Ecological transition refers to a gradual shift from a society dependent on fossil fuels to one based on renewable and sustainable energy resources. Climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions is having a significant impact on life on the planet.
In Japan, summer heat has become noticeably hotter in recent years than in the past, and really heavy rain showers led by linear precipitation zones sometimes cause major damage, such as flooding of rivers.
It is clear that we, especially in energy-consuming countries, must consider social life and energy policies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
As I am not an expert in this field, I do not have scientific knowledge, accurate statistics, or information, nor do I have the ability to analyze and implement them as policy. I hope that the situation will improve as soon as possible. If this discussion and policy are not progressing well, it is probably because the egos of individuals and nations are at play. If people think, “I can use energy as much as I want since the amount of my individual use of energy is very small”, or “I don’t have to be the one disadvantaged by reducing energy consumption”, this problem will be difficult to solve. It is necessary for each individual to be aware of his or her connection to the earth and to make efforts to solve the problem without postponing the burden for the future generations of the earth.
As a Shinto priest, I would like to think how Shintoism, one of Japan's traditional religions with its more than 2,000 years of history, can be involved in this issue.
Shinto has no founder, no holy scriptures such as the Bible or the Qur'an, and no clear doctrines or precepts. Shinto is a way of life itself that was formed in the rich natural environment of Japan. Its core concept is “gratitude to nature” and “respect for life to be passed on”, as can be seen from the myths compiled in the 8th century. Shrines are usually surrounded by many trees, and the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine, where I serve, has 70 hectares forest in the middle of Tokyo. Here in this naturally renewing forest, we are able to see the elements that are ecological and sustainable.
Many religions have a deity, or “God,” who is the only absolute and supreme being, or a being that is separate from human beings. The concept of “God” of the so-called monotheistic religions is quite different from the gods in Shinto, so let me use the Japanese word “Kami”. In Shinto, there are many kami, like Kami of the sun, Kami of the sea, Kami of the mountains, and so on. Since Japan is rich in nature, our ancestors living in Japan have felt that they are surrounded by countless kami and can live thanks to their blessings. Therefore, from time to time, we put our palms together in gratitude to nature. We do not assume and worship God like Poseidon in Greek mythology or Neptune in Roman mythology, but we are thankful for the ocean itself. We are grateful for the mountains and fields that bring us crops, for the rain and river water, even finding Kami in the compost. This is how we live our lives, feeling that we are being kept alive as part of nature. Therefore, we are subconsciously aware that to destroy the ecosystem is to destroy our own lives. However, I don't think this is a feeling unique to only the Japanese. In Dan Brown's novel “Angels and Demons,” there is a phrase that goes like this:
“The planet is an organism. All of us are cells with different purposes. Yet we are intertwined. Serving each other. Serving the whole.”
If we are aware of the fact that we are living as part of a greater harmony and that our consumption of energy affects others and the earth, we will be able to curb excessive and wasteful energy consumption activities.
In Japan, there is a Japanese word “Mottainai”. Wangari Maathai, Kenyan environment activist, who got a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, liked this idea, and then launched a campaign to promote this idea of “Mottainai” all over the world for protecting the environment. The word “mottainai” is used to warn against waste, for example, “It is a waste if you leave the lights on” or “It is a waste if you throw something away when it is still usable,” but it is more about respect and care for all things than a warning. Even a grain of rice contains Kami of rice, so we must take good care of it and feel sorry if we waste it. Another meaning of “mottainai” in Japanese is “thankfulness” or “awe,” which I think expresses a feeling of respect for the object.
Thus, giving thanks for being alive in the blessings of all things is something that is highly valued in Shinto. Japan frequently faces difficulties due to severe natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis. In this nature, which is beyond human control, we should have a sense of humility to be grateful to be part of it. If this feeling is fading from the Japanese people, I believe that we, Shinto priests, must strive to restore it. The life of trees, the life of nature, and the life of human beings are all connected. Thus we should firmly commit ourselves to do what each one of us can do and to pass on to the next generation the abundant nature and precious life that we have inherited from our ancestors. I believe that we are living in an era in which it is necessary not only to implement major social measures and regulations, but also to make changes in our individual ways of thinking on a global scale.
Thank you for your attention.