "particle" of kami may seen as good to a person, or seen as evil by another person, depending on their own karma and its complex interaction with their lives.

Essentially, she who is accepts kami as part of her spiritual life would view kami as good. If she has no concept of kami, then her ability to see it as good would depend on the situation.

Kami and Karmic Action

I think of kami as the spiritual essence and legacy loaned to me by the karmic action of my ancestors (as well as family, friends and teachers).

In my life, kami "gains interest" through my karmic action.

When I die, my kami will be passed on in the memory of others, and also in the myriad of kami.

Kami and Life

My views on kami result from an open-minded approach on life. For it is arises out of the growing development of my spiritual life.

References:

Kami: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami
Kami: http://www.kokugakuin.ac.jp/ijcc/wp/cpjr/kami/index.html

Left Handed Kami Spells (poem)

Let hate unleash
a myriad of kami
to usher in the fruits
of karma for the hated.

Let fear arise
in the fearful
as they face such kami
as fruits of karma.

Let these vengeful kami
correct enemies of the Dharma,
and help them realize
peace of mind forever!

Voices of the Electric Kami (poem)

Deep underground,
the humming along Canada Line
in the long dark tunnels
as trains pass by
are the voices of the electric kami
chanting sixty times a second
the hydroelectric mantra.

Amatsu Kami: the Story of Amaterasu and Susano-o - poem

Susano-o, Storm God.
Susano-o, Thunder God
He of Destruction,
he who shits under his sister Amaterasu's throne.
Desecrator of the weaving room,
he that threw the flayed horse's corpse.


Amaterasu:
I don't trust you, you shout too loud
your very actions offend my sensibilities.
Now you come to my home,
claiming you mean no harm.
but I am wary,
I don't trust you, you shout too loud!
Your very actions offend my sensibilities.


Susano-o:
My sister, I promise to undergo
a ritual test to prove my goodwill.
I shall give birth, and if my intentions
are peaceful, then they'll all be boys.


Amaterasu grabs Susano-o's sword,
breaks it with her teeth, spitting out three pieces,
which upon striking the ground become goddesses.


Susano-o:
O sister dearest, may I have some
of your precious jewels?


Amaterasu:
Here are five of my jewels for you.


Susano-o cracks the five jewels open
and makes them into gods.

Growing wild with excitement
at his creative feat, he tore throughout
the world destroying everything
in his path, and he shat under
his sister's throne - O! What sacrilege!

Later, he made his way into
her quarters, and threw
a flayed horse's corpse
through the roof of her weaving room.

Startled by the commotion,
Amaterasu's faithful companion
pricked herself and died.


Amaterasu:
The world's gone mad!
My dearest friend is dead.
It's time for me to hide in this dark cave.


Without the sun, the entire world
is blanketed with unending darkness.

Desperate for their queen's light,
eight million gods and goddesses
gathered and called out:

"Please return, Queen of the Sun!
We're lost in this darkness.
It is so cold and lonely without your light!"

Sadly, the Queen heard not their pleas,
and stayed in her cave, pining for her friend.

When darkness spread throughout the world,
Susano-o realized the harm that he had done.

So he put on women's clothing
and emerged as Uzume the shamaness,
the goddess of merrimaking, and
put on a naughty show for everyone.

She turned over a washtub, and
climbed on top, and began to dance,
singing loudly and screaming bawdy remarks.
Soon, she lifted up her kimono to
reveal manly parts to the delight of
the gods and goddesses,
who began to shout with delight.


Amaterasu:
What's that commotion?
What's going on?


Susano-o:
We have found a better goddess
than the sun itself.


Provoked and curious,
Amaterasu opened the door
of her cave just a crack.
She saw a mirror and
seeing herself reflected
but never having seen her own beauty,
is transfixed and dazzled by it.

All the other gods and goddesses
grab the door and pull it open.


Amaterasu:
I have returned to warm
the winter-weary earth.


Mounted again on her heavenly throne,
the Queen of Light, the Sun Goddess herself,
turned to the gods and goddeses...


Amaterasu:
Bind my brother and hold him fast.
Pull out his fingernails and toenails
as punishment for his evil deeds.
Then throw him out of here!


Thus punished, the God of Destruction
departed for this earthly domain.

When winter comes once a year,
we all know who to blame.



Susano-o, Storm God.
Susano-o, Thunder God
He of Destruction,
he who shits under his sister's throne.
Desecrator of the weaving room,
he that threw the flayed horse's corpse.

---

Reference:
Shinto: Susano-o in drag. as Ameno-uzumé: http://www.nihonbunka.com/shinto/blog/archives/000055.html

An Ancient Unconditional Love (poem)

It has been said
that the Japanese are
descended of the gods;
this refers to kami,
the spiritual ancestors
of all Japanese.
In essense, it is but love unconditional.

Westerners know such love as "God".
In choosing my path,
love unconditional clothes me,
nourishes me, soothes me,
and brings peace to me.

Although it may appear
that my ego talking,
this is all due
to convention of language;
there is no sense of I,
me or mine involved.
There is only love unconditional.

Shin Buddhists venerated and protected by the gods

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Brahma and Indra venerate us;
All the benevolent gods of the heavens
Protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
The four great deva-kings together
Protect us constantly, day and night,
And let no evil spirits come near.

...

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Nanda, Upananda, and the other great nagas,
Along with the countless naga-gods, revere
And protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Yama, the king of the dead, reveres us,
And the officers who judge the beings of the five courses of existence
All protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
We are protected by the great king of maras
Residing in the sixth heaven;
This he vowed to do in the presence of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The gods of the heavens and earth
Are all to be called good,
For together they protect
The person of the nembutsu.

-- Hymns of the Pure Land, stanzas 100-101, 102-106

---

Originally posted: February 5, 2006 2232H
Update posted: March 7, 2013 0237H

Reference:
Within the context of the hell realm, the five courses of existence refers to the god realm, the demi-god realm, the human realm, the animal realm, and the hungry ghosts realm.

Brahmāloka may be the sixth heaven.

Kami and Karma

Kami is the spiritual energy of ancestors that transmigrates from original ancestors and/or clan ancestors through successive generation.

This is what is meant by 'karma only transmigrates', the major tenet of Buddhism. It thus has nothing to do with the West concept of soul and the misconception of soul transmigration.

For the soul is a pagan concept stolen from neo-Platonian philosophy based on mere animism i.e. the body is host to anima/animus which is spiritual.