Living in a 'Religiously Averse' Country: An Attempt to Re-read Buddha as 'Philosophy'

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Many people in Japan answer, "I am non-religious."
Yet, they visit shrines for the New Year, visit graves during Obon, and press their hands together at the chanting of monks during funerals.
Watching myself do these things, I sometimes wonder.
Am I truly "non-religious"?

For many Japanese people, there is a certain distance from the word "religion."
Even so, religious habits such as prayer, gratitude, and memorial services are naturally woven into our daily lives.
There is a slightly strange contradiction here: "I am supposed to not believe in religion, yet I live religiously."

If we trace the true nature of this gap, beyond the images of "religion equals danger" or "religion equals restriction,"
we can see the "philosophy of living" that Buddha taught.

1. Japanese People and 'Religious Allergy'

It seems that many Japanese people hold a somewhat negative image of the word "religion."
Historical events such as State Shinto before the war and the Aum Shinrikyo incident likely lie in the background.
The impression that "religion equals danger" or "religion equals being restricted" has spread throughout society.

Yet, strangely, our lives are filled with religious habits.
New Year's visits, Obon, the equinox, weddings, and funerals.
We accept these as "culture" or "tradition" without consciously thinking of them as "religion."

In other words, it is likely that Japanese people do not dislike religion itself, but rather keep a distance from the connotations that the word carries.

2. The Gap Between the Word 'Religion' and Reality

Many Japanese people say they are "non-religious," but looking at their daily lives, that is not the case.
They visit shrines and temples, press their hands together at Buddhist altars, and participate in festivals and seasonal events.

There is a large gap here.
While the word "religion" evokes images of exclusivity and restriction, actual practices are soft and blended into daily life.

One key to resolving this gap is the perspective of "reading Buddha as philosophy rather than religion."

3. Comparison with Western Philosophy

A comparison with Western philosophy helps in understanding Buddha's thought.
Stoic philosophy taught that "the outside world is not under our control; all we can do is adjust our state of mind."
This is very similar to Buddha's insight that "the cause of suffering lies in attachment."

However, there is a difference between the two.
Stoic philosophy emphasized control through reason, whereas Buddha aimed to change the way we view the world itself through insights into relationships, such as "dependent origination" and "emptiness."

In other words, while Buddha stood on the same philosophical playing field as Western philosophy, he possessed a unique perspective.

4. Buddha's Philosophy: Wisdom for Living, Not Religion

Buddha kept asking, "Why do people suffer?"
There is no faith in a god or submission to an absolute being there.
He simply looked directly at the universal suffering of human existence and explored its causes and solutions.

What Buddha taught was not "believe," but "verify."
Even to his disciples, he urged, "Experience and be convinced for yourself."
This attitude is an open philosophical stance, symbolized by the phrase "do not refuse those who come, do not chase those who leave."

Later, the teachings were organized by his disciples, precepts and rituals were added, sects were divided, and a large religious system called Buddhism was built.
However, what existed at the starting point was philosophical inquiry, not religious faith.

5. Significance for Modern Japanese People

For Japanese people who are resistant to religion, viewing the Buddha as a philosopher holds great significance.
There is no need to be bound by faith or commandments.
You can learn when necessary and let go when it is no longer needed.
It is truly the spirit of 'refusing no one who comes, and chasing no one who leaves.'

In modern times, it is applied as mindfulness and psychology, spreading in a form that anyone can utilize without religious overtones.
This demonstrates that the Buddha's philosophy is 'wisdom for living' that transcends time and culture.

6. Conclusion

• The Japanese aversion to religion stems from history and the nuances of language.

• However, the Buddha's teachings were not originally a religion, but a philosophy that questioned 'how to live through suffering.'

• Although it was later systematized into a religion, its essence lies in a free and open philosophy.

That is precisely why, when we feel we 'do not want to be bound by religion,' we can return to the Buddha's philosophy, can we not?

Refusing no one who comes, and chasing no one who leaves—perhaps in that gentle stance lies a hint for our own freedom as we live in the modern age.

Afterword

I have long been interested in philosophy and have touched upon the wisdom of those who came before us.
While reading note, I found many religious articles, and I increasingly felt, 'Oh, this is similar to what the Buddha said.'

From there, I began to research the Buddha's words and the flow of Buddhism. The Buddha's thought eventually led to sects and new religions, sometimes becoming intertwined with politics or moving in a direction that bound people. Such history may have left Japanese people with the impression that 'religion is something unacceptable.'

However, the original words of the Buddha are philosophy itself, which seriously questioned 'how can people become free from suffering?'
I wrote this article because I wanted to convey that.

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#Buddhism #Philosophy #BuddhasTeachings #JapaneseReligiousViews #ReligionAndCulture #WisdomForLiving #Mindfulness #Thought #EverydayPhilosophy #notePhilosophyDepartment

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