(HY from Yamanashi Prefecture/20s/Female/Civil Servant)
I still remember the day I found out that I was a shinja of Shinji Kyōkai. My mother, who has always been a shinja told me, “I registered you as a shinja when you were a baby because I wanted you to become happy.” It was a shocking truth that was put right in front of my face. My first thought was, “Wait a minute…am I in a weird religion?” I was shaken by it.
I was still a student at the time. I searched the internet to find out about kyōkai, but couldn’t find out whether it was a legitimate thing or not. But then, when I think of my mother who’s always there for me and the family, I didn’t think of it as anything bad. So, I decided to go with my mother to kyōkai and see it for myself.
The Presence of Kami I Felt for the Very First Time in My Lifetime
The staff members at kyōkai are very pleasant and everyone who attended the benkyōkai looked very refreshed and satisfied. I remember feeling that this place was not a bad place. Thereafter, I started working and faced a big hurdle at work. And this challenge I was facing had become the very first true encounter with Kami.
My boss was a strict person and would say, “So?” “So, what are you trying to say? What do you want?” I thought I was disliked. I thought that I may just be an outlet for my boss’s frustration. I was given an advice to not be overwhelmed and consumed by my boss and interact. But for an introvert like me, it was quite challenging.
But I decided to just give it a try and follow along the advice, and turned on my power switch of my kokoro with kigan. I would read the kyōkai book before going to work, and tried to set my goal for the day. For example, to greet people nicely, to kigan right away when I felt uneasy, and things like that. And as the week pass by, I felt much better and ease in my kokoro. A simple “Wow…” was what I felt, and it was the first time in my life where I felt the presence of Kami.
The Change I Say with My Boss and My Workplace
I used to go against my boss in my kokoro. For example, if my boss said, “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?!” I would answer to that in my heart saying, “Because you’re scary!” But the biggest awareness was that I was able to focus on the reason why my boss was saying what he was saying to me. If I would consult with him before the problem got bigger, rather than telling him after, he would support me saying, “Yeah, that’s what I was worried about too.” “This is not an easy decision.” And he started to ask me at times, “How are things going?”
Just recently, my senior resigned. I am a person who gets extra worried. And I was worried if I can take over my senior’s difficult job. But I tried to let go all my worries and decided to focus on what I can do now. The fact I was able to switch over my feeling like this was a growth I saw in me. Soon after, my boss said, “Can I talk to you for a minute?” He continued saying, “Other people were praising about you and your performance at work. I was truly happy to hear that.” And his eyes were teary as he was telling me.
My boss would say, “Ask me anything.” The atmosphere of the workplace has even changed for the better lately. It used to be filled with tension in a top to down hierarchical structure of the company. But now, it is filled with a good vibe to help each other. And I see smiles and laughter at times too.
I was surprised to see how much your surrounding changes when you change. And I feel Kami truly exists. I have so much to improve about myself, but with all the weakness included, I like myself now. It is my pride to be a shinja.
Heeding the Shinji to Understand the Reasons for the Joys Experienced
Shinji is the universal principle (truth), and can also be the guidance of life that foresees the future. Please feel the wonders of a life that flows exactly in a way the Shinji tells us when you live with the teachings of Kami.
Shinji
Learn the teachings, and have the strong conviction to live by the principles.
This kokoro will deepen and as it resonates in you, people’s kokoro can be bright and strong.
You will not be pushed and pulled by people’s words and actions, and able to live to give back.
People who bring results with their work are making the best of their encounters and are filled with a kokoro to give back.
They accept other people and their feelings to want to interact, foster the will to work and brings results.