304 The Japanese Spirit

304 The Japanese Spirit

“The Japanese Spirit”

“The road of God” is the Japanese view on religion.
God lives in nature and in life.
Through these workings the self becomes aware of its own existence,
And, holding the virtues of purity, hope, justice, and honesty,
Lives together with God.

It follows that God lives in all types of human work, too.
Make work a place for discipline and training, a way of elevating your soul.
Approach others in sincerity, with modesty and humility.
Hone your craft, purify your heart, master your work, and become a virtuoso.
Before long, you will enter God’s domain.

From time immemorial an unbroken line of emperors has led Japan.
The gods recorded in the earliest Japanese history texts
Are the subjects of our faith today,
Revered in festivals at 85,000 shrines across Japan,
The cornerstone of our Japanese spirit.

Respect the natural world, give thanks for the blessings each season brings,
Strive for harmony and tranquility in one’s living.
That is how the Japanese people live together with God.


「日本人の心」

「神ながらの道」これが日本人の宗教観
大自然や生命の営みには神が宿り
そこで生かされている己を自覚する
浄明正直(浄く明るく正しく直く)を徳目とし
日々神と共に生きる

故にあらゆる仕事にも神が宿る
仕事を修行の場とし魂を高める手段とする
決して驕ることなく真摯に向き合う
技を磨き、心を禊ぎ、仕事を極め、達人となる
それはやがて神の領域となる

神代の時代より一系万世の天皇が存在し
記紀などに登場する先祖神が信仰の対象となる
全国にある八万五千の神社で祭祀が行われ
日本人の心の拠り所となっている

自然を尊び、四季折々の恵みに感謝し
和を尊び心穏やかに生きることを旨とする
日本人は神と共に生きている