Yesterday, while walking through Tokyo, I came across a message displayed outside a Buddhist temple. I often see such messages in front of temples, but usually I just glance at them and walk on. This time, however, the words stayed with me. They spoke of kindness, smiling faces, gentle eyes, warm words, and a willingness to help others. Simple things, perhaps, but they made me think about the people I have met in my life—and about the kind of person I would like to become.
Yesterday, while walking through Tokyo, I noticed a message displayed outside a Buddhist temple.
It read:
All good deeds have compassion at their root.
There are gifts that never diminish, no matter how often we give them.
They are:
A smiling face
Gentle eyes
Kind and cheerful words
A willingness to lend a helping hand
These messages are apparently known in Japan as monzen goroku (temple gate sayings) or keiji dendō (Buddhist teachings displayed on noticeboards). They are a familiar sight outside temples.
Even when the words are meaningful, I usually give them only a passing glance before continuing on my way. Yesterday, however, this particular message struck a chord with me, so I decided to write it down.
The first line, "All good deeds have compassion at their root," apparently means that behind every genuinely good action lies a feeling of care and compassion for others.
The rest of the message reflects a Buddhist teaching known as Muzai no Shichise, or the Seven Offerings That Require No Wealth.
The idea is that we can give something to others without spending any money or offering material possessions. A smile, a gentle look, a few warm words, or simply being willing to help someone can all be acts of generosity.
That makes sense to me.
After all, who could possibly feel uncomfortable around someone who is always smiling, gentle, cheerful, and ready to lend a helping hand?
Simply being around such a person can make us feel happy.
Looking back over my life, I have been fortunate enough to meet a few people like that.
Fortunately, my wife is exactly that kind of person, and she has always been a great source of support to me.
Apart from my wife, I have also had friends who possessed these qualities.
But perhaps they eventually grew tired of me.
Or perhaps they are simply too busy with their own lives to spare any time for someone like me.
Whatever the reason, I feel sad to think that I may never have another chance to see them.
Of course, if I really want to see them, I could simply go and visit.
But for someone as full of hypocrisy as I am, it feels rather presumptuous—and embarrassing—to turn up and ask to see them.
Perhaps, if I truly want to see them again, I should first try to become the kind of person who always smiles, treats others gently, remains cheerful, and is ready to help without hesitation.
After all, everyone wants to spend time with someone like that.
If I want to see people who bring happiness to others, perhaps I should first try to become one of them.
・・・
Compassion — 思いやり、慈しみ。他者の苦しみや気持ちを理解し、助けたいと思う心。
At the root of ~ — ～の根底に、～の根本に。
Diminish — 減る、少なくなる。ここでは、与えても尽きないという意味。
Lend a helping hand — 手を貸す、助ける。日常的によく使われる表現。
Strike a chord with someone — 人の心に響く、共感を呼ぶ。
A passing glance — ちらっと見ること。何気なく目を向けること。
Act of generosity — 寛大な行為、惜しみなく与える行為。
Possess these qualities — こうした資質を備えている。
Grow tired of someone — 人にうんざりする、愛想を尽かす。
Spare time for someone — 誰かのために時間を割く。
Hypocrisy — 偽善。言動と本心が一致していないこと。
Presumptuous — おこがましい、出過ぎた。
Without hesitation — ためらわずに、進んで。
#Kindness #Compassion #BuddhistWisdom #JapaneseTemples #MindfulLiving #PersonalReflection #LifeLessons #EverydayKindness #JapaneseCulture #LivingWithKindness
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