The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1263 page)

(Heb., ‘directed intention’). Concentration in Jewish
prayer
and when performing a
mitzvah
.
Maimonides
taught that ‘prayer without kavvanah is no prayer at all’, and the
Shul
n Arukh
insists, ‘better a little supplication with kavvanah than a lot without it’. Kavvanah is also required of those performing mitzvot, but here there was more controversy: while all agree that kavvanah is desirable in fulfilling an obligation, is it necessary? In
asidism and devotional Judaism, kavvanah is of such importance that it is deliberately cultivated in preparations before religious duties and prayer. In
kabbalah
, kavvanah is also a special concentration on words and letters in order to discern an inner meaning. Cf.
niyya
in Islam.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(1814–83).
Founder of
Konk
ky
, a Japanese new religion. During a serious illness when he was 42, he encountered Konjin, a malevolent
Kami
, in a healing ceremony, and from that time pronounced him to be beneficent rather than the opposite. He began to call him Kane no Kami (‘the kami of gold’), Tenchi Kane no Kami (‘the golden kami of heaven and earth’), and Konk
Daijin (‘the great kami of golden light’). He began to receive direct communications from Konk
Daijin, and in 1859 he retired from farming in order to mediate between the kami and human beings. This date is regarded by adherents as the founding date of Konk
ky
, although it was not organized until 1885, after his death, being recognized by the government in 1900. After 1859, Kawate took the name of Konk
Daijin and met individuals who came to him, to act as a direct link between themselves and the kami.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search