Sengaku Toukan

So, when I feel myself slipping back into a negative cycle again, I want to recall what I practiced during the temple stay, return to the present moment, and think about what I can do right now—then act upon it.

After I began taking time off work due to health issues, I found myself unable to properly manage my daily life. My mind and body felt out of sync, leaving me in a state of instability. Although I tried various approaches in my own way during my recovery to prepare for returning to society, I struggled to establish a steady rhythm. I became trapped in a negative cycle and eventually felt completely lost, unsure of how to move forward.

Realizing that I could no longer improve things on my own, I made the decision to participate in this temple stay. Through this experience, I was able to deeply reflect on how to use time meaningfully, how to approach each task with intention, how to respond to situations mindfully, and most importantly, how to truly look inward and face myself.

Having worked in the medical field, I’ve witnessed many experiences of life and death firsthand. Those experiences have made me acutely aware that simply being alive is not something to be taken for granted. And for the first time, since taking a break from work, I came to realize that this very act of living is only possible because of the tremendous support I receive—from people and from the environment around me.

Although I am still in the process of recovery, I now wish to restore balance in my life—both physically and mentally—and eventually begin giving back to those who have supported me. I hope to do so by practicing the way of being I learned through this temple stay.

This experience also reminded me that nothing can be achieved without consistently taking things one step at a time. So, when I feel myself slipping back into a negative cycle again, I want to recall what I practiced during the temple stay, return to the present moment, and think about what I can do right now—then act upon it.