In the times ahead, it’s essential to be of help to others. It’s about bringing joy to others, but today I’ll discuss something a bit challenging, so it’s okay if you don’t fully understand. You can just aim for a partial understanding. I’m going to talk about “tariki hongan.”(他力本願＝Being helped by the power of god)
The last time I talked about this, people misunderstood “tarik ihongan.” Some people think it means expecting others to do everything for you without doing anything yourself. But that’s entirely wrong.
“tariki hongan” is a term from Buddhism. It means that anyone who chants “Namu Amida Butsu” when they are about to die will be able to attain Buddhahood, and beings of light or ancestors will come to welcome them. It’s a concept from Buddhism, and it’s not about our present circumstances.
So, “tariki” essentially means the power of the divine. When the power of something beyond yourself becomes involved, remarkable things can happen. For instance, it applies to sculptors as well. When they try to create something great, the power of the divine can come into play. However, initially, the effort to create comes from one’s own abilities. But one day, as they continue to sculpt, they start to see the image of Kannon (Avalokiteshvara) within the stone, and they try to carve it out without harming Kannon. In other words, they don’t carve it on their own; they develop a desire not to harm Kannon.
That’s where the concept of “tariki” comes in – it’s not your own effort but the power of something beyond yourself.
Recently, there was a person named Munakata Shiko who was trying hard to sell his works by himself and wanted to become famous quickly. However, he couldn’t succeed. But one day, when he forgot about such concerns and painted and carved with a clear mind, the concept of “tariki” emerged.
If they do it for their own sake, like wanting to become famous or achieve something for themselves, they are working with their own effort. Nothing beyond themselves will emerge.
However, when you sincerely consider what will make others happy, what will benefit your community, and work tirelessly for the sake of others, that’s when the concept of “tariki” comes into play. When you work diligently for the sake of others, one day you will experience the power of “tariki.”
When this “tar”iki manifests, whether in art or business, it shines brightly because it’s something created by the divine. So, even if a skilled person creates something, if it’s done solely through their own effort, it won’t sell well, and it won’t have that aura. The same applies to business. When I’m working, coming up with a great product is the result of “tariki.” “Tariki” is not something that comes to you without any effort.
By constantly thinking about how to make people happy, how to benefit others, and dedicating yourself to it, one day, you’ll find the inspiration flowing like divine revelation.
Now, let’s talk about everyday life. Some people say they haven’t relied on others. Those who lack gratitude or have strong egos generally don’t succeed. These people don’t know gratitude.
People who don’t know gratitude think, “I’ve worked hard on my own.” But that’s not true. I went on a drive to Chiba Prefecture yesterday, but did I build the car I was riding in? No, that was made by a car manufacturer. It runs on gasoline, but did I extract the oil? No, someone else did. Even the roads were built by people. How much have I done on my own? So, you have to be grateful because you don’t know how much you rely on others to live.
They got into Tokyo University through self-study, they say, but that’s not it. They got in because someone else established Tokyo University. Even the exam papers are mostly the result of others’ efforts. When you think about it, what have you really accomplished? Just a fraction of your life.
Even now, there are many aspects of our lives where we rely on the help of others and live with their support. We must also consider how we can be of service to others. When we earnestly think about it, good ideas can pop into our minds like divine inspiration. We need to think seriously, whether it’s for the sake of the world, for the benefit of others, for our hometown, for Japan, or any other cause. When we dedicate ourselves to these thoughts, flashes of insight can emerge. This is what we call “tariki,” or relying on the power beyond oneself. Those who are unfamiliar with “tariki” may think self-effort is the most important, but the truth is, self-effort accounts for only a small percentage.
We need to delve deeper into this. Even though I’m working diligently, there are things I cannot accomplish on my own, and it’s through everyone’s cooperation that a company can function. In addition, our ancestors support us, whether they are guardian spirits or divine beings. Sometimes, flashes of inspiration come to us.
People who don’t experience these flashes of inspiration lack gratitude. People often underestimate how much they accomplish on their own. For example, I’m recording this now, but I didn’t create this smartphone, nor did I make the microphone. Even the electricity that powers it isn’t something I generated. There are people in remote places generating electricity. So, we rely on countless individuals while living our lives.
In this context, I often wonder, “Why was I born? Why do I run a company called ‘Marukan’? Why was I born in this town? Why here?” But when you’re born into a community surrounded by many people, there’s always something you can do to help those in need. For instance, you can teach my lectures to those who are suffering emotionally. There are ways to help, even in seemingly small actions.
Even now, I’m relying on the help of others in various ways. We need to think about how we can help others. When you earnestly think about the well-being of others, insights come naturally. This is what we call “tariki.” Those who don’t know “tariki” rely on their own effort and think they are doing everything on their own. That’s why they don’t receive help; they lack gratitude.
People who lack gratitude don’t receive help. They think they can do it all on their own because they believe there are no gods or ancestors in this world. But everyone is working hard for us. Even now, I’m on the 6th floor of a building, but I can be here because someone else worked hard to make it.
When you think about these things one by one, out of a hundred things that happened today, only one or two were truly your own doing.
So, when you realize this, you must express gratitude to others sincerely. When gratitude comes from the heart, “tariki” flows in abundance. To receive “tariki,” you must work for the sake of others with your own effort. “tariki” won’t come if you don’t work hard to help others.
That’s it.
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