My thoughts

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)  “Knowledgeable idiot” is a term coined by a Japanese Buddhist monk, Yusai Sakai. Sakai was a famous monk in Japan who underwent extremely rigorous religious training. I like his books and have read almost all of them. In one of his … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)  People pay attention to their age. Besides physical age, there is also something called mental age. People often say that someone has a high or low mental age. I feel that my mental age is low. Sometimes I feel like I am … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)  Which do you think is more important, knowledge or experience? In my opinion, both are important. However, people today, including myself, tend to have a lot of knowledge but not enough real-life experience. Many people spend a great deal of time … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)  Almost everyone dislikes cockroaches. When people see a cockroach, they often scream and run away. When I see one, I feel uncomfortable, upset, and nervous. I try to kill it as soon as possible. If I don’t, I can’t sleep well. … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Do you know the ideas of a goal-oriented lifestyle and a calling-oriented lifestyle? A Japanese historian proposed these ideas. You are probably familiar with a goal-oriented lifestyle. This is a masculine style of living. You set a goal and try to … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Almost everyone wants to be lucky. However, I didn’t know how to become lucky, so I read nine books about luck. I read books about luck written by famous Japanese entrepreneurs, a Japanese scientist, a scholar, a legendary mahjong player, and a … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) We only live once. Everyone knows this, but it’s difficult to fully understand. I don’t fully understand it either. If you die, you will be dead after 100 years, 1000 years, and a million years. You can’t come back to life. People … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) If you are worried about something, ask yourself, “Will this matter a year from now?” Most of the time, it won’t. If so, you don’t have to worry now. This technique is called “Time Warp.” I learned the Time Warp technique from the book Don’t Sweat … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) People can still practice shugyō in the age of AI. What is shugyō (修行)? Shugyō is a method of polishing one’s mind and body through rigorous training. It is a Japanese word that originally refers to an organized practice of disciplining the mind and body … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Several months ago, I came across this phrase when I was reading a book called Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. I was very surprised when I learned about this idea. It felt like my world had turned upside down. You probably know the Golden … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Hitori Saito is a prominent Japanese businessperson who established a company that develops and sells health foods and cosmetics. He only graduated from junior high school, but he became a leading Japanese entrepreneur. He has written many books, sharing ways to become … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) I used to think being selfish was bad, but there is actually a good kind of selfishness: wise selfishness. The Dalai Lama said that people should be wisely selfish. He explained, “I often joke that if you really want to be selfish, … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Akihiro Miwa, a famous Japanese singer and actor, talked about this law. The law means that the total amount of happiness and unhappiness in your life is the same. In other words, you will experience an equal amount of good things and … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Have you ever had slumps? Yes, I have. If you are in a slump, it’s good to try doing the opposite of what you usually do. We are creatures of habit, so we tend to repeat the same actions over and over. … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) I might be wrong, but I made a comparison of Western and Eastern cultures.

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Some people believe that life has a purpose, and they live to accomplish that purpose. Hideko Suzuki, a Japanese Christian nun, wrote that the purpose of life must be “to make myself and others happy.” The Dalai Lama, a Buddhist monk, said … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Since childhood, we have been told to “do good things.” But what is “good”? Does the idea of good change over time? Is good different for different people? Is it different across cultures? Is there such a thing as a universal good? … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) I have read some books about free will. According to some thinkers, free will is an illusion. Benjamin Libet, an American scientist, discovered that our brains become active before we consciously decide to take action. For example, when we drink a glass … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) My mother and I made small talk over dinner every Monday. Sometimes we talk about people forgotten by history. We imagine that there must have been people like Buddha or Christ who lived long ago but were never remembered. I said that … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Buddha attained enlightenment — called satori in Japanese — after long and rigorous training. Many people have tried to explain what satori is. Koshu Itabashi, a Japanese Zen monk, wrote that satori is to live a normal life and be content with it. He … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) I watched a scientific TV program about the sixth sense. The program reported the results of some experiments. In one experiment, there were two people: one sat while the other stood behind them. The person sitting could correctly guess whether or not … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) Isao Harimoto holds the record for the most career hits in Japanese baseball, and Sadaharu Oh holds the record for the most career home runs in Japanese baseball. Contrary to what you might think, both of them were actually very cautious and … Read more

(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.) I like seeing children. I am struck by their purity and innocence, which remind me of my happy childhood. When I commute on foot, I always see elementary school students walking in a line. Since they are so cute, I cannot help … Read more