1. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-narrates-story-of-Lord-Krishna-to-kids-at-Japanese-school/articleshow/41423404.cms
He should also bring traditional publications of the Japanese puranas about the Kami to India, so that Hindu children in Hindu schools back home can learn about the Shinto Gods.
INSERT: forgot to comment on the following.
The article contains:
At least the Shinto Japanese - just like the Daoists - are very familiar with the fact that "music has the potential of attracting animals."
As an easy-access example, this feature of Shinto religion is well-illustrated by not one but two cases demonstrating it in the (beautiful and splendid!) famous old award-winning children's animation "Tatsu no ko Taro"** that's based on traditional Shinto narratives. In it, a human girl that plays the flute, and who soon becomes a close friend of the hero, is introduced in a forest setting, where she is noticed by the hero and his animal friends because of her flute-playing, and due to which they draw near. Her music is shown to specifically attracts animals: they can be seen to enjoy it, just like the human child-hero Tatsunoko Taro. In a segment of the film that appears shortly after, the Red Oni (Oni-s are beings in Shinto cosmology) wonders why barely any animals are gathering to hear his routine drum playing as they usually would. Then he discovers that the little flute-girl has "stolen" his usual animal audience away from him with her flute music. That is, the animals had previously been gathering to hear his rhythmic percussion music, now they were even more entranced by the beautiful music emanating from her flute.
Shinto religion includes animals as an innate part of their cosmology, so animals - and their sanctity and closeness to mankind - are an inseparable part of the Shinto view of the world. (It is another of the reasons why Shintos still choose to relate to Hindoos.)
** IMO, all Hindoo heathens should view the movie if they can. And upon doing so, they should also decide when the kids in their family are ready to watch it. Personally, I think it is for all ages.
2. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narendra-Modi-gifts-Gita-to-Japanese-emperor-takes-a-dig-at-secular-friends/articleshow/41530900.cms
found via the Rajeev2004 blog
Neither 1 nor 2 is missionising (unless 2 involves that ISKCON version of the BG - hope not). This is merely a case of a heathen sharing with another heathen a glimpse of the heathenism he values, allowing the other heathen(s) to understand him and his kind. Heathens only do this when they are comfortable with each other, as heathenism is genereally a very personal matter, therefore it is a deep sign of wanting to be friends and taking the first step is to tell other heathens about oneself. And hope eventually they will tell you about themselves and share their views of their heathenism with you in their turn.
In return for the Gita, Modi should delicately hint to the Japanese Chatrapati that he would dearly love to have an English-translated copy of the 2 famous Japanese Purana collections on the Kamis. Or oooh, ask for some Sake prasadam - sake that has been traditionally, ritually offered to the Kami - to take back to India for sprinkling on sacred patches of Hindu soil to let the land of Bharatam drink of the Kamis blessings, and to thereby also bring the Kami's blessings to Hindoos to India.
He should also bring traditional publications of the Japanese puranas about the Kami to India, so that Hindu children in Hindu schools back home can learn about the Shinto Gods.
INSERT: forgot to comment on the following.
The article contains:
Quote:Finding that some students were playing flute, he told them that music has the potential of attracting animals.
As the students stood amused, he narrated the story of Lord Krishna. "In India's mythology, there is Lord Krishna. He used to play flute and that used to attract cows to him," he said.
He then played the flute for the children.
At least the Shinto Japanese - just like the Daoists - are very familiar with the fact that "music has the potential of attracting animals."
As an easy-access example, this feature of Shinto religion is well-illustrated by not one but two cases demonstrating it in the (beautiful and splendid!) famous old award-winning children's animation "Tatsu no ko Taro"** that's based on traditional Shinto narratives. In it, a human girl that plays the flute, and who soon becomes a close friend of the hero, is introduced in a forest setting, where she is noticed by the hero and his animal friends because of her flute-playing, and due to which they draw near. Her music is shown to specifically attracts animals: they can be seen to enjoy it, just like the human child-hero Tatsunoko Taro. In a segment of the film that appears shortly after, the Red Oni (Oni-s are beings in Shinto cosmology) wonders why barely any animals are gathering to hear his routine drum playing as they usually would. Then he discovers that the little flute-girl has "stolen" his usual animal audience away from him with her flute music. That is, the animals had previously been gathering to hear his rhythmic percussion music, now they were even more entranced by the beautiful music emanating from her flute.
Shinto religion includes animals as an innate part of their cosmology, so animals - and their sanctity and closeness to mankind - are an inseparable part of the Shinto view of the world. (It is another of the reasons why Shintos still choose to relate to Hindoos.)
** IMO, all Hindoo heathens should view the movie if they can. And upon doing so, they should also decide when the kids in their family are ready to watch it. Personally, I think it is for all ages.
2. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narendra-Modi-gifts-Gita-to-Japanese-emperor-takes-a-dig-at-secular-friends/articleshow/41530900.cms
found via the Rajeev2004 blog
Quote:Narendra Modi gifts Gita to Japanese emperor, takes a dig at 'secular friends'
The author has posted comments on this article
PTI | Sep 2, 2014, 05.48PM IST
TOKYO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at his "secular friends" over his gifting a copy of the holy Hindu text 'Bhagvad Gita' to Japanese Emperor Akihito, saying they could kick up a storm and trigger TV debates back home.
Modi had an audience with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace on the fourth day of his five-day visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral ties.
Addressing the members of the Indian community at a reception here, Modi spoke of him carrying a copy of the Gita during the Japan visit for gifting it to the emperor.
"For gifting I brought a Gita. I do not know what will happen in India after this. There may be a TV debate on this.
Our secular friends will create 'toofan'(storm) that what does Modi think of himself? He has taken a Gita with him that means he has made this one also communal," the Prime Minister said.
As his remarks were greeted with a round of applause, Modi hastened to add, "Anyway, they should also have their livelihood and if I am not there then how will they earn their livelihood?"
Modi said he wondered why nowadays small things create controversies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Japan's Emperor Akihito during an audience at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. (Reuters photo)
"I don't know why, but people create controversies even with such trivial things nowadays, but I have my own commitment and my own conviction that if I meet some great person of the world, I will give it (Gita) and that is why I brought it," he said.
At this point he referred to his audience with the emperor and presenting a copy of the Gita.
"Today I went to the maharaja of Japan, I have given one to him," he said, adding," Because I don't think that I have anything more to give and the world also does not have anything more to get than this.". The remark triggered another round of applause from the assembled gathering.
Neither 1 nor 2 is missionising (unless 2 involves that ISKCON version of the BG - hope not). This is merely a case of a heathen sharing with another heathen a glimpse of the heathenism he values, allowing the other heathen(s) to understand him and his kind. Heathens only do this when they are comfortable with each other, as heathenism is genereally a very personal matter, therefore it is a deep sign of wanting to be friends and taking the first step is to tell other heathens about oneself. And hope eventually they will tell you about themselves and share their views of their heathenism with you in their turn.
In return for the Gita, Modi should delicately hint to the Japanese Chatrapati that he would dearly love to have an English-translated copy of the 2 famous Japanese Purana collections on the Kamis. Or oooh, ask for some Sake prasadam - sake that has been traditionally, ritually offered to the Kami - to take back to India for sprinkling on sacred patches of Hindu soil to let the land of Bharatam drink of the Kamis blessings, and to thereby also bring the Kami's blessings to Hindoos to India.