Daily Guiding Principles
ー Written by Masami Saionji
１．
People must not be overly delicate and neurotic, nor should they be too rough and careless. Striking a balance in all things is essential to be considered a respectable person. Being too sensitive to others' feelings can be exhausting for oneself, while being too insensitive can frustrate and upset others. Excess in either direction inevitably leads to a loss of balance, and good results cannot be achieved.
2.
No matter what happens, one should not oppose others but seek to get along with them gently and amicably.
Everyone harbors a spirit of competition and conflict within their hearts. The key is not to direct these feelings straightforwardly at others but to control oneself with a strong will and first overcome these tendencies within oneself. This approach also applies in interactions with others. Even when dealing with people who are inconvenient or unfavorable to oneself, handling the situation with a serene heart can lead to unexpectedly wonderful outcomes.
3.
Masaoka Shiki said, "I thought enlightenment was being calm about dying under any circumstances, but I was mistaken. Enlightenment is being calm about living under any circumstances." This is entirely true, and only by completely fulfilling life can one truly fulfill death. It is impossible to eliminate the fear of death by escaping from life. By overcoming the fear of life, the anxiety towards death disappears entirely. Life and death are not separate things, but entirely one.
※Masaoka Shiki: A poet from Japan's Meiji era and a linguist who influenced the modernization of Haiku and Tanka.
4.
Having strong pride in the workplace you are currently in will be the key to bringing great blessings to your future. Those who are always dissatisfied with their workplace are unwelcome there. They should resign immediately. It is pitiful for the workplace side that has to deal with people who have grievances. The situation in any job can change depending on one's mindset. Even if the position you are currently in does not suit you, if you make an effort to live with pride in that given situation, at some point, you will surprisingly realize that you are truly living with pride in that job. Those who work with genuine pride in their job will surely be rewarded.
Book「日々の指針（Daily Guiding Principles）」(日本語/Japanese） 西園寺 昌美 著
