Keitaro Sekigawa

I want to become a person who accepts people like the sea by trying to speak words of love for others rather than ego

Awareness

In the morning lesson on the final day, His Excellency Hideyuki spoke about the importance of accepting all kinds of people like the sea, just as the sea accepts the flow of any river without rejecting it.

I felt like he was kindly admonishing me about what I was lacking, and it really touched my heart.

I once again realized that I have always had a hard time accepting people openly, and that I tend to withdraw from them unnecessarily. I think they are overly conscious of their ego and how they will be perceived if they talk to them.

I was originally not good at events like tea parties after disbanding, but I was able to enjoy myself until the end thanks to the atmosphere of everyone in the Sangha. I hope to be able to interact with people from now on with that feeling.

I learned a lot from the way the uchideshi use words. I could clearly see that he was close to the other person and used his words carefully.

By trying to use words of love for others rather than ego, I was able to make a vow to become a person who accepts people like the ocean. Thank you very much.

Things I would like to utilize in my future life

・Be conscious of beauty
I felt that the actions, postures, words, etc. of the Uchideshi students in various situations were very beautiful. In modern society, I feel that there is a tendency to prioritize “correctness” based on efficiency and economy. For example, in the restaurant industry, being able to eat cheaply and quickly is considered “correctness,” but I don’t think there is a perspective of “beauty” in this. I would like to be conscious of “beauty” as the basis of my own value judgment.

・Be conscious of politeness
I realized that there are so many “while” things in my life. Looking at your smartphone while eating, thinking about other things while talking to someone, etc. I was told that it is such a waste that the “here and now” is neglected and our consciousness is taken away. When eating a meal, are you able to enjoy it carefully right down to the moment you swallow it? These are the words I received from an uchideshi. I would like to eliminate the “while” feeling and place importance on carefully enjoying the “here and now”.

・Be conscious of sharpness
I learned the importance of spending time wisely, deciding what to do now. In particular, I believe that habits have tremendous power, so I felt it was important to have a clear morning and evening routine, so I created a time schedule. By adding new time to meditation and chanting sutras, I realized that I no longer have time for things like looking at my smartphone. All that’s left is practice.

・Be conscious of awareness of yourself (mind and body)
The mind and body are closely related; when the mind is tense, the body is also tense; conversely, when the body is relaxed, the mind is also relaxed. It is easier to approach the body than the mind, and in order to do so, it is important to Osho Daigu taught me that it is important to notice (that is meditation). I also learned that consciousness greatly influences phenomena. It was a strange experience where I was more conscious of letting things go and thinking about how I wish things would turn out, rather than trying to force myself to do something. First of all, I felt it was important to become aware of my emotions, consciousness, physical tension, and stiffness.

Finally

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at Fukugonji Temple, including the priest Osamu Daigu, for allowing me to experience the ultimate daily experience of a temple stay. In particular, I learned a lot from the words and words of the uchideshi. I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone in the Sangha who trained with me, for the great insights I received from them.