World peace begins with "Kenjougo"

in toshiyukimurakami •  2 months ago  (edited)

【Preamble】
The Japanese are currently "The world's most well-mannered Ethnic Groups," and I believe this will contribute to the foundation of world peace, so it is extremely important to clarify what has made them this way.
I sincerely hope that this will serve as an indicator of how to build a peace common to the entire world.
It is true that in Japan there was the practice of severing ties with communities, known as "Murahachibu," and discrimination known as "Eta-Hinin."
However, if we incorporate these elements one after another when thinking about Japan as a whole, we may mistake this for the whole picture and come to the conclusion that the theme is wrong.
However, this is different from the current state of Japan in the world.
I would like to clearly declare that the starting point of the discussion is to not forget the negative historical facts, but to view the whole picture.

【Text】
Ⅰ. About old Japan felt by Westerners

In the 1850s, when Japan began to open up and lift its isolationist policy, a Westerner who visited Japan wrote down their impressions.

Rating 1.
"I have never seen such simple, yet contented, inhabitants."

Rating 2.
"It is a strange tendency to belittle oneself, and a certain lack of individualism and self-assertion. The Japanese are extremely sensitive to the contempt or insults that are meted out to them by their pride in their race and nation, their respect for their dignity, and their neglect or refusal to do anything that is prescribed by custom or etiquette.
Therefore, naturally, they are a rigid and ceremonial people. In direct proportion to their sensitivity to contempt or insult, they are extremely careful to avoid offending or offending others."

Rating 3.
Through paddy rice cultivation, the ancestors of the Japanese people passed on the spirit of harmony, the spirit of public service, and hard work to their descendants.

Rating 4.
"I sometimes doubt whether opening up Japan to foreign influences would really make the people happy. Because I find more of a golden age of simplicity and honesty in Japan than in any other country already."

and so on.
Countries, local governments, etc. are also organizations, and
Mr. Frédéric Laloux, author of "Teal Organizations," has outlined the stages of organizational development.

  1. Impulsive (Red) Organizations
    Primitive organizations that forcibly control people through force
  2. Adaptive (Amber) Organizations
    Organizations with strict hierarchical relationships and rules
  3. Achievement (Orange) Organizations
    Organizations that prioritize the achievement of goals above all else and take management and action
  4. Pluralistic (Green) Organizations
    Organizations that share values and organizational principles through communication that is not bound by hierarchical relationships
  5. Evolutionary (Teal) Organizations
    Organizations in which individuals who are connected by trust fulfill roles fluidly

In light of this, Japan in the 1850s was in the stage of Adaptive (Amber) Organization.

Ⅱ. A glimpse of the Japanese soul from back then

At that time, there was a "Frame" from the moment they were born for the average Japanese person.
They were born into nature, and never knew the world beyond the high mountains they could see their whole life.
They grew up watching their parents' backs in the "house" they were born into, and since there was no path to a prominent status, no one desired a world outside the "Frame", or even if they did, it would not be allowed.
They saw their parents devoted to them, and accepted helping them as a matter of course, and followed in their footsteps, recycling the generation to the next generation.
The only academic subjects required were "Reading, Writing, and Abacus" at best.
Buddhism was widespread already, and the existence of "gods" was strongly recognized.
Because of medicine was underdeveloped, and coexistence with the course of nature and natural disasters was inevitable, and instead there was a high degree of dependence on "praying to gods" and "miracles", and the basis for being chosen by god to survive at the crossroads of life was "daily behavior".
Therefore, the tendency to believe that the daily accumulation of self-discipline and good deeds will be the price of salvation in times of need is called "Toku wo tsumu = To strive after virtue," and is so widespread in Japan that it can be called common sense, and is a spiritual culture that is still passed down to this day.
This deeply rooted spiritual culture has also ingrained the common assumption that "other Japanese are most likely this, and they have to be, too."
The pride of the spiritual ego of "I have always disciplined myself, avoided extravagance, and done good deeds" is uniformly high, and when someone says or does something that hurts this, they often selfishly reach a point of logic that says, "You (who should have the same beliefs and the same common sense) could never deny me (my way of thinking)" or "You (who don't know my daily life) have no right to say such things to me," and they often become extremely angry. (See Rating 2)

Since ancient times, the sight of people cultivating rice paddies and fields has been a part of everyday life, and very high-quality rice was produced, refined using blushed up skills suited to each region.
This can be called a diligent habit, but also there was the need to offer (Nengu = Tax for Tonosama = Kings, etc.) as a compulsory reason. (See Rating 3)
General meals are based on Shojin Ryori (Traditional Japanese Food), likely influenced by Buddhism, with rice, miso soup and pickles (one soup and one dish) + one dish of cooked vegetables (side dish), and one dish of cooked or fresh = Sashimi fish as the main dish.
Although people may have eaten less than this due to poverty, they never imagined or desired a meal beyond this.
Modern Japan has entered an "era of plenty," and there are many ordinary people over 180 cm tall, making it one of the longest-living countries in the world.
From this fact, it seems that the Japanese at that time were generally lacking in nutrition and immunity, and it is understandable that there were many adult men in the 150 cm class and that the life expectancy was around 50 years.
"Washoku (Japanese food)", which is now globally regarded as "healthy food", should be understood that It's different from the extremely simple diet of that time, which is free of cholesterol, consisting of fish as the main dish, vegetables, rice, and miso soup.
It just refers to taking missing nutrients (protein mainly from meat, vitamins mainly from fruit) at the same time or at a different time based on a Western diet.
In addition, the maintenance of fields and farm work required cooperation with the same profession of neighbors, and the idea of "mutual aid" naturally became established as an indispensable necessity.
A custom at the time was the "Tanomoshikou", where a small amount of money was collected from everyone at a gathering such as village meeting, and the entire amount was received by one of the participants who rotated.
The idea was that "because of poverty, so as to realize the wish that everyone will be able to enjoy luxuries equally from time to time."Mutual aid was a spontaneous practice as a wisdom for life.
The system is similar to modern "insurance" and "mutual support membership", but in that it was an economic activity in which a proponent exploited a portion of the money collected, it was fundamentally different in essence from the dedicated volunteer activities of the time. (See Evaluation 4)
In order to maintain these voluntary communities and actively draw out the volunteer spirit from others, it was important not to upset any of the participants.
Then speaking with the aim of harmony, it is essential that each individual is on an equal footing while learning to communicate in a way that respects others, and it is easy to imagine that the development of "The wordings in order to humble oneself" was a natural progression.
"Communication using Kenjougo" emerged naturally out of necessity in order to smoothly maintain a naturally occurring community.
The fact that Japanese people are the only human race to have experienced this is presumably the foundation of their(our) high global acclaim. (See Evaluation 2 : However, the expression "Kenjou" is a highly intellectual and sophisticated expression, and although it would be "despising by myself" in the light of what Westerners know, it is an unknown way of expression to anyone other than the Japanese. )

Furthermore, the second head priest of a Zen temple told me about his time at the head temple for Syugyou = Spiritual Exercise."
I had a dialogue with 'Zenji = the Zen master (the head priest of the head temple)', and he took something nearby and asked me, 'This is the same as me, what does that mean?' and I didn't understand what he was saying. He did that over and over again."
"Syugyou" is the path to reach the state of "Nehan = Nirvana" and is generally painful.

"Souji = Cleaning": Getting up at around 4am and thoroughly cleaning the temple grounds.
"Zazen": Sitting with your back straight for a long time. "Rengeza = Little lotus position" is also a high hurdle for ordinary people.
"Danjiki = Fasting": Not eating for several days. Some people claim that it has the effect of resetting the internal organs, but it is by no means healthy.
"Dokkyou = Reciting sutras": During Syugyou camp at the head temple, sutras are chanted for an unusually long time.
When through these ascetic practices eventually no longer cause suffering, one approaches a state in which one has abandoned worldly desires, or worldly worries.
This peace, expressed as "Kuh = emptiness" or "Mu = nothingness," is the goal of Syugyou.

When two monks asked Zenji "What is Buddha?", he answered
"Soku Shin Ze Butsu = The mind is Buddha" to one of the monks and
"He Shin He Butsu=Not mind is not Buddha(One of meaning)or Neither the mind nor Buddha are what you think(Another meaning)" to another one.
Although they had the same teacher, the questioner was a different person, so maybe answered(to the experienced monk)that "Your mind is Buddha.", and(to the inexperienced monk)that "Buddha and mind are not things what you think.", but something that changes depending on the person cannot be called truth.
Syugyou is about continuing to explore until they will convince something, on the premise that it is correct to accept both contradictory contents also as true, and Zen Mondou is about asking for an awareness of their own current level of immaturity.

In "The Debate" which is popular in modern society, people argue in white or black.
In "dialectics", it is concluded by elevating it to a higher level of "thesis," "antithesis," and "aufheben (synthesis)."
It makes more sense to understand that Japanese Buddhism has its origins in other countries' religions, but has spread different ways about thinking.
The state of "Kuh" or "Mu" is not black, is not white, and also does not attempt to reach lofty conclusions.

Now, let's get back to the main topic.
What does this mean about unraveling the Japanese character?
It means that most Japanese have an innate awareness of the existence of some mysterious thing called "Kuh" or "Mu" other than up and down, black and white, and 0 and 100.
Most Japanese people don't know the shape of "Kuh" or "Mu", size, and capacity, but they(we) believe that it definitely exists.
So, we are a people with DNA that seriously pursues and discusses mysterious things.
This means that Japanese people have been unconsciously accepting and practicing "diversity" for quite some time now.
However, as a side effect, Japanese people often use ambiguous expressions in their interactions and tend to silently expect others to "Sontaku = judge of others' mind" what they are trying to say.

Ⅲ. Inherited Soul Fragment

I have thought to myself that there are still some other things we are influenced by Buddhism.
If they want to gain status as a Buddhist, they must become a monk and give up the secular world and their personal wealth, that is a high hurdle.
If they endure hardships and reach a state of enlightenment, they will give up all desires already.
But they(we)have never seen a person like that.
Japanese people have been imprinted with the idea that "the perfect person is penniless, a recluse, and invisible".
We ordinary commoners are lowly people of the secular world who are not prepared to make that choice, and we can't think any other that we should be happy just to have three meals a day in the house we were born into, and that if we desire more than this, it is a luxury unbecoming of our status, that is really the worldly desires, and we will pay for it someday.
I have even heard this logic many times since I was a child.

In the 1990s, Subaru company used Mr. Rod Stewart in a commercial for the Legacy(car's name).
When the person in charge spoke to the media about his impressions when the contract was signed, he said, "I was surprised when I saw the contract. I had never seen a contract that detailed such provisions as, 'Hotel suites, limousines to transport to and from the site,'" he said.
The on-site person in charge would constantly check the progress of the shoot, call a taxi just before the shoot ending, hold the door open, have several people guide the driver in, close the door, and bow from the back to see the driver off, which had been considered the maximum level of transportation, but was therefore rejected.
Of course, we ordinary Japanese were also surprised, but this may have been the first time that a large private company at the forefront of Japan's economy learned that at the very least, contracts with foreign dignitaries may require this level of contracts, and that overseas monetary transactions may be concluded based on this level of contracts.

Ⅳ. Until now

From these, I put it all together to synthesize the foundations of the Japanese temperament.

  1. The image of a life that is completed within a "Frame" was cultivated from birth, and there was no environment in which people had great ambitions, and they were satisfied to live "within their means" without "overreaching themselves = stretching themselves too much." (See rating 1)

  2. Being frugal was the norm, and it's not that people were thrift. (See rating 1/4)

  3. The smallest units of organizations were born naturally, and voluntary mutual help "Otagaisama = Helping each other" was the basis of human relationships.
    To maintain this natural community, "Kenjou Hyougen = Humble Expressions" in communication were essential. (See rating 2)

  4. Natural disasters and epidemics are always present, so there are many cases that relying on "Kamisama - God" is the origin of the idea of the main law or rules, and combined with the penetration of Buddhism, it was widely believed that self-discipline was a way to protect one's life.
    As a by-product, there is a tendency to force others to "discipline themselves." (See rating 2)

  5. With the establishment centered on agriculture, the "family system" with succession as the main focus, people have come to know from experience that "quality improves naturally by working at one thing for a long time," and coupled with the long-standing "Nengu = Land Tax" system that made it imperative to maintain quality improvement, this method has been adopted in most professions.
    It seems that this "habit of improving quality by continuing to do one thing for a long time" is directly linked to "hard work."
    ※ It can be said that the practice of DCA in the PDCA cycle has been passed down continuously since then.
    The Japanese are extremely skilled at polishing something to the highest quality, but on the other hand, as a by-product, the fact that they (we)have been "given a job from birth" has also fostered a national character that lacks the creativity to think from 0 to 1. (See Rating 3)

Ⅴ. And from now
The hints for building the foundation for world peace that can be derived from this are:

  1. Premise
    Japanese culture does not cover all aspects, and not have an all-encompassing, and Japan has much to learn from other countries in economic activities, so it is necessary to assume that there are things the whole world can learn from "how to imagine others in one's mind and how to communicate in human relationships".

  2. Practicing "knowing enough" at the national level
    "Knowing enough" is a teaching that always comes up when touching on philosophy, but Japanese people have been find enjoyment within a framework, so their descendants have endowed with that from birth.
    For example, most nations are currently trying to create only as much "electricity" as we need, but we will change this and introduce a "framework".
    The country will first present the total production volume that can achieve the global common issue of carbon dioxide reduction targets (for example, the total production volume for the following year at the end of a certain year).
    If it is used up, there will be an automatic power outage.
    The country will publish the names of organizations (companies) and individuals in order of mass consumption.
    Organizations (companies) and individuals who disclose information without convincing evidence will be "unsupported by the people."
    For example, stock prices will fall significantly, such a thing.

  3. Introduction of an educational system that provides opportunities from an early age to take an overall view of life at various stages, and with the support of educators, reconsiders the future plans of the individual.

For example, at age 3, "the dream one have now," at age 12, "the job and person one want to be," at age 15, "your strengths, the job you want to have, your annual income and distribution goals," at age 18, "achievable jobs, annual income, and lifetime asset formation goals," and at age 22, "look back on past future plans and draw a complete picture of your current life goals based on self-analysis.", such a thing.
Life is always a constant climb, and we move forward one step at a time toward each peak.
The purpose is to help people acquire the habit of finding their own way of enjoying life from each position, so that people all over the world can affirm a way of life that does not give up on life.

4. Creating "Kenjougo" in all languages around the world

Currently, the human lifestyle that people around the world generally envision is one in which communication in personal life and economic activity influence each other's lives, so if they are not completely separated, there is a discrepancy between the two elements or lead to legal problems.
For example, while there is a global consensus that encroaching on other person's or nation's territory is a crime, the current situation in which dominating the global economy is generally seen as a success is a prime example of a confusion between the human rights of private individuals and the economic rights of private or public corporations = the persons of economic territory.
It is important to remember that the fact that corporations around the world are taxed differently from individuals indicates that the whole world commonly recognizes that companies are also people.
"Communication using Kenjyougo" is a first step toward resolving this issue and will be able to help all over the world move forward a little.
Kenkyo = Humility means respecting the other person while being on an equal footing, which includes the attitude of "everyone is equal, whether somebody is one's boss or a senior at work or much more experienced person in society, we should respect those in lower positions, thinking 'The person in front of me is someone who will surpass us someday.' "
It is also an act of demonstrating to others that they have gotten into the habit of superior common sense and character.
It is difficult to recognize this using only current overseas communication methods.
In overseas communication, it takes a lot of courage to lower yourself than the person you are facing in public, no matter who the other person is.
The strange feeling of recognizing this as a winner rather than a loser is creating endless(in proportion to the number of linguistic communications)friction, and achievement of eliminating this discomfort can be said to be the state of "linguistic communication nirvana (Mu / Kuh)".
In my opinion, the first step towards world peace is for the linguistic communication nirvana person will be the majority group to expand and permeate national units and eventually the entire world, and is the concrete starting point for realizing what Mr. John Lennon had left us "There's no heaven and no hell. Above us only (peaceful) sky that spread all over the world, and・・・ All the people(are)living for today."

Of course, everything cannot change completely at once.
New methods will emerge depending on the various environments surrounding the world.
This is just the first step, but it is the first step in a grand plan to re-educate people all over the world by "reconsidering human rights from the perspective of communication with language that's an unavoidable event to understand each other."

2024.09.03 (Tue.)

Toshiyuki Murakami

【日本語 = Nihongo = In Japanese】
謙譲語から始まる世界平和

【前文】
日本人は現在世界一の「マナー民族」であり、これが世界平和の礎(いしずえ)に寄与すると確信しており、何がそうさせたのかを解明することは非常に重要である。
全世界共通の平和という価値観はどう構築していくのか、その指標にされることを切に願う。確かに、日本には「村八分」というコミュニティに於ける絶交制裁や「穢多非人(えたひにん)」という差別も存在した。が、
日本全体で考える時にこれらの要素を次々ととり込むならば、これが全体像と誤認を招きテーマも間違いであるという結論になりかねない。
しかしそれは世界に於ける現在の日本の現状とは乖離している。
負の史実も忘れることなく、しかしあくまでも全体像として捉えることが議論のスタートラインであることを明確に宣言しておきたい。

【本文】
1.西欧人が感じた昔の日本1850 年代、鎖国を解き開国に進み始めた頃、日本を訪れた西洋人がこのような印象を書き残している。

評価1.
「これほど簡素な生活なのに満足している住民は初めて見た。」

評価2.
「妙に自己を卑下する傾向であり、個人主義・自己主張がある程度欠けているということだが、日本人は、自分の種族や国家を誇り、自分の威厳を重んじ、すべて習慣やエチケットが規定するものを怠ったり拒絶したりすることによって自分たちに投げかけられる軽蔑とか侮辱にたいして、きわめて敏感である。それゆえ、当然のことながら、かれらは儀式張って堅苦しい国民である。かれらが軽蔑とか侮辱に敏感であるのにまったく正比例して、他人を腹立たせたり、他人の気にさわることを避けるために、ひじょうに気を使う。」

評価3.
日本人の祖先は水田稲作を通じて「和」の精神や「公」の精神あるいは「勤勉」を子孫に伝えてきたのだ。

評価4.
「私は時として、日本を開国して外国の影響を受けさせることが、果たしてこの人々を本当に幸福にするのかどうか、疑わしくなる。私は質素と正直の黄金時代を、いずれの他の国におけるよりも多く日本において見出す。」

等々。
国家、自治体等もまた組織であり、『ティール組織』の著者フレデリック・ラルー氏による、
組織の発達段階
1.衝動型(レッド)組織力によって無理やり人々を支配していく原始的な組織
2.順応型(アンバー)組織厳格な上下関係やルールがある組織
3.達成型(オレンジ)組織目標の達成を何よりも重視しマネジメントやアクションを行う組織
4.多元型(グリーン)組織上下関係にとらわれないコミュニケーションで、価値観や組織理念を共有していく組織
5.進化型(ティール)組織信頼関係によって結ばれている個人同士が流動的に役割をこなす組織

に照らせば、1850年代の日本は順応型(アンバー)組織段階にあったと思われる。

2.当時から垣間見る日本人の魂
この頃の一般的な日本人には生まれながらに「枠」が存在した。
自然の中で生まれ、見える高い山の向こう側の世界など生涯知ることもない。
生まれた「家」の中で父母の背中を見て育ち、突出した身分への道がないから「枠」の外の世界を望む者もいない、またはいても許されない。
自身に献身的な親の姿を見て、手伝いを当たり前のこととして受け入れ、後を継ぎ、次世代へとゼネレーションをリサイクルする。
必要な学問はせいぜい「読み、書き、そろばん」のみ。
仏教は広範囲に行き渡り「神」の存在は強く意識されていた。
医学は未発達で、自然の成り行きや天災との共存は避けられず、むしろ「神頼み」や「奇跡」への依存度が高く、生命の岐路に於いて神から生き残りし者に選ばれる根拠こそ「日頃の行い」であった。
従って自らを律し善行を行う日々の蓄積こそが、いざという時自身が救われる対価となると信じる傾向は「徳を積む」と呼ばれ、日本では常識と呼べる程浸透し今尚引き継がれている精神文化である。
この根強い精神文化は「他の日本人もまたそうに違いない、そうであるべきだ」という共通の思い込みも根付かせてきた。
「日頃から自らを戒め、贅沢をせず、善行を行ってきた自分」という精神的自我のプライドが一様に高く、そこを傷つけられる他人の言動には「同じ信条の筈のあなた(は同じ常識を備えている筈)が、私(の考え方)を否定することなどあり得ない」とロジックが自分勝手に行きあたり、著しく怒りをあらわにする場合が多い。(評価2 参照)

古来から水田や畑を耕す光景は日常に溶け込んでおり、各地地場に合った手法で磨き上げられた非常に良質な米が獲れた。
これを勤勉な習慣と呼ぶことも出来るが、(年貢等)献上する必要があったことが強制的な理由として存在する。(評価3 参照)
一般的な食事は、仏教の影響であろう精進料理がベースと思われ、ご飯(米)、味噌汁と漬物のみ(一汁一菜)+野菜を煮炊きしたもの一品(副菜)、メインにお魚を一品がMAXであり、貧しさによりこれ以下はあっても、これ以上の一食を想像したり望んだりすることはなかった。
近代日本は「飽食の時代」を迎えており、180cm 超えの一般人が続々と存在し世界でもトップクラスの長寿国家である。
この事実からも当時の日本人は概ね栄養、免疫不足であったと思われ、150cm クラスの成人男性が多く存在し、50歳程度の寿命であったことも頷ける。
現在世界的に「健康食」と捉えている「和食(日本食)」は、当時の魚をメインに野菜と米、味噌汁というコレステロールとは無縁な非常に簡素な食事に、不足分の栄養(肉類を中心とするタンパク質、フルーツを中心とするビタミン)を西欧食をベースに同時または別のタイミングで摂取することを指していると捉えるべきであろう。
また、田畑の管理維持や農作業には近隣の同業者と力を合わせる必要があり、自ずと「お互い様」という考え方は必要不可欠なものとして定着してきた。
当時の風習として「頼母子講」があり、寄り合いレベルの集いに於いて少額のお金を全員から集め、その全額を参加者の一人に差し上げ、これを全員でローテーションした。
「貧しさ故、時には皆平等に贅沢が出来るように」という趣旨であった。
生活の知恵として相互扶助を自然発生的に行っていたのである。
仕組みは近代の「保険」や「互助会」に通じるが、旗振り役が集めたお金の一部を搾取する経済活動という点に於いて、当時の献身的なボランティア活動とは決定的に本質が異なる。(評価4 参照)
これら自発的コミュニティの維持やボランティアスピリッツを他人から能動的に引き出す為、参加者全ての人のご機嫌を損ねることがあってはならなかった。
全体調和を目的として発言に際しては、一人一人が対等な立場でありながら他人を立てるコミュニケーションを身に付けることは必要不可欠であり、「へりくだる」言い回しの発達は自然な流れであったことが想像出来る。
自然発生したコミュニティを円滑に維持する為、必然の中から自然発生したのが「謙譲表現によるコミュニケーション」である。
これを経験した人類が日本人だけだったことこそ世界的高評価の根幹と推察される。(評価2 参照:但し「謙譲」という表現は実に理知的な高度表現であって、西洋人が知っている範囲に照らせば「卑下」となるが、日本人以外にとっては未知な表現方法である。)

更にとある禅宗のお寺の住職の二代目が本山の修行に行った時のことを話してくれた。
「禅師(ぜんじ:本山の住職)と問答(=禅問答)するんだけどさぁ~、近くの何か物を取って『これは私と同じである、それは如何に。』とか聞かれるんだけどさぁ~、訳が分からんじゃん。そういうのを延々とやるんだよねぇ~。」

「修行」とは「涅槃(ねはん)」の域に達する為の道のりで概ね苦痛を伴う。

「清掃」:朝は4時頃起床して境内をくまなく清掃する。
「座禅」:長時間背筋を伸ばして座る。
「蓮華座(れんげざ)」も常人にはハードルが高い。
「断食」:数日間食事を絶つ。内臓をリセットする効果等謳う向きもあるが、決して健康的ではない。
「読経」:本山での合宿修行では、通常考えられない程長時間お経を上げ続けるとのこと。
これらの苦行を通していつしか苦でなくなる時、俗欲=煩悩 を捨てた状態に近付く、この「空」や「無」と表現される安らぎこそ修行の目指すところである。

禅問答の中にはこのような有名なものがある。
二人の修行僧から「仏とは何か。」と問われ、
「即心是仏」:心即ち仏である。
「非心非仏」:心でも仏でもない。
と答えた。
師が同じではあるが、問うた者が別人であることから
(経験豊富な修行僧に対し)「お前の心が即ち仏である。」
(修行経験の浅い僧に対し)「お前の考えるような心でも仏でもない。」
と答えた向きもあるが、人によって変わることは真理とは言えない。
背反する内容の双方を真とすることもまた正しいと前提した上で腑に落ちるところ迄探求を続けることが修行であり、今の自身の未熟度という気付きを乞うことが禅問答である。

近代社会でもてはやされる「ディベート」では白か黒かで主張し合う。「弁証法」では「テーゼ」「アンチテーゼ」「アウフヘーベン(ジンテーゼ)」と高みに上げることで完結する。
日本仏教(Japanese Buddhism)は他国の宗教に起源を発するものの、全く別の考え方として浸透してきたと解する方がしっくりくる。
「空」や「無」という境地は、白黒もはっきりしないし高みに上がる結論も試みない。

さて、本題に戻ろう。
これが一体日本人気質を紐解く上で何が言いたいかというと、「日本人の殆どは、上と下、白と黒、0と100以外に「空」や「無」と呼ばれる何者か得体の知れない存在を生まれながらに認識している」ということである。
「空」や「無」の形は知らないしサイズも容量も分からない、だが存在自体は必ずあると信じている。
だから得体の知れないもの、ことを本気で追求し議論する DNA を備えた民族なのである。
これは日本人がかなり以前から既に「ダイバシティ」を無意識の内に受容し実践してきたことを意味する。
ただ、副作用として日本人は曖昧な表現のやりとりが多く、相手に忖度という「察し」を無言の内に要求する傾向がある。

3.引き継がれた魂の欠片
仏教の影響で私自身思い当たることがまだある。
仏教徒として地位を得ようとすれば「出家」が必須であり、俗世=私財 を放棄せねばならず、ハードルが高い。
もし苦行に耐え悟りの境地に辿り着けば全ての欲を捨て去っているだろう。
日本人が思い描く人間の完成形は、「無一文の世捨て人」であることを刷り込まれてきたのである。
我々一般的な平民は、それを選択する覚悟のない俗世の卑しい人間であり、生まれた家で3食食べさせて貰えるだけ幸せだと思うべきだという思考、これ以上のことを望めば、それは身分不相応な贅沢であり、それこそ俗世の煩悩でありバチが当たる、とイメージせざるを得ない。
私でさえ幼い頃から何度もこのロジックを聞かされてきた。
つまり、日本人の多くは仏教徒ではあるが、修行の入口に立つ覚悟すらない修行僧以下の中途半端な俗世の存在であり、大志を抱くことなど恐れ多い、せいぜい今より多少なりとも生活が良くなれば大満足、今与えられた環境下で懸命に努めるのが定めだと心の底では思わされている人が大半であった。
日本人の大半が「やたら日常の中でお金の話をすること、金銭的な見栄を張ること、金品を見せびらかすこと、細かいお金のやりとりに拘ること」を卑しい言動とみなす為、互いにそこに触れない、曖昧なまま話を進める習慣がはびこり、金銭感覚の欠如、金融や契約知見の低さ、が延々と受け継がれてきた。

1990年代、スバル が レガシー のCMに ロッド・スチュワート 氏を起用したことがあり、契約を交わした際の感想を担当者がメディアに明かしたところによると、
「契約書を見て驚いた。『ホテルはスィート、現場への送迎はリムジンを用意すること』などと、こと細かな取り決めを記載した契約書は見たことがなかった。」
そうだ。
現場担当者が撮影の進捗を常に確認し、直前にタクシーを呼んで扉を開けておき、複数人で誘導して乗り込ませ、扉を閉めて後部から頭を下げて見送るというような、これ迄最大限と認識されてきた送迎待遇では不可、とダメ出しを食らったのである。
勿論我々一般日本人も驚いたが、少なくとも海外要人との契約にはこのレベルの契約書を用意する必要があり得る、海外のお金のやりとりはこのレベルの契約書によって成立している可能性を、日本の経済最先端にいる民間の大企業が知ったのはこの時が初めてだったかもしれない。

4.これ迄
これらから日本人の気質の根幹を総合する。
1.「枠」の中で完結する生涯イメージが生まれながらに培われ、大いなる野望を抱く環境はなく「背伸びする」者のいない「分相応」な生き方をよしとしていた。(評価1 参照)

2.質素であることが当たり前であり倹約とは捉えていなかった。(評価1/4 参照)

3.最小単位の組織が自然発生的に生まれ、自発的な横並びの助け合いが人間関係の基盤になっていた。このナチュラルコミュニティの維持には、コミュニケーションに於ける「謙譲表現」は必要不可欠であった。(評価2 参照)

4.天災や疫病は常につきまとい神頼みが主要な取り決めの発想の原点となるケースが多々あり、仏教の浸透と相まって自らを律することが自身の命を守る手段だと広く信じられてきた。
副産物として「自戒の念」を他人にも強要する傾向がある。(評価2 参照)

5.農業を中心に代継ぎがメインの「お家制度」が定着してきたことで、「一つことに長く携わることで自ずと質が向上すること」を経験値として知っており、更に長く続いた上納制度による品質向上維持が命題であったことと相まって、あらゆる職業に於いてこの手法が採用されてきた。
この「一つことを長く続けることで質を上げる習慣」が「勤勉さ」と直結してきたと思われる。
※ PDCA サイクルに於ける DCA の実践を当時から脈々と受け継いできたとも言える。
元からあるものを磨き最高級に仕上げる能力が非常に高く、反面、副産物として「生まれながらに職を与えられてきた」ことで 0⇨1を発想するアイデアに欠ける国民性をも育んできた。(評価3 参照)

5.そしてこれからここから
導き出される世界平和基盤構築のヒントは、
1.前提
日本の文化が全てを網羅する万能の素晴らしさを有している訳ではなく、経済活動に於いてはむしろ日本が海外に学ぶことが多々ある為、あくまでも「他人を自身の中でイメージする際の捉え方、人間関係のコミュニケーションのとり方」について世界全体が学ぶべきところがある、と踏まえる必要がある。

2.「足るを知る」の国家レベルでの実践
哲学に触れると「足るを知る」は必ず出てくる教えであるが、日本人は枠の中に楽しみを見出すライフスタイルを生まれながらに身に付けて実践していた。
例えば、今「電気」は必要な分だけ創り出そうとしているが転換し、「枠」を導入する。
世界共通課題の二酸化炭素削減目標等を達成出来る総生産量を先に(例えば何末に翌年の総生産量等)国が提示する。
使いきれば自動的に停電になる。
大量消費した順に国が団体(企業)名、個人名を公開する。
国民が納得のいく根拠なき公開された団体(企業)や個人は、「国民から支持されない」者となる。
例えば株価が著しく下がる。

3.幼少の頃から人生全体を俯瞰する機会を節目節目で行ない、教育関係者のサポート下で、本人主導の未来設計を見直す教育体制の導入
例えば、3歳で「今みる夢」、
12歳で「なりたい職業、人物像」、
15歳で「自身のストロングポイント、就きたい職業、年収とその配分目標」、
18歳で「実現可能な職業、年収、生涯資産形成目標」、
22歳で「過去の未来設計図を振り返りながら自己分析を踏まえ現時点の人生目標全体図を描ききる」
等である。
人生が常に登り続ける途上にあり、それぞれの頂きに向かって一つ一つ進んでいくものであり、それぞれの立ち位置でそれぞれの楽しみ方を見つける習慣を身に付けさせ、世界の人々が人生に絶望しない生き方を肯定出来るようになるのが目的である。

4.全世界全ての言語に於ける「謙譲表現」の創造
現状、世界中の人々が概ね描く人間のライフスタイルは、個人生活のコミュニケーションと経済活動上の立場に於いて個々の人生に双方が影響し合う環境にあり、完全に分けなければつじつまが合わなかったり、法律上の問題に繋がる可能性が高い。
例えば、他人の領地を侵食することは犯罪という世界的な共通認識を持ちながら、世界経済を牛耳ることは成功と認識されがちな現状は、私人の人権と公人法人の経済上の権利を混同した最たる事象である。
これを解決に向けた第一歩として少しだけ前進させられるのが「謙譲表現によるコミュニケーション」である。
謙譲は対等の立場でありながら相手を立てることを意味し、これは「全ての人は対等である。
仕事に於いて上司であろうと先輩であろうと社会に於いて経験を積んだ師であろうと『今目の前にいる者はいつか自分を越えていく人だ』と下の立場の者をもリスペクトする姿勢」を内包している。
それは、他人に対して自分がより優れた常識や人格を身に付けていることを示す行為でもある。
これを認識することが現在の海外のコミュニケーション方法のみでは難しい。
相手が誰であれ人前で、対峙する人より自分を下げるのは、海外のコミュニケーションではとても勇気の要る所作である。
これを敗者ではなく勝者と認識する違和感が現在の軋轢を無限に = 言語コミュニケーションの数に比例して 生み出しており、違和感を無くすことこそ「言語コミュニケーション涅槃(無/空)」の境地といえよう。
言語コミュニケーション涅槃マジョリティ集団が拡大し、国家単位、やがて世界中へと浸透することが、私の考える世界平和の第一歩であり、ジョン・レノン 氏 が遺した
「天国も地獄もなく、ただ(平穏な)空が広がり、全ての人々が今(今日)を生きている世界」
を実現する具体的なスタートラインである。

勿論一気に全てがガラリと変貌することは出来ない。
様々な世界を取り巻く環境によっても新たな手法は出てくるであろう。
これはその第一歩、但し全世界の人々に対し「相互理解に不可欠な言語によるコミュニケーションから人権を見直す」という教育をし直す壮大な計画の第一歩である。

2024年09月03日(火曜日)
村上 利幸

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What a fascinating and thought-provoking article by Toshiyuki Murakami! 🤔💡 As I read through the various points, I couldn't help but feel inspired by the potential for global change and understanding that lies within.

Point V. And from now on... The hints for building the foundation for world peace are particularly intriguing. I love how it highlights the importance of "knowing enough" at a national level, practicing self-reflection, and re-evaluating priorities. 🌎💚

The idea of introducing an educational system that encourages children to take an overall view of life from an early age is truly inspiring. It's essential to teach future generations how to think critically and develop their own goals and aspirations. 📚👍

And, I must say, the concept of "Kenjougo" – a language that promotes humility and respect for others – resonates deeply with me. It's a beautiful reminder that we should always strive to communicate effectively and treat each other with kindness and empathy. ❤️💬

As someone who values interaction and community engagement, I'd love to hear your thoughts on these points! 🤗 Let's discuss and share our perspectives in the comments below.

Also, don't forget to vote for @xpilar.witness by going to https://steemitwallet.com/~witnesses. Your support will help us continue contributing to the growth and success of the Steem community! 👍💖

Dear Mrs. xpilar.witness ;

Hello !
Thank you for your feedback.
I'm so glad to hear that it's positive.
I think that if it's produced by AI, it's quite accurate.
If you did really read it, I'm truly grateful.

まだまだ未熟な私ですが、これからも叱咤激励賜りますようよろしくお願い申し上げます。
= Madamada mijukuna watashidesuga, korekara mo shitta gekirei tamawarimasu yō yoroshiku onegai mōshiagemasu.
= 【Meaning】 I'm still × 2 inexperienced, but I hope that you'll continue to scold and encourage always(or sometimes).
(※ This sentence is "A Kenjou-Hyougen = A Humble Expression".)

Best Regards,

Toshiyuki Murakami