Harmony with Nature and Time

Each foodstuff has a proper time of year when it is considered ripe and most flavorful. In Japan, we refer to this peak flavor period of seasonal foodstuff or ingredients as 'Shun,' which people have regarded as important for good health. Additionally, 'Shun' also signifies the optimal time to perform certain tasks. For example, it is suitable to sow seeds of a specific seasonal fruit during this period to ensure a good harvest. I believe that 'Shun' exists in every aspect of human life. In other words, there are key moments when we must devote our best energy to the things we are responsible for and deeply passionate about, at each stage, in order to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Popular posts from this blog

Mindfulness and the Alchemy of Happiness: Insights from Archbishop Ryokan Ara

Image
  The Archbishop of Tendai Buddhism, Ryokan Ara (1928-2019), once shared a perspective on the mind: “All things in this world arise from the mind, and the mind can change them. Both within this house and within this world, through this mind, they can become either hell or paradise.” All people live their lives with more or less pain and worry. This is what Buddhism calls “earthly desires”. Suffering and worries bring about a variety of painful emotions such as sadness, anger, envy, and anxiety, and instill “bad habits in the mind.” Therefore, since it is difficult for people to give up earthly desires as long as they are alive, Ryokan Ara proposed to reduce earthly desires by practicing “habits of a calm mind” that are good for the mind and soul. It emphasizes that nothing in this world is fixed forever and that things are always changing, so it is important to understand the truth by looking at things in a big-picture way. What is needed here is the mindset of not being particular...
Read more

From Dust to Mountains: The Power of Persistence and Passion

Image
  Even ordinary people can achieve great feats if they focus on something and continue to do it, as the Japanese proverb says, "Even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain" (Many a little makes a mickle or Every little bit helps). For a simple and familiar example, even if we don't have the skills of a professional mountain climber, if we focus our minds and energy on climbing a relatively gentle mountain path step by step, we will often be surprised at how high we have climbed after a few hours. Additionally, as the Japanese saying goes, "Being fond of something makes one skilled at it" or "Love is what makes you good at something" (Practice makes perfect). If the proverbial "dust" in the former is something that we "like," even ordinary people can acquire knowledge and skills if they continue to do it for many years. It is possible. Of course, the time we have to do what we like in our daily life is limited, and it's importan...
Read more

The Role of Personal Feelings in Evaluating the Value of Goods and Services

Image
  It appears that people often use their personal feelings, particularly those of being "helpful" or "happy," as a yardstick for assessing the worth of products and services. These feelings can vary depending on the circumstances and timing, with changes occurring either broadly across a population or being specific to a select few. Given these dynamics, it is crucial for providers of goods and services to target people during specific moments and situations, discerning what evokes the strongest feelings of "helpfulness" and "happiness." This approach is pivotal for advancing value creation. Without this provider judgment being grounded in a commitment to genuinely benefiting people and society, sustainable growth cannot be anticipated.
Read more