As you know, Kenji Miyazawa was a firm believer in the Lotus Sutra, and I think that he conveys, in the form of stories and poetry, the teachings of the One Vehicle and the idea of eternal life that are revealed in the Lotus Sutra. In doing so, though, he had no intention of indoctrinating people, and Kenji himself warned, “Never think of indoctrinating others!”

Therefore, in order to be in tune with those around us and create a beautiful harmony, it is first important to know and draw upon our own strengths and fulfill our roles as best we can. Next, it is important that we listen carefully to the voices and feelings of others. In order to fully utilize our own strengths, we should all imagine ourselves as members of a symphony orchestra, listening to each other’s voices and feelings and taking great pains not to play too loudly or

If we sent photographs of Earth seen from space to politicians around the world and encouraged them to become aware of where our lives come from and the laws of Nature that govern our lives, would it be too optimistic to think some might conclude, “This is no time for war”? Well, at the very least, those of us who study the teachings of the Buddha are already learning the importance of the Earth as well as teachings that help us avoid conflict and division and bring about har