We each have our own individual personality. As reflected in the idea that everyone
is different, each person may have a different way of feeling and thinking about
the same thing. In the home and at the workplace, when our opinion differs from
another person’s and we insist upon our own way of thinking and want to make the
other person accept it, we can end up in a contest of wills.

However, when we can accept that there are other ways of thinking about things,
then the other person will adopt the attitude of listening to what we have to say.
Shakyamuni is said to have determined how well the people he met were able to understand him, and then preached the Dharma to them in a way they could easily comprehend, and thereby awakened them to right thinking and the Truth.

This is why it has been said that in Buddhism there are eighty-four thousand teachings
and thus the teachings can be said to be infinite. In that sense, we could also say that each of our ways of thinking is merely one out of eighty-four thousand.

For example, when we are in a meeting we can realize that our own opinion is only
one of a variety of ways of looking at a situation, and our resistance to other views decreases. Then we can see what we could not see when we were attached to our self-centered views. In other words, no longer clinging to appearances we can turn our thoughts to the essence.

In the Analects of Confucius it is stated“, Once the roots are in place, the Way will grow from them.” This means that after establishing what is the fundamental essence,
the Way we should follow will be clarified. We must put our minds together on the broader perspective and not lose sight of our goal.

Many in Body, But One in Spirit

Founder Niwano placed great value on the　motto“, Many in body, but one in spirit,”
while　promoting interreligious cooperation and the　Brighter Society Movement, and acknowledged　differences with other groups but tried to learn　from them.
In the spirit of“ putting our hands together reverently,” he accepted everyone he met
as“ a good friend.”

This teaches us that because we all differ from each other, we can train and improve
each other. In a group of ten people, we can train and improve ourselves and nine
others. I think that spirit can lead positively to a more harmonious world. The Edo period neo-Confucian philosopher Hayashi Razan (1583?1657) said one of his favorite mottos was“ Because the seas are so vast the fish are free to jump anywhere; because the
skies are so wide and empty the birds are free to fly where they like.”

The oceans allow the fish to swim freely and the skies let the birds fly in the same way.
This can teach us that it is important to adopt the broad view, accepting that others may
differ from us, and not to be trapped by small, unimportant things.

October marks the anniversary of Founder Niwano’s entering nirvana. Let us turn our
outward-looking eyes inward and always keep in mind his goals for us.