M.O.

During the temple stay, I believe my focus shifted entirely toward “how to let go of the self.”

Inspired by my wife—who regained her brightness and vitality through participating in the temple stay and now lives each day with renewed energy—I also began to consider taking part myself. In my usual involvement with educational activities, I had often felt the limitations of knowledge and theory-heavy learning. Additionally, as someone specializing in philosophy, I wished to deepen my theoretical foundation by learning from refined monks about “living in the in-between” and “cultivating action.”

At first, my focus was on “what I would gain” from the experience. However, after being told, “What’s important is not what you gain, but what you let go of,” I found myself less distracted by idle thoughts. During the temple stay, I believe my focus shifted entirely toward “how to let go of the self.”

Until now, I had an intellectual understanding—through Nishida’s place theory in Japanese philosophy—that living in the in-between and enriching it involves letting go of the self. However, I was reminded that practicing this in everyday life, and doing so skillfully, is something entirely different. It was a significant realization for me that rituals and etiquette not only have an impact on others, but also deeply influence the heart and serve as a catalyst for inner awareness.

This time, I was taught—through embodied experience—what it means to detach from the self. Yet I’ve come to understand that applying this in daily life without the presence of monks is not easy alone, so I’ve started building an environment with like-minded peers. Establishing a healthy daily rhythm serves as a solid foundation, and practices such as zazen and cleaning become valuable training for letting go of the self. I now believe that it is through relinquishing the self that true education takes place, and it is only in the midst of present action that true philosophy can arise. I wish to devote myself to daily practice while keeping this in mind.