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
Showing posts with label personal view. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal view. Show all posts
20100510
How I Cope With Death
As a personal with an open mind and familiarity with spirituality, I look at death with a sometimes unorthodox view about it. After almost dying at age 8, I will not claim to have been deeply changed by that experience because of youth and ignorance.
Rather, the life changing experience happened after a traumatic injury in 2004.
My personal philosophy about the dead goes like this: Once the dead go to heaven, their souls return to God. Having been wiped clean of their earthly existence, they become the pure and immaculate souls they originally were at the moment of creation by God.
I am influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, and use the word "soul" to be similar to the Three Minds. Additionally, the Japanese concept of kami has influenced how my unorthodox view of the soul.
This personal philosophy first came to me in the week as I laid in the hospital after suffering the traumatic injury in 2004. The hospital chaplain had inspired me speak of this unorthodox view of the soul, which arose spontaneously during a conversation we had.
People cope with death with the way they feel most comfortable; some people silently grieve, others cry, and still others avoid it. No two people have the same reaction to death and dying. All of it is the normal part of grieving.
How I cope with death since then is most likely a normal reaction to death.
Four years ago, my best friend Frank M died in May 2006. Then his best PM died the following year in January 2007. And finally my dad died in May 2007.
Since I'd lived with Frank from June 2005 until his death, it's affected me deeply. Using what I'd learned from Buddhism, I have coped with his death as best as I can.
One way of coping I used was to tell Frank when he was alive that in my heart he will become a bodhisattva, which is the Buddhist term for angel or saint.
Another way of coping was to idealize Frank and later, PM. At one point in the year following P's death, I even briefly considered Frank and P as the archetypal Lover and Beloved, reborn in Heaven.
My father's death has led me to idealize the first four years of my childhood.
As I continue to internalize my memories of Frank, Paula and my father, everything I remember about them will be idealized as perfect and whole.
This is all done out of respect for the dead.
Reference:
The Three Minds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul#Buddhism
Lover and Beloved: http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/Rumilove.html
Rather, the life changing experience happened after a traumatic injury in 2004.
My personal philosophy about the dead goes like this: Once the dead go to heaven, their souls return to God. Having been wiped clean of their earthly existence, they become the pure and immaculate souls they originally were at the moment of creation by God.
I am influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, and use the word "soul" to be similar to the Three Minds. Additionally, the Japanese concept of kami has influenced how my unorthodox view of the soul.
This personal philosophy first came to me in the week as I laid in the hospital after suffering the traumatic injury in 2004. The hospital chaplain had inspired me speak of this unorthodox view of the soul, which arose spontaneously during a conversation we had.
People cope with death with the way they feel most comfortable; some people silently grieve, others cry, and still others avoid it. No two people have the same reaction to death and dying. All of it is the normal part of grieving.
How I cope with death since then is most likely a normal reaction to death.
Four years ago, my best friend Frank M died in May 2006. Then his best PM died the following year in January 2007. And finally my dad died in May 2007.
Since I'd lived with Frank from June 2005 until his death, it's affected me deeply. Using what I'd learned from Buddhism, I have coped with his death as best as I can.
One way of coping I used was to tell Frank when he was alive that in my heart he will become a bodhisattva, which is the Buddhist term for angel or saint.
Another way of coping was to idealize Frank and later, PM. At one point in the year following P's death, I even briefly considered Frank and P as the archetypal Lover and Beloved, reborn in Heaven.
My father's death has led me to idealize the first four years of my childhood.
As I continue to internalize my memories of Frank, Paula and my father, everything I remember about them will be idealized as perfect and whole.
This is all done out of respect for the dead.
Reference:
The Three Minds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul#Buddhism
Lover and Beloved: http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/Rumilove.html
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