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There are a lot of Buddhists in Japan and China, but are the philosophical underpinnings of Buddhism evident anywhere or do they just chant a lot?
In Japan, for example, Buddhist priest reside over funerals while Shinto priests do marriages, new buildings, etc. The Buddhist priests chant, chant and chant so more, but few of them will engage you in a conversation about no-ego, non-attachment, meditation. etc. They're usually just regular joes who fish, drink and do karaoke...
So what about it? Where is the Budhhist philosophy represented in these cultures?
Any thoughts? I sure have some, but I prefer to share later...after some other have stepped up to the plate



In a word.... no.

Most people aren't really religious, they just do things once in a while and at least half the time it's either for a celebration purpose or for tradition.

For example, how many people in America celebrate Christmas and how many seriously observe and study the birth of Jesus Christ?

In Korea I would say the group with the mostt "serious prectitioners" (not just saying they are something) is Christianity.

In Japan it's really all mixed and more for tradition and celebrations. They mix very un-cohesive religions and form new and semi-new ones. For example in the original Buddhism "there were either no gods or they did not matter" where as in Japan and China they added on gods to the religion, which makes as much sense as adding Zeus and The Monkey King Sun Wukong to Christianity. Same thing happened in old Europe with Christianit, still does!

In general, humans are messing up!