The heart of Kojiki (5) 2017/05/14
According to Kojiki, both Gods and humans make mistakes repeatedly.
For example, Izanagi and Izanami who made first couple among Gods and tried to give birth to their descendants. At first attempt they failed to deliver healthy baby because they did it with their self interests.
Besides, Izanagi broke words with Izanami who died earlier and with personal curiosity looked into the world of death where Izanami stayed in ugly condition. Izanami was totally devastated and tried to draw down Izanagi into the death world. Izanagi narrowly escaped but killed his son who caused the death of Izanami, with personal grudge.
Susanohno-mikoto who is a younger brother of Amaterasu-omikami, the founder of Royal family, damaged rice fields and killed a farming horse. Amaterasu-omikami, was fully devastated and shut herself in at a cave. By this incident, the whole world lost light and turned in dark.
Although these Gods and humans made mistakes repeatedly, they could return to original pure condition after they exorcised and took away personal cloudy interests.
Kojiki seems to teach us the fact that none of Gods and humans is almighty or perfect but they can always get back to original pure mental condition as far as they keep reviewing themselves everyday and keep exorcising with deep faith and awe of Gods.
In Shinto, therefore to exorcise is most important study and at most of leading shrines in Japan, they exorcise themselves every morning by chanting Norito (traditional ritual prayer) to Gods.
chanting Norito at shrine
