I returned to Tokyo from Mt. Hiei today. The wind on Mt. Hiei had completely turned into an autumn breeze, and the flowers and grasses along the path swayed gracefully in the wind, shining with beauty. It was a moment when my heart was gently comforted and I felt encouraged. Along the way, driving with utmost care on the narrow roads, surrounded by rain and mist with poor visibility, each moment with nothing else was a moment of being truly alive. Lately, I often feel that I wish I could live every moment with this same sense of earnestness. Every day, through all the phenomena occurring around us, I feel that the times have changed and that there is no longer any time to spare. From the very beginning, Master Idaki Shin has said, “For human beings, to live means to bring forth extraordinary strength in each and every moment, like the strength that emerges in an emergency.” Now, in the times ahead, it has truly become necessary for us to live in this way. I feel that this is the time to return to our original way of living as humans. I feel everyday as though I am training myself to return to my original state of being. I have also come to feel deeply how easy on myself I had been living until now. Each and every day I question and reflect on what it means to live, and I think seriously about how I can live even better tomorrow. I am grateful that today has come to a safe end as well.