The Opening Way

This biography of the founder of a Shinto denomination gives a close-up view of Japanese religion in action. The term "Shinto" acquires an entirely fresh meaning for many readers, showing from inside perspective how faith and aspiration guide people amid the conditions of ordinary life. The subject is the relation between the ordinary human and the transcendent power that animates the universe as that relation is understood in Shinto perspective. Main themes are the sense of mission that directs the faith of this Japanese religion, its understanding of wholeness and health, and its rich view of practical spirituality. Contents: List of Photos and Maps; Editor's Preface; Foreword, The Reverend Kurozumi Munetada; Introduction; Birth; Setting His Life's Goals; Direct Bestowal of Divine Mission; Proclaiming the Way; Aspirations and Humility: The Opening Way; Forming the Religious Organization; Stories of the Founder; Notes; Bibliography; Indices; About the Author.