tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post2796972169693460610..comments2023-06-21T10:52:34.013-04:00Comments on Jeremy Rosen's Blog: What Is and Isn’t Wrong with Prayer Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17043970242427877089noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-86239362271237001782014-05-22T21:54:00.356-04:002014-05-22T21:54:00.356-04:00I received the following comment from Keiko Atsumi...I received the following comment from Keiko Atsumi in Tokyo, Japan:<br /><br />---<br />I am a new subscriber to this blog, joining only last weekend. Having read many of Rabbi Rosen’s writings, I first wish to thank the Rabbi for enlightening me so much. I first need to mention (for the sake of other readers) that as a Japanese with a Buddhist background, my knowledge of Judaism is nil. (The only scant knowledge about your faith I have is through the Old Testament.)<br /><br />Reading “What is and isn’t wrong about prayer?” has made me want to pose a question, which has bothered me for so long. It pertains to a certain tradition here in Japan and thus forgive me if it appears to the Jewish mind utterly naïve or irrelevant.<br /><br />In this article, you discuss prayer in terms of group praying and private praying, and state that you prefer private praying. I share your preference, as I find private praying so much more spiritually gratifying. <br /><br />The Japanese lack of religiosity should shock many devoted believers of Abrahamic religions. Most people are agnostics, not belonging to any specific faith, and not having any knowledge of the world’s major religions, including their own. People use religious institutions of any faith/denomination to suit their own convenience (such as going to a Shinto shrine for blessing the new born babies, Christian churches for weddings, Buddhist temple for funerals). <br /><br />Yet, they have an animistic sense of being awed by the invisible, powerful beings, and the majority of them are impressively honest, polite and considerate. And I admit the society is still quite decent here compared to other advanced countries even in this globalized age.<br /> <br />What has exasperated me for so long is the content of their prayers. Most people go on January 1 of each year to Shinto shrines (or ignorant ones even go to Buddhist temples, not knowing that Buddhism does not talk about the absolute entity) to pray for their own personal benefits and gains; such as for recovering from illness, passing an entrance examination, striking a good marriage, promotion at their work, success in business, winning in elections, etc., etc. <br /><br />And they pray publicly and vocally with their peers and friends. What is worse, all the surrounding people applaud such self-serving praying, and Shinto priests even bless the prayers..<br /><br />I have learned through my daily private praying that the greatest spiritual gratification comes when I pray for the well-being and success of all the other living beings. But it is not easy to share this truth (at least to me) with other Japanese, and I have felt so alienated for so long from my own people on this score. So, I go on my way alone, and have not put a step into any shrine. <br /><br />My basic question is: are there not the “right or correct” and the “wrong or incorrect” prayers in terms of substance? This was not discussed in your article. Is this because all the Jewish faithfuls make correct praying (as taught over millennia) that you don’t need to even discuss it? Are there not criteria on “what is and isn’t wrong with prayer” in terms of its substance? Are there not Jewish people (those working in the Wall Street for money games come to my mind) who pray for their own personal benefits and gains, just like these Japanese? <br /><br />How should one deal with such prayers? I would truly appreciate your wise advice.<br />---<br /><br />I plan to post a response to this in due course.<br /><br />Rabbi Jeremy Rosenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723608669485173271noreply@blogger.com