(MN from Yamanashi Prefecture/Teen/Female/Middle School Student)
I have attended Minori no Tsudoi since when I was an elementary school student—I am currently in middle school. Whenever I tried to put things that I heard at Minori no Tsudoi into practice, things went smoothly and well. My teacher and my friends would praise me and I believe I have gained some confidence throughout the process.
However, my kokoro started to feel a bit uneasy about myself. I felt my friends were thinking that I was trying to be “the good girl” whenever I talked to new students who transferred into our school or whenever I was helping my teacher.
No One Understood Even if I Was Saying the Right Things
All that feelings of uneasiness faded away thanks to an incident that occurred recently. We were holding a student committee meeting when a class representative was tried to push his opinion. We tried to convince him but nothing worked. And at the end, he started to get angry.
Hearing what had happened, our teacher told me that he must have had a reason to want his opinion go through. And that is when I realized that I had no intensions or the kokoro to try and understand the other person’s thoughts or situation/reason. This is when the teachings I learned at Minori no Tsudoi to ‘be thoughtful and caring about other’s kokoro’ all came together within me.
If I Am Able to See the Reason Why
There are people who use strong words, or people who act rude in my opinion. But when I interact with them feeling, “What are their intensions behind these words?” the outcome is always different—Because I am able to see that they didn’t mean to harm anyone, I don’t have to blame them or be saddened by their words or actions.
The teachings of Kami teach us that there are many different types of people in the world but this is the way to interact no matter how they appear. As I found out that there are so many students with different circumstances, I was able to stay positive and more joyful.
My name in Japanese include a character that represents brightness/positivity or light. I heard from that my parents named me with a wish that I grow up to be bright and positive person. I wish to become that person one day; but for now, I want to take the initiative to be involved with people and shine the light to my surroundings.
(A Message from her Mother)
Going into her teenage years, my daughter gets repulsive at times, but we (as parents) try not to be pushed and pulled by her actions. This is because we understand how to be involved with her as parents from the teachings of Kami. We highlight especially on conversations. Because she is the first child in the family, I sometimes feel that we ask her to be more tolerant compared to the other children in the family. But we as parents try our best to sense that in her as quickly as possible and try to talk to her and have a conversation. We believe she has grown into a lady who can be considerate about other people. And we wish she would further grow to be a person who is always bright and positive.
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
Living your youth, try to face the people and things in your life with a sincere kokoro.
Living this way will help grow the circle of people you meet, and your kokoro will gain courage and confidence.
A sincere kokoro will help foster a kokoro to see people and things with much broader and larger perspectives.
Able to gain many people’s support and sympathy, your confidence to live will be drawn out.