“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.

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!”

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