“The Japanese Spirit”
Japanese people are often said to be non-religious
But is that truly so
At shrines and sacred altars, people place their hands together in prayer
Quietly facing the countless divine spirits
A sacred space where gratitude is offered, vows are made, and prayers are entrusted
Nearly one hundred million Japanese visit shrines during the New Year
Shinto is called “Kannagara no Michi”
“The way of living in accordance with the divine”
Divinity dwells within all things in nature, to be revered and honored
This is the form of faith through which the Japanese remain truly Japanese
The founder of Shinto is unknown
Nor does it possess scriptures or rigid doctrine
Yet discipline, harmony, and order
Are woven naturally into everyday life
“Itadakimasu” — receiving life with gratitude
“Gochisousama” — gratitude for the meal and those who prepared it
“Otagaisama” — recognizing our mutual dependence
“Mottainai” — reverence toward what should not be wasted
These are uniquely Japanese expressions
Words imbued with kotodama — the sacred spirit dwelling within language
A long history has engraved within the Japanese people
A uniquely Japanese sense of harmony and order
Japanese people should take greater pride in themselves
If the world embraced values inspired by Japan
The spiritual civilization of humanity would surely rise
The Japanese spirit is the future of the earth
「日本人らしさ」
日本人は無宗教だとよく言われるが
果たして真実なのだろうか
神社や祠で人々は手を合わせる
八百万の神々と粛々と向かい合い
感謝をし誓いを立て請願する聖域
正月は1億人近い日本人が神社に参る
神道は「かんながらのみち」と言われ
人生は神そのものへの道とされる
森羅万象に神は宿り敬い祀る
日本人が日本人たる信仰の姿だ
神道は創始者が不明である
また経典や教義なるものも無い
しかし規律や秩序などは
生活様式の中に溶け込んでいる
「いただきます」「ごちそうさま」
「おたがいさま」「もったいない」
という日本語の様々な挨拶
言霊の宿った日本独自の言葉だ
永い歴史が日本人のDNAに刻んだ
日本人特有のレギュレーション
日本人はもっと自信を持っていい
世界中が日本に倣った価値観を持てば
地球は確実に精神文明が上昇する
日本人らしさは地球の未来だ