I was listening to some Ted talks while cleaning at work earlier and stumbled upon one that I found really interesting. It is by a Japanese Buddhist monk called Daiko Matsuyama and he explains his thoughts on why the Japanese are so tolerant of other religions compared to the rest of the world. Not only a fascinating talk, but also food for thought I think. How often have we seen people slated on forums and so on for calling themselves Christian Wiccans for example, and the out-pour of anger that follows as people insist that Christianity is by its nature exclusive of other religions. Personally I don't believe this.. I think Christians are by their nature exclusive of other religions. In fact, I think human beings are by their nature quick to categorise one another and establish who is 'part of the club', and who isn't worthy of the title/label. We see this a lot in paganism too.
I particularly liked his food analogy. Especially as a member of the wider pagan community, I see people struggle to reconcile their desire to follow a path from a different culture or even country, with the need to still practice within and observe their own natural and cultural climate. I also hear that dreaded 'cultural (miss)appropriation' slogan flung about. I think Matsuyama illustrates eloquently why this idea of offending a culture by absorbing it into your own is so alien to the Japanese.
It was too good not to share with any one here that might be interested.
Anyway, I'm not sure if the subtitles appear when I share videos or if the viewer has to enable them themselves, but they're in the settings if not.
I particularly liked his food analogy. Especially as a member of the wider pagan community, I see people struggle to reconcile their desire to follow a path from a different culture or even country, with the need to still practice within and observe their own natural and cultural climate. I also hear that dreaded 'cultural (miss)appropriation' slogan flung about. I think Matsuyama illustrates eloquently why this idea of offending a culture by absorbing it into your own is so alien to the Japanese.
It was too good not to share with any one here that might be interested.
Anyway, I'm not sure if the subtitles appear when I share videos or if the viewer has to enable them themselves, but they're in the settings if not.
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