“Everything is one.” This idea is, of course, based on the One Vehicle teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Leaving out the complicated details, this simply means that “the universe is one, the Earth is one, and the world is one.” The Earth was born in a universe that continues to evolve as one entity, like a single life form, and everything existing on this Earth exists in a mutual state of interdependence.

Grieved by her plight, Moggallana asked Shakyamuni to save his mother. Shakyamuni replied, "Your power alone cannot atone for her sins. You must make offerings to all the monks and ask them to pray for her. Then their prayers will free your mother from the hell of hungry demons." Moggallana did as instructed, and the merit he obtained by making offerings to all the monks delivered his mother from hell.

Although Sariputta was among the Buddha’s foremost disciples and often taught in his place, he remained humble—tidying the monks’ quarters after they left and quietly working to keep the Sangha free from criticism.

Indeed, we can see Kenji’s strong determination to empathize with other people’s suffering and mental anguish by going to them, wherever they are, and doing whatever he can for them—and this is the mission of people who lead their lives as bodhisattvas in this real, saha world.

Indeed, we can see Kenji’s strong determination to empathize with other people’s suffering and mental anguish by going to them, wherever they are, and doing whatever he can for them—and this is the mission of people who lead their lives as bodhisattvas in this real, saha world.