(MI from Oita Prefecture/20s/Female/Stationery Store Staff)
“Your father has collapsed and is being taken to the hospital by an ambulance.” This was an unexpected call I received from my mother. My mind went blank.
My father suffered a cerebral infarction, and he would have ended up paralyzed or bedridden. However, my mother happened to be next to him and made the right decision. The fire station was nearby, so we were able to get in an ambulance right away. The doctor at the first hospital he arrived at decided that he needed to be transferred to another hospital for better treatment… The medical staff commented, “You’re being protected.” My father was able to be released from the hospital just eight days later. As my brother and I continued to cry, my father smiled with a kind, embarrassed look on his face and said, “I’m sorry for worrying you.” It was at that moment that I made a promise to cherish my family even more.
Just a little Practice of the Teachings Makes a Big Difference
It’s not that I was on bad terms with my family. But even as I studied Kami’s teachings and realized how little I was connected to them, I couldn’t change myself. I offered kigan many times and reflected on my daily life… I realized that the only things I said to my family were 1) communicating what I will be doing, and 2) comments to correct the other person. I often kept quiet, thinking “It doesn’t matter, it won’t change even if I say…” and there was no way our relationship would deepen this way. I wanted to understand my family’s feelings better and communicate my feelings better.
Then, one day, my mother seemed very sad. I felt uneasy, wondering if I had said something to upset her. In the past, I would have remained silent. However, when I asked her, “Is it my fault you’re looking upset?”, she was surprised and said, “I was just thinking about something. You should tell me more about everything.” She was actually concerned about me. Just talking about everything with my family made my daily life much simpler. I realized that my habit of keeping things to myself was making things seem more complicated.
Then another day, when we were trying to figure out which restaurant to eat at, my father said, “Let’s go to our usual place.” He was so pushy…so I started to get annoyed. But then I questioned why he wanted to go, and remembered he had said before that he liked that restaurant because it’s relaxing. So I wanted to go there too. The meal we had with that feeling was incredibly delicious.
Coincidentally, I met a fellow shinja, and when I told my father, “I’m glad you chose this place!”, he smiled with joy. When I think about it, I’m the same way as my dad. I don’t back down once I feel I have a point. Rather than blaming him, I wanted to share my feelings and understand each other.
From around this time, my relationships with the people around me also began to change. I started to want to know more about how others feel, and started to want to express my feelings more, too. These thoughts began to well up in my mind at work as well. I started to hear more and more people say that I seemed much happier and more energetic.
Realizing that No One can Replace My Father
Four months have passed since then, and my father has recovered enough to enjoy his hobby of paragliding. I quit my previous job and started helping out in the family business. When I realized how much my family had supported me up until then, I once again wanted to help them. Many customers at the store are familiar faces, and I feel the bonds that my parents have cherished and nurtured over the years. When my parents see new products, they say, “So and so will be happy with this product,” and “We can’t wait to deliver it to them.” I am proud of their sincerity towards their customers, and I am happy that I can now feel like I want to get closer to them.
Shinji
Family environment is a seedbed of the soul where true love is fostered and where the Kokoro no Michi is connected with a strong bond.
As the family learns the teachings together, the soul (kokoro) of human beings (person) will anchor, and strengthen the compassion (thoughts) to interact and support each other with the principles.
This compassion (kokoro) fosters the kokoro of hōshi (to give back), and cultivates a human being (person) who is protected by their unmei and walks the correct path.
A harmonious family environment does not invite illness, accidents, and misfortunes.
Love, trust, and expectation will tie the kokoro of family members.
The Shinji revealed by Kami are teachings on how to live a happy life. Because they are universal truths that apply to everyone, if you live in accordance with these teachings, your life will surely improve.