I'm attending a preparatory school, what have I been studying for lately? Is there any point in going to college when there's nothing I want to do? It just makes me think about things like that.
What does the monk think studying means?
High school girls, school life is tough at this time of year. Please take care of yourself.
Do you mean studying? I have no idea. But from experience, the meaning comes later. I don't know what would be useful where. Actually, nobody knows. But you should do what you can now. Please acquire the ability to take action without running away from what is right in front of you. The meaning will come later.
I was forced to learn the manners of everyday life during my ascetic training at Eiheiji Temple, the head temple in Fukui Prefecture. I just learned the manners without thinking about the meaning.
The manners I learned when I read Shoho Genzo written by the founder Dogen Zenji in the 5th year were listed in sentences, and even the meaning was shown.
There are many things left over that have been going on for so long that humans just wanted to leave behind. Instead of denying it with your temporary feelings, let's study while imagining the thoughts of our ancestors as to why they did this study during this period. We hope your knowledge never ends with quizzes.
I read it.
You're right to think that. Why did I have to study when I was in high school too? I've always wondered that. It's perfectly natural for you to think so at that age and in the circumstances.
“What are you studying for?” This is a very difficult question... when I look back on my life and think about it... “I think it's for growing by expanding my future and possibilities.”
While learning and experiencing anything, people absorb it in their head and body, and they grow and change little by little. You can then step up to the next thing and experience and learn about the next possibility. Even if you have a groundbreaking idea, you can't take off without that pivot or footing.
Now you are on the verge of becoming an adult, becoming independent as a person, and stepping into various fields. And we are in the process of human development. In other words, it is also a preparation stage for preparing to have basic knowledge.
I don't know what kind of interests or concerns you have in the future and what kind of path you are aiming for, but the attitudes and habits you learn are necessary elements throughout your life.
As the saying goes, “it's easy for boys to get old and difficult to learn,” it's not unusual for them to learn and learn by aiming for one path. But you've already started living your own life.
You will learn various things from now on, have various experiences, and grow in your own way as you meet various people. And when I looked back 10 years from now, fiscal year 20, 30 years from now, I was like, “Oh! I didn't know what I was learning at the time. But there will always come a time when you think, “What I learned at that time is alive now, I can look back and feel it again.”
Please do not only study at school from now on, but also actively learn and absorb various things.
Your future opens up with great potential, you're flying out into the world, and you're growing as a person.” I support you from the bottom of my heart.
I'm from home
I went to a preparatory school to become a doctor
I fell in love with chemistry in high school and went to the Faculty of Science
I didn't like experimenting at a university and got a job at a financial institution
Work became difficult due to the burst of the bubble and I got rid of my job
I joined a relative temple and became the chief priest.
Take a detour and study without need
It looks like he became a monk
What is your experience so far
I feel like nothing has been wasted.
Even if there's something I want to do
Changing your mind is normal.
Even if I don't have anything I want to do right now
So that it can handle any future
I think it's a good idea to choose a career path (= go on to college).
Hello. Nice to meet you.
I went to college just because “everyone is going” without thinking about anything. Then, after about 2 years, I stopped. The only regret that I made my parents spend a lot of money was left.
My idea of studying is to pursue “what I want to know.” Sometimes a college is right for you, and sometimes it isn't. In my case, I quit college, joined a company, and studied a lot of “things I wanted to know.”
After I was 40, Buddhism became a “thing I wanted to know,” so I went to a monk training school for 3 years. Now I'm 55 years old, and if I have any other “things I want to know,” I still want to study.
I'm sorry for talking about me.
I hope you have a good relationship.
Gassho