The habit of taking care of things

Taking care of things means taking care of your heart.

後生大事(go sho dai ji)
Do you know this four-character idiom?
This word is originally a Buddhist word.

meaning
To cherish the comfort of later life and to work wholeheartedly during life. From there, you should start valuing things.

The original meaning of this word is to do good deeds and practice Buddhism in hopes of achieving peace in the next life.
Due to the history of Buddhism being introduced to Japan, many words for Buddhism remain. This word is one of them.
Japan is a non-religious country, but there is a religion called Shinto.
In the past, Shintoism and Buddhism were mixed together, so there are many four-character idioms and idioms in Japan.

Japanese people believe that gods reside in nature and animals

In Japan, there are many temples that enshrine mountains as gods.

Regardless of nationality, there are many people who treat things with great care. However, I feel that Japanese people have this custom that stands out. I think the reason is because it is related to Shinto as mentioned above.

In Shintoism, there is an animistic philosophy that holds that gods reside in natural objects. For example, there are mountain gods, river gods, and sun gods.
As a further extension of this tradition, there are many temples where turtles and horses are worshiped as messengers of the gods.

Furthermore, there are many cases where these animals are worshiped not only as messengers but also as incarnations of gods. Japanese people have a cultural custom of believing that gods reside in all living things.
But it’s not just animals.

Amulet

Why do Japanese people buy amulets? Where does the power of the amulet actually connect?

In Japan, hatsumode is an annual event. It is a tradition to visit temples and shrines to celebrate the new year.
We send various wishes such as
“I hope my family stays healthy this year as well,’’ “I hope I get accepted into my first choice university in this year’s entrance exam,’’ and “I hope my prolonged illness gets better this year.’’
We go to pray to God with all our heart. Amulets are sold at the places where you go to worship.
Many people who visit the shrine always buy this “amulet’’.

There are many types of “talismans”. Examples include “traffic safety charms,’’ “easy childbirth charms,’’ “financial luck charms,’’ “work advancement charms,’’ and “pet charms.’’

Japanese people believe that “talismans’’ protect them or make their wishes come true, and that they are imbued with divine power.

These “talismans’’ can be attached to the bag you use on a daily basis, or kept carefully in your wallet.
When some people become seriously ill, some people hold onto a “talisman’’ and pray, saying things like “God, please lend me your strength.’’
They believe that God dwells not only in nature and animals as mentioned above, but also in things.

To value things

Japanese knives are sharp and many people buy them as souvenirs. The technique of sharpening knives probably comes from the spirit of treating things with care.

In other words, the Japanese are a people who naturally think that God exists in the things we wear around us and the nature we see. The end result is that you will start to treat things with more care.

Nowadays, science has developed so much that anything that cannot be proven by science is called superstition, and we are now in an age where science is everything.
However, despite these times, Japanese people still believe in “talismans.’’

We treat items that we use on a daily basis with great care, not just “talismans.’’ For example, cases such as “If you leave food behind, you will get hit with a drumstick’’ or “A child who throws away a pencil that can still be used gets scolded by his mother’’ are proof that you should treat things with care and not waste them.
Japanese people are taught and taught this way from childhood.

I don’t seriously believe that God resides in things, but I do treat things with care. This is because there are many benefits to treating things with care.

●There is an economic advantage to making things last longer.
●The mindset of valuing things also leads to the mindset of valuing people.
●Taking care of things makes you feel calmer.

There are many other benefits, but you can enjoy these benefits as well.
In other words, when we treat things with care, the emphasis is not on the temporary benefit of preserving the object itself.
Rather, the good mindset that comes from treating things with care, that is, the secondary benefit, is greater.

The habit of taking care of things can be said to be the habit of making the heart KIREI, rather than keeping the things KIREI.

Having such a mindset will definitely have a positive effect not only on your own life, but also on your life in interaction with others, your life with your family, and your work life.