Breakout Session: Contemporary Practices

This session sought to discuss changes in the way services are held in our temples, as well as examine individual elements of Shinshu practice in our temples. Moderated by Mark Lawall with Ken Nakamura as a resource, this discussion session examined many aspects of modern day Shinshu practices.

The primary practice discussed in this session regarded meditation. Many temples have begun offering classes or sessions in meditation either at the request of new members, or in an attempt to attract new members to the temple. While mediation is not a traditional Shinshu practice, more and more temples view it as a way to attract new members or raise their profile in their religious community.

One concern noted by a participant was that since meditation was not a traditional practice, there was the possibility that it would take the place of placing faith in the Primal Vow in the minds of new members as the primary practice. Since newer members will not have been exposed to the finer points of Shinshu teachings, there is a possibility that they would “get the wrong idea” about Shinshu practices.

Another concern was that while offering meditation could indeed draw new members through the temple doors, there was a feeling that since Shinshu practices do not stress meditation, a member would attend service and realize that this may not be the practice they are seeking. These differences in approaches could lose the new member, despite the initial attendance at a meditation session.

One meditation session leader noted that the above concerns could in theory apply, but it is largely up to the meditation leader to make the connection between Shinshu teachings and meditation practices. While there is always a chance that the scenarios above could happen, meditation leaders can and are taking pains to avoid any misconceptions in any of the participants.