(SO from Ibaraki Prefecture/Male/30s/Civil Servant)
My dream was to become a teacher. In pursuit of that dream, I challenged my entrance exams, but things didn’t turn out the way I wanted, and wasn’t accepted to the college of my choice. Soon after, I started to lose the balance of my kokoro from the shock and was admitted to the hospital for a year.
Understanding the Power of Family
I spent a lot of time on the bed in the hospital and was taking many medications. Seeing me like that, my mother got worried and went to Kyōmu Sōdan (consultation). And there, my mother was told that the husband and wife need to be on the same page to resolve situation about their child. And with that piece of advice, my mother and my father started to learn the teachings together.
I can’t express enough how much I was saved by my parent’s words saying, “I know it’s tough, but you can do it…” The more my parents put the teachings into practice, my conditions got better and soon after, I was discharged from the hospital.
As I went home from the hospital, my parents and my grandparents praised and welcomed me back by saying, “You did good! We are so proud of you.” These days, my mother would listen to me and give me advice on many things. And my relationship with my father has improved as well. I started to go against my father when I was in middle school, but we talk more than ever. It was certainly not fun to come down with an illness, but in return, I realized how much family is important for each one of us.
A Wider Perspective I Have, the More I Learn the Teachings…
But I came across another hurdle when I started working. I felt I wasn’t doing well enough to be useful at my job and the human relationship became a problem for me. And all at the same time, the passing of my grandfather triggered my kokoro to hit rock bottom. I took about 6 months off from work. But I was able to recover faster and my kokoro wasn’t as suffering as before because my parents were there beside me to listen and accept my feelings.
I returned to my workplace and decided to join Kōyūkai (young adult group at Kyōkai) because I wanted to deepen my understanding of the teachings. At Kōyūkai, a lot of my juniors were very active in making voicing their opinions (about the teachings and how to put them into practice), and I was very inspired and motivated by it. As we held discussions and listened to different opinions, my views started broaden. This helped me with my relationship with my parents. For example, when there is a dispute or misunderstanding with my parents, I am now able to think in their shoes, and consider and see things in their respective positions.
The Kokoro Is Anchored and My Dreams Getting Bigger
More than ever, I can be even more considerate about the other person’s feelings. I can naturally direct my feelings to the other person’s kokoro. Even if my boss says things in a strict way, I can accept it better thinking, “He is probably being strict because he has been too busy. He probably doesn’t mean it.” If it was me before, I would have been so depressed the next day. This is all thanks to the teachings—I’ve been reading Shinji whenever my kokoro feels restless and offer kigan. And the repetition of this has surprisingly made my kokoro anchor.
In addition, I have not taken any medication over the past year. People at the hospital where I was admitted earlier are surprised about my recovery. And moreover, the department I have recently been transferred has a deep relation to education. I am surprised and happy that I can be involved in the field of education in this way. I cannot help but to feel the love of Kami. I will continue to deliver my feelings to my parents and keep the teachings as the support of my life so that I can walk a life that will make me feel happy.
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
Kigan so that you can live life by the teachings of Kami.
The kokoro will gradually become bright (positive) and the movement of the body will become light and active.
If you live by the teachings of Kami, you can see the other person’s kokoro.
The more you see (their kokoro), the best is made of that encounter.
And the more the best is made of that encounter, understand that harmony/balance between the kokoro and the body will be achieved.