Creation Care 166 (Thursday, June 19)
CC 166: An Exceedingly Good Land
This month's theme is An Exceedingly Good Land, chosen from the Torah Portion Numbers 14:7, our June reading from the Eco Bible: An Ecological Commentary, Vol. 2.
Week 3 Many Voices: Japanese culture and Shinto
Many of you know that I am a linguist, and one of the languages I teach is Japanese. I love the Japanese way of celebrating the seasons, including two very special times of the year: cherry blossom viewing in the spring, and the first full moon of autumn. These themes are reinforced throughout Japan, including offering special foods in homes and local restaurants, even at the local McDonald’s! Although Shinto is not a monotheistic religion, we can learn something from how its followers show reverence towards nature and work, including rice planting, community service, and the traditional arts.
Much has been said recently about the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery called kintsugi (金継ぎ), which means " joining with gold". It involves using lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or platinum to mend broken pieces, highlighting the cracks and imperfections rather than concealing them. This technique is not just about repair; it's a philosophical approach that embraces the beauty of imperfection and the history of an object.
The Japanese word that encompasses the concept of imperfection and transience in nature is wabi-sabi (侘寂) which combines the characters for "rustic simplicity" (the taste for the simple and quiet) and "solitary" or "lonely." It is a philosophical and aesthetic ideal that finds beauty in the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete aspects of nature.
Enjoy this lovely 6-minute video about the self-healing that comes with repairing broken pottery:
Sacred moments: Almost everyone is familiar with the red torii gates that mark the entrance to shrines in Japan, but these gates will also be found throughout the countryside. One looks through them to glimpse a sacred scene in nature, like the ocean or a mountain. I’m proud to say that my city here in the USA has a sister city in Japan, and in their honor we have a torii gate in a small garden in the downtown area, which my students of Japanese have repainted and tended to over the years as a service project. Similarly, shimenawa (thick, twisted ropes) may be found tied around particularly large and old trees, as well in other places, marking the boundaries between the ordinary and the divine.
Torii: https://www.japan-activator.com/en/news/index/sitecomments/id/2407
Shimenawa: https://www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/to-know/understanding-japan/shimenawa
If you go to Japan, you will notice how both the city and countryside are so clean and well cared for, and both young professionals and the elderly are out and about, sweeping the sidewalks or even removing rocks from a stream and scrubbing them by hand. There are no trash receptacles on the streets – you’re supposed to take care of your trash yourself. There are no janitors in the schools – the students clean them every day. Did you misplace something? No problem – it will be found right where you left it. The ancient temples look new, as rotting wood is replaced regularly. And even small children are everywhere, walking by themselves on the streets of Tokyo, or taking public transportation in the world’s largest metropolis, with 37 million people.*
Forest bathing: Shinrin-yoku emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a way to counter the effects of urbanization and technological advancements. It's a form of ecotherapy that encourages people to reconnect with nature and protect Japan's forests. The practice involves slowing down, being present in the moment, and engaging with nature through all five senses. It's not just a walk in the woods, but an intentional connection with the forest's atmosphere. https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/forest-bathing/
Got six minutes? Treat yourself to a shinrin-yoku video. Got more time? Go for a walk among real trees. This film has been screened at over 60 International Film Festivals and has won 14 Prestigious Awards. To watch this, open Youtube or search for “Shinrin-Yoku, (Forest Bathing)” by Mark Knight.
June 2025
Week 1 Eco Bible, Vol. 2 (Numbers 14:7)
Week 2 Laudato Si’ (Sections 10-13)
Week 3 Many Voices: Japanese culture and Shinto
Week 4 Creation Care
May 2025
Week 1 Eco Bible, Vol. 2 (Leviticus 19:9-10)
Week 2 Laudato Si’ (Sections 1-3)
Week 3 Many Voices: Focus on the Bahá’í faith.)
Week 4 Creation Care: Carl Sagan and the Pale Blue Dot
Week 5 Creation Care: St. Francis of Assisi and the Canticle of the Sun
Blessings,
Liz
Eco Bible: An Ecological Commentary
Vol. 1 ©2020 Vol. 2 ©2021
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development
Authors: Rabbi Yonatan Neril & Rabbi Leo Dee
Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home
©2015 Libreria Editrice Vaticana Author: Pope Francis
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Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
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