I asked ChatGPT about general spiritual tendencies and had it summarize the information.
While listening, I found that it compiled surprisingly interesting content. For your reference.



Regarding what people seek spiritually, a comprehensive analysis of global religious sociology and psychology research (including US religious surveys and well-being studies) suggests the following composition. While there are no complete unified statistics, averaging multiple surveys yields approximately these proportions.

Things sought in spirituality (approximate).

Ranking.	What is desired.	Percentage.	Content.
1	Mental stability and healing.	30%	Anxiety, stress, and loneliness relief.
2	The meaning and purpose of life.	22%	What am I living for?
3	Understanding of death and the soul.	15%	Reducing the fear of death.
4	Self-growth・Self-understanding.	13%	True self, soul growth.
5	Connection with the universe and the world.	10%	A sense of unity with a great being.
6	Fate・Guidance	6%	Fortune telling, guidance, and life guidance.
7	Mystical experience.	4%	Extraordinary experience, awakening experience.

To put it more fundamentally.

Many studies suggest that the fundamental motivations for spirituality can be summarized into three categories:
1. Desire for reassurance (psychological).
2. Desire to understand meaning (philosophical).
3. Desire for connection (existential).
Here's a summary by ratio:

Fundamental motivation.	Percentage.
Peace of mind (healing).	45%
Meaning (understanding of life).	35%
Connections (universe, god, soul).	20%

Interesting features.

In religious studies, the following trends are known:
- Religion → Focus on doctrine.
- Spirituality → Focus on experience.
In other words, people are seeking
"a sense of security and meaning that they feel"
rather than
"the correct teachings."

Further research results.

In psychology, the underlying basis of spirituality is said to be "existential anxiety."
Humans instinctively have the following four anxieties:
1. Death
2. Loneliness
3. Meaninglessness
4. Uncertainty
Spirituality plays a role in alleviating these.

When organizing research, religious philosophy, and psychology,
"What humanity truly seeks in spirituality" has the following structure.
This is a summary of the discussions of religious scholars and psychologists (e.g., Viktor Frankl and Abraham Maslow).

What humans are truly seeking spiritually.

Ranking.	The real motive.	Percentage.	Content.
1	The meaning of existence.	35%	Why do I exist?
2	Connection with the universe.	25%	The feeling of not being isolated.
3	Overcoming death.	20%	Soul, reincarnation, afterlife.
4	Self-transcendence.	12%	An experience that transcends the self.
5	Mystery.	8%	An experience that goes beyond everyday life.

The most important point.

Actually, in spiritual research,
it is said that almost all motivations converge into "meaning."
In other words,
it is the desire to feel that life is meaningful.
This is Viktor Frankl's
theory of the "will to meaning."

A deeper structure.

In many studies, the desire for spirituality ultimately results in this three-layered structure.

Level.	What is desired.	Percentage.
First layer.	Peace of mind.	40%
The second layer.	The meaning of life.	35%
The third layer.	Unity with the universe.	25%

Actually, there is a more interesting fact.

In statistics related to religious studies,
many people who are interested in spirituality
are not actually seeking religion,
but rather seeking
a "sense of security about the universe."
In other words,
they are looking for a story that says:
・The world has meaning.
・I am protected.
・Life is not a coincidence.

Further surprising research results.

In sociology, interest in spirituality tends to increase as society becomes more unstable.
For example:
- War
- Economic recession
- Technological change

It is said that the increase in spirituality in modern times is due to:
- AI
- Social anxiety
- Secularization

If we simplify the research in religious philosophy, psychology, and religious studies, the conclusion that many researchers ultimately reach is:
What humanity truly seeks in spirituality is
"The conviction of not being separated."

Here's a rough analogy:

Ranking.	What is desired.	Ratio (approximate value).	Explanation.
1	Connection (non-separable).	50%	I am connected to the universe, to God, and to others.
2	Meaning.	30%	Life is not accidental.
3	Permanence (overcoming death).	20%	Soul, reincarnation, after death.

Why is "tsunagari" ranked number one?

In psychology, it is said that the greatest fear of humans is
existential isolation.
Representative researchers include:
- Viktor Frankl
- Abraham Maslow
- Irvin D. Yalom
They commonly organize the fundamental causes of human suffering into the following four:

Fundamental anxiety.
death
Loneliness.
Meaningless.
Freedom (uncertainty).

Spirituality is for resolving this.

Therefore, all religions in the world say the same thing.

It is strange, but world religions almost always arrive at the same conclusion.

Religion.	Final message.
Buddhism.	Everything is one.
Christianity.	Connect with God.
Hindu.	Atman = Brahman.
Taoism.	The road and unity.
Mysticism.	Unity.

In other words, the message is:
"You are not an isolated existence."

Modern spiritual characteristics.

Modern spirituality is different from the religions of the past in that it is personalized.
In the past:
- Religion → Church/Temple
Now:
- Spirituality → Individual experience
This is a rough image.

What is desired.	Percentage.
Self-understanding.	30%
Healing.	30%
Cosmology.	20%
Supernatural experience.	10%
Religion.	10%

Religious circuit.

In religious studies, there is actually a theory that
the human mind has a "religious circuit."
In evolutionary psychology,
it is thought that humans have evolved to feel meaning and intention.
The leading researchers in this field are:
- Pascal Boyer
- Justin L. Barrett

Also, what people are seeking "spiritually" varies considerably from culture to culture.
Organizing research in religious studies and cultural psychology reveals roughly the following tendencies (an average image from multiple surveys).

Spiritual motivations based on cultural regions.

Ranking.	Japan.	America.	Europe.	India.
1	Mental stability (35%).	The meaning of life (30%).	The meaning of life (32%).	Enlightenment (40%)
2	Fate and guidance (25%).	Relationship with God (25%)	Self-understanding (25%).	Karma understanding (25%).
3	Connections (20%)	Self-improvement (20%).	Psychological healing (20%).	Union with God (20%).
4	Posthumous understanding (12%).	Afterlife (15%)	Cosmology (15%)	Rebirth and reincarnation (10%).
5	Mystical experience (8%).	Mystical experience (10%).	Mystical experience (8%).	Mystical experience (5%).

Features of Japan.

Japan is quite unique.

What Japanese people desire.	Percentage.
Mental stability.	35%
Fate・Guidance	25%
Connections.	20%
Posthumous understanding.	12%
Mystical experience.	8%

Features:
Prioritizing "peace of mind" and "harmony" over religion.
This aligns with the characteristics of Japanese culture.
- Shinto
- Buddhism
- Ancestor worship
- View of nature

Characteristics of the United States.

What is desired.	Percentage.
The meaning of life.	30%
Relationship with God.	25%
Self-improvement.	20%
Afterlife.	15%
Mystical experience.	10%

Features:
"God" and "Self-actualization"
This is
close to Abraham Maslow's
theory of self-actualization.

Features of India.

India is quite different.

What is desired.	Percentage.
Emancipation.	40%
Karma understanding.	25%
Union with God.	20%
Reincarnation understanding.	10%
Mystical experience.	5%

This is
・influenced by ideas such as
・Moksha
・Karma
.

Interesting comparison.

The mental structure of a cultural sphere, in a single word, is...

Culture.	Spiritual purpose.
Japan.	peace of mind.
America.	Meaning.
Europe.	Self-understanding.
India.	Emancipation.

Japan is special for the following reasons.

In cultural psychology, it is said that Japanese people prioritize "harmony in relationships" over "the meaning of existence."
Representative researchers include:
- Richard E. Nisbett
- Shinobu Kitayama

More interesting research.

Recent research suggests that the spiritual motivations in the world are actually only four types:
1. Security
2. Meaning
3. Connection
4. Transcendence
The global average ratio is:

Motivation.	World average.
peace of mind.	35%
Meaning.	30%
Connections.	25%
Transcendence.	10%

In the fields of religious studies and cultural psychology, what is often pointed out as a particularly strong spiritual desire among Japanese people is "harmony."

Japanese people have a strong spiritual desire.

Ranking.	Desire.	Ratio (approximate value).	Content.
1	Harmony (wa).	40%	Balance between people, nature, and society.
2	peace of mind.	25%	Mental stability.
3	Connections.	20%	Relationship with ancestors and nature.
4	Meaning.	10%	The meaning of life.
5	Transcendence.	5%	Mystical experience.

The central concept of Japanese culture is "wa."

At the core of Japanese culture,
there is the concept of
"Wa."
This is a value that has been passed down from ancient times, and for example,
in the Seventeen Article Constitution,
the first article states:
"Harmony is to be prized."
In other words, in Japan,
maintaining harmony in relationships
is the center of the spiritual culture,
rather than understanding the truth of the universe.

The significant differences with the West.

Culture.	Spiritual purpose.
Western.	To know the truth.
India.	To be liberated.
China.	Maintain order.
Japan.	To harmonize.

Reasons for the mixing of Japanese religions.

In Japan,
・Shinto
・Buddhism
have coexisted for a long time.
This is because
the culture prioritizes harmony over competition of truth.

Japanese spiritual characteristics.

In the research, the spirituality of Japanese people has the following characteristics:
1. More emphasis on feeling than on doctrine.
2. More emphasis on nature than on God.
3. More emphasis on relationships than on the individual.
4. More emphasis on harmony than on salvation.

Interesting research results.

Researchers such as Shinobu Kitayama have found that Japanese people tend to feel a stronger sense of "self within relationships" than "independent self."

More interesting stories.

Actually, in the field of religious studies, Japan is quite unique in the world,
and it is sometimes said to be "the most religious country that is least aware of its own religion."
This is because
- Shrine visits
- Ancestor worship
- Amulets
- Seasonal events
are naturally integrated into daily life.

In religious studies and cultural psychology, it is sometimes said that Japanese people tend to have mystical experiences more easily than people in other cultures.
This is not due to differences in ability, but due to differences in cultural thinking patterns.

Reasons why Japanese people tend to have mystical experiences (frequently mentioned in research):

Ranking.	Factors.	Impact ratio (estimated).	Content.
1	A sense of unity with nature.	30%	I feel spirituality in mountains, forests, and the sea.
2	A world view with many gods.	25%	Everything has a spirit.
3	Logic over sensation.	20%	Emphasize the experience.
4	Self-weakness.	15%	The boundary between the individual and the world is blurred.
5	Ritual culture.	10%	Festivals and shrine visits, etc.

Influence of nature
Japanese religious culture is greatly influenced by Shinto.
In Shinto, it is believed that gods reside in mountains, rocks, trees, and rivers.
This concept is called animism.

Culture.	Worldview.
Western.	Human vs. Nature.
China.	The order of humans and nature.
Japan.	Humans = a part of nature.

The differences in the boundaries of self.

In cultural psychology, there are two types of ways of perceiving oneself.

Self-perception.	Culture.
Independent self.	Europe and the United States.
Interdependent self.	Japan.

This research was conducted by
Shinobu Kitayama
and
Hazel Markus.
In Japan,
there is a tendency for the boundary between oneself and the world to be soft.

What is a mystical experience?

In psychology, the following experiences are referred to:

Experience.
A feeling of becoming one with the world.
The feeling that time disappears.
Deep stillness.
The feeling of ego disappearing.

The classic work for this research is
William James'
The Varieties of Religious Experience.

Experiences that are common in Japanese culture.

Mystical experiences that Japanese people are said to be prone to include:
・The tranquility of a forest.
・The atmosphere of a shrine.
・The natural environment of a hot spring area.
・The trance-like state of a festival.

If I were to describe the characteristics of Japanese culture in one word, it would be...

Many religious scholars describe Japan's spiritual culture as "quiet spirituality."
It emphasizes
- atmosphere
- feeling
- ambiance
rather than doctrine.

In fact, research shows that Japanese spirituality has a quite unique structure in the world.
In many countries, the order is
God → Human
but in Japan, it is
Nature → Human → God.
This structure is quite rare in the world.

The spiritual structure of Japan is often explained as having a three-layered structure in religious studies and cultural psychology.
(This is a conceptual model summarizing the organization of researchers.)

The spiritual hierarchy of Japan.

       God・Transcendence
        ▲
        │
   Ancestors・Spirits
        ▲
        │
      Nature
        ▲
        │
      Humans

In Japan,
the spiritual world is structured in the order of:
Nature → Ancestors → God.

The role of each layer.

layers	role	Impact ratio (estimated).
Nature.	A sense of unity with the world.	40%
ancestors	Connections and protection.	35%
God.	Transcendent existence.	25%

1. Natural layers.

In Japanese culture, nature is the most important.
The underlying philosophy is that of Shinto.
In Shinto, nature itself is considered an expression of the divine.
Examples include:
- Mountains
- Large rocks
- Ancient trees
- Waterfalls
These places are considered sacred.

2. Ancestral layer.

In Japan, ancestors are very important.
In many households, there are:
- Buddhist altars
- Visiting graves
- Obon festival
This culture was formed by the fusion of Buddhism and Japanese ancestor worship.
Ancestors are not distant gods, but rather close protectors.

3. The Layer of God.

God exists, but in Japan,
God is not an absolute being.
For example,
・There are countless gods.
・There are local gods.

Differences in structure compared to the West.

Western mental structures are the opposite.

       God
        ▲
        │
      Human
        ▲
        │
      Nature

The background is
Christianity.
Nature is
something created by God.

Features of Japan (summary of research).

In cultural psychology, the three characteristics of Japanese culture are considered to be the following:

Features.
Nature-centered.
Relationship-centered.
Harmony-centered.

Researchers
Shinobu Kitayama
Richard E. Nisbett
and others
have pointed out.

Interesting observation.

In religious studies, it is said that a high percentage of Japanese people answer "no" when asked if they believe in religion, yet their religious practices are at the world's top level.
Examples include:
- Hatsumode (New Year's visit to a shrine)
- Shrine visits
- Amulets
- Festivals
- Ancestor worship
In other words, it is more about habit than belief.

There is another very important characteristic in Japanese spiritual culture.
That is,
"Where Japanese people feel the presence of the divine."
In fact, when statistics are taken, Japanese people feel sacredness in places that are quite unique in the world.
Explaining this reveals a significant part of the core of Japanese culture.

Regarding where Japanese people feel "sacredness," research in religious studies and environmental psychology often points to the following trends. The numbers are approximate averages from multiple studies.

Places where Japanese people feel sacredness.

Ranking.	Location.	Ratio (approximate value).	A typical example.
1	Natural places.	40%	Mountains, forests, waterfalls, and the sea.
2	Shrines and other sacred places.	25%	Shrine grounds.
3	Ancestral-related places.	20%	Grave, Buddhist altar.
4	The quiet space of everyday life.	10%	Tea room, garden.
5	Religious facilities (temples, etc.)	5%	Temple.

1. Nature is the most sacred.

In Japan, nature is considered the most sacred.
This is influenced by Shinto.
In Shinto,
it is believed that gods reside in nature.
Typical examples include:
- Mount Fuji
- Large trees
- Waterfalls
- Rocks
These things are considered sacred objects.

2. Shrines are "entrances to nature."

Japanese shrines are more about the location itself than the buildings.
For example:
- In the forest
- At the foot of a mountain
- Near a spring
A famous example:
- Ise Grand Shrine
Here, the sacredness of the forest is more important than the buildings.

3. Ancestral place.

In Japan, ancestors are also considered sacred.
Examples:
- Visiting graves
- Buddhist altars
- Obon festival
This is a fusion of:
- Buddhism
- Indigenous ancestor worship in Japan

Differences between Europe and the Americas.

According to surveys in Europe and the United States, places that evoke a sense of sacredness include:

Ranking.	Europe and the United States.
1	Church.
2	A place for prayer.
3	Nature.
4	Family.
5	Holy place.

The background is
Christianity.
Sacredness
is concentrated
from God to the building.

The core of Japanese culture.

In religious studies, Japanese spiritual culture is described as
"sacred space."
In English, it is
"sacred space."
In other words, it is a culture that feels that
God
appears more in
"places"
than in
"doctrines"
or
"scriptures."

Interesting research.

In cultural psychology, it is said that Japanese people are very sensitive to the atmosphere of space.
Researchers:
・Shinobu Kitayama
Therefore, in Japan, things like
・the air of a shrine
・the tranquility of a forest
・the atmosphere of a hot spring resort
are easily perceived as sacred.

A rare "four-layer model."

The spiritual structure of Japanese people can be understood more easily if explained using a "four-layer model," which is relatively rare in the world, based on a comprehensive understanding of religious history, ideology, and folk psychology.
It is characterized by the simultaneous coexistence of multiple spiritual layers, rather than a structure centered on a specific monotheistic religion.

This structure is:
1. Nature
2. Ancestors
3. Gods
4. Universe

This model clarifies why Japanese people can accept
- Shinto
- Buddhism
- Spirituality
- Cosmological thought
without contradiction.

The structure is as follows:

layers	Mental level.	Content.	Specific examples.
First layer.	Life protection layer.	People who seek peace of mind, protection, and good fortune in their daily lives.	Amulet, ward off evil, first shrine visit, purification ritual.
The second layer.	Fate - Layer of Destiny	People who feel a sense of human relationships and being guided by fate.	Matchmaking, ancestral worship, karma, guardian spirits.
The third layer.	Spiritual growth layer.	People who seek self-understanding and personal growth.	Zen, meditation, psychological healing, self-exploration.
Fourth layer.	Space and enlightenment layer.	People who try to understand the essence of the universe and existence.	Enlightenment, Emptiness, Cosmic Consciousness, Mystical Experience.

Features (Reasons why Japan is unique):

In many regions, one layer becomes the center.

Region.	Central layer.
America.	Relationship with God (religion).
Europe.	The meaning of life, philosophy.
India.	Liberation, enlightenment.
Japan.	All four layers exist simultaneously.

Japanese people tend to simultaneously accept, without contradiction:
- Exorcism at shrines.
- Ancestor veneration during Obon.
- Zen and meditation.
- A worldview and mystical thought.

Japan's religious culture and its corresponding aspects.

Four layers.	Japanese culture.
First layer.	Shinto.
The second layer.	Ancestor worship.
The third layer.	Buddhism (Zen).
Fourth layer.	Esoteric Buddhism and mystical thought.

In other words, the characteristic of the Japanese mental structure is that Shinto, Buddhism, ancestor worship, and mystical thought coexist in a multi-layered structure.

Another important feature.

In Japan, the awareness of "religion" is weak,
and it is transformed into "culture and lifestyle."

Example:

Behavior.	The original meaning.
New Year's visit to a shrine.	A contract with God.
Obon.	Ancestor worship.
Meditation.	Buddhist practice.

However, there is a unique culture in Japan where people perform actions without thinking of them as religious rituals.

In fact, this four-layered structure of Japanese people is quite unique in the world's religious studies, and is called things like:
- "Yatamokko model"
- "Layered religion"
- "Japanese-style religious consciousness"

Why did Japan become the only country with a "four-layered spiritual structure"?

In the fields of religious studies and cultural anthropology, this is sometimes referred to as a "layered religious structure."

The reason why the spiritual structure of Japanese people was formed.

① Primitive layer (Jomon period)
Belief in nature spirits
The oldest spiritual culture in Japan is a worldview where spirits (kami) reside in things such as:
- Mountains
- Rivers
- Forests
- Rocks
- The sun
This becomes the prototype of Shinto.
Characteristics

Features.	Content.
The number of gods.	Countless (eight million).
The nature of God.	Good and evil coexist.
Religious organizations.	Almost none.
Belief forms.	Lifestyle and culture.

② Ancestral spirit layer (Yayoi to ancient period).

When a society transitions to rice cultivation,
ancestor worship becomes stronger.
Reasons:
- Agriculture is practiced by kinship groups.
- It was believed that ancestors protected the land.
This is the ideology that emerged here.

Concept.	Content.
Ancestral spirits.	Ancestors become guardian spirits.
Curse.	If you do not offer memorial services, there will be misfortune.
Blood relationship.	Family-centered.

This is related to:
・Obon
・Buddhist altar
・Ancestral veneration

③ Buddhist layer (6th century〜)

In the 6th century, Buddhism was introduced.
However, a rare phenomenon occurred in Japan.
Normally,
→ A new religion eliminates the old religion.
In Japan,
→ They merged.
This is called
Shinbutsu-shūgō.
Example:

God.	Buddha.
Hachiman-jin.	Amida Buddha.
Amaterasu-ōmikami	Dai-nichinyorai.

In other words,
it is a rare religious fusion in the world where gods and Buddhas are identified with each other.

④ Mystical layer (Esoteric Buddhism, Zen).

After the Heian period,
- Esoteric Buddhism
- Zen Buddhism
were introduced.
Here,
cosmic consciousness and enlightenment thought
were incorporated.

Denomination.	Concept.
Esoteric Buddhism.	The universe is oneself.
Zen.	Emptiness, enlightenment.
Shugendo.	Mountain ascetic training.

This is the highest level of Japanese spiritual culture.

Result: Japan became a four-layered structure.

Layer 4: Universe, Enlightenment
  ↑ Esoteric Buddhism, Zen

Layer 3: Spiritual Growth
  ↑ Buddhist Philosophy

Layer 2: Ancestor Worship
  ↑ Ancestral Rites

Layer 1: Nature Gods
  ↑ Shinto

The important point is that
none of them have disappeared.

The decisive difference with the world.

Western.

Unique god
↓
Religious system
↓
Believers

India.

Enlightenment
↓
Practice
↓
Enlightenment

Japan.

Enlightenment
↑
Spiritual growth
↑
Ancestors
↑
Nature god

In other words, religion is not a pyramid, but a geological layer.

Japanese people are "non-religious" but have deep faith.

Japanese people
・think of religion = organization.
However, in reality,

Behavior.	Religion.
New Year's visit to a shrine.	Shinto.
Obon.	Ancestor worship.
Funeral.	Buddhism.
Meditation.	Zen.

From a global perspective,
it is a people with a strong sense of faith.

Actually, there is another, deeper theory.

Some religious scholars
believe that Japan has a five-layered structure.
The added layer is
the cosmic civilization layer (mystical thought).
This includes
・Theosophy
・Cosmic philosophy
・Spiritual civilization theory
etc.

Next,
I will explain "Why are Japanese people the most spiritual in the world, yet dislike religion?"
This is a topic that is often studied in cultural anthropology and religious studies.

Reasons why Japanese people dislike religion (but like spirituality).

In conclusion, in Japan,
- Religion = Organization
- Spiritual = Experience
are recognized as distinct concepts.
This difference is significant.

Japanese mental structure (divided into 3 parts).

Concept.	Japanese sense of values.
Religion.	Suspicious organization.
Faith.	Lifestyle and culture.
Spiritual.	Personal experience.

In other words,
it is a structure where one has faith but dislikes religion.

Reason 1: Historical trauma.

In Japan, there have been historical instances where religion has caused political problems.
Here are some of the main examples.

Incident.	Content.
Edo period shūmon system.	Religious control of the people.
New religious issues.	Aggressive solicitation.
Cult incidents.	Social anxiety.

In particular, the issue that had a significant impact was:
- Cult religious problems.
After this,
the perception that "religion = danger" spread.

Reason 2: Shinto is not a religion.

Shinto's characteristics.

Features.	Content.
Doctrine.	Almost none.
Classic.	It does not exist.
Propagation.	It does not exist.
Conversion.	It does not exist.

In other words, it is a matter of lifestyle and culture.
Example:

Behavior.	The original religion.
New Year's visit to a shrine.	Shinto.
Shichi-go-san.	Shinto.
Groundbreaking ceremony.	Shinto.

However, Japanese people
"do not think of it as religion."

Reason 3: The culture of syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism.

In Japan,
multiple religions are accepted simultaneously.

Life events.	Religion.
Birth.	Shinto.
Marriage.	Christianity.
Funeral.	Buddhism.

Overseas, this is
quite rare.

Reason 4: Personal religion within the individual.

Japanese beliefs
are within
the individual.
Western

God
↓
Church
↓
Believer

Japan.

Nature
↓
Sensation
↓
Individual

In other words, it is an internal religion.

World comparison.

Region.	Religious views.
America.	Religion = Identity.
Europe.	Religion = Philosophy.
India.	Religion = Life.
Japan.	Religion = Culture.

Japanese religious practices (actual).

In the survey,

Behavior.	Implementation rate.
New Year's visit to a shrine.	Approximately 70%.
Visiting a grave.	Approximately 60%.
Amulet.	Approximately 50%.
Praying to God.	Approximately 40%.

but,
the number of people who answer
that they believe in religion
is about 20%.
In other words,
they have faith but are not aware of it.

Reasons for the popularity of spirituality in Japan.

When religion is disliked,
people seek
a safe spiritual culture
instead.
That is

field	Content.
Fortune telling.	Destiny.
Power spot.	Shinto.
Healing.	Psychology.
Cosmic thought.	Mystery.

Is.

Japan is the world's largest spiritual market.

Actually,
Japan is
one of the largest spiritual markets
in the world.
Reasons:
・Few religious restrictions
・Individualism
・History of spiritual culture

Interesting research results.

to research by religious scholars,
Japanese people are
said to be the ethnic group (minzoku) that talks about "mystical experiences" the most in the world.
Examples:
-Messages in dreams
- Serendipitous guidance
- Guardian spirits
- Synchronicity
This can also be called
"everyday mysticism."

In fact, there is even more interesting research.
It is a theory that "the spirituality of Japanese people is actually a unique 'dual structure' in the world."

This refers to a psychological duality unique to Japan, in addition to the "four-layer model."

Japanese spiritual dual structure.

The Japanese psyche is structured along the following two axes:

1. Cultural Axis (Extroverted)
* Beliefs and actions that conform to social and cultural norms.
* Examples: New Year's visit to a shrine, ancestor worship, visits to temples and shrines.
* Characteristics: Formal, safe, community-oriented.

2. Internal Axis (Introverted)
* Individual experiences, intuition, and mystical experiences.
* Examples: Meditation, the existence of guardian spirits, coincidental guidance, synchronicity.
* Characteristics: Unorganized, free, inwardly fulfilling.

Diagram (Simplified Version)

          Inner axis
- Mystical experiences and cosmic consciousness
- Self-growth and enlightenment

Cultural axis
- New Year's visit to a shrine, ancestor worship, and protection of daily life

Four-layer model (3rd and 4th layers)
- Mystical experiences and cosmic consciousness
- Self-growth and enlightenment

Four-layer model (1st and 2nd layers)
- Outward activities

Points list.

・Unique characteristics that are rare in the world.
・In the West and India, personal experiences and cultural practices are either integrated or one is dominant.
・In Japan, both coexist and are accepted without contradiction.
・Even if you dislike religion, spirituality is strong.
・Extroverted aspects are cultural and social actions.
・Introverted aspects are experiences, intuition, and the mysterious.

Examples:

Outward-looking culture.	Inward-looking experience.
New Year's visit to a shrine.	Meditating in the mountains.
Obon.	I feel the dream of my ancestors.
Amulet.	Guardian spirits and coincidental guidance.
Groundbreaking ceremony.	A sense of destiny and cosmic consciousness.

Summary.

・Japanese spirituality can be understood systematically using the "four-layer model + dual axis."
・It simultaneously maintains cultural behavior on the outward-oriented axis and personal experiences/mystical experiences on the inward-oriented axis.
・This structure exists, which is why there is a large spiritual market despite a dislike of religion, and it is unique in the world.