Comments on “Story of Prideful”
Ms. Mika Fujii (06-28-2020)
Being prideful is really troublesome. It will be nice if I can find it in me but it’s so difficult to see. Prideful lies on top of each other, it piles up and creates a complicated mysterious thick veil. Moreover, we are oblivious of our existing pridefulness and are living based on it.
Academic background, your lineage, place you’re living, country, street, number of experiences, it is no exaggeration to say that we all live for such.
I asked this person “What is prideful?” Then the person said “That’s it! “. I did not know I was being prideful and where it was coming from.
I realized even when I try to find my pridefulness, I cannot find it. I thought, if so, I will live in such a way to come discover what is causing my pridefulness.
I still haven’t found out where my pridefulness is hiding. It is like peeling onions, no matter how much you peel, there is more. Excuse me onions for using you as an example! I will continue to watch my pridefulness! Thank you!
Anonymous (06-28-2020)
Setting of “Smart Man” and “Beautiful Prideful Woman” was interesting. After reading “Story of Prideful”, I thought “Prideful” occurs when people are on the same line. You cannot compete if you are not on the same line. If you are competing in different field events, for example, you cannot compete with each other. Say “he/she is incredible”, “he/she is weird but interesting”, “he/she is different from me but he/she is precious and appreciative”, if you think this way, we may come to think what I thought great about me isn’t that great but it is a nice character of mine. May be we can think something like this? It is nice if we can think “I am not prideful but I can think my character is cute.” When we deal with prideful this way, we can appreciate him/her for what they can do but what I could not do.
💁Ikuko Gach: If we come to this point, it’s the start of “Unconditional Love”, isn’t it?
Ms. Anri (06-24-2020)
The content of “Prideful” was so timely for me, it was breathtaking and touched my heart. I am very happy that I read this blog. As a result of practicing to face myself, I have learned that I am overflowing with ego. In order to live in New York, I have often mistaken the meaning of “Strength”. To live with confidence vs. prideful is completely different. I appreciate reading such a blog regularly as I can come to my senses. I started working since last weekend and I have so much to realize. Ikuko, thank you as always.
Ms. KM(06-24-2020)
I used to be prideful. My father used to say “Don’t give in” when I was growing up. I don’t know whether this made me become so competitive or I was competitive to begin with. (This may be one of the learnings with my family.)
I came to realize that I am arrogant when I started leaning about the spiritual world. Since then I try to check to see if I am competing or comparing with people. When I come in contact with prideful people, I realize I still am prideful. I am telling myself to be humble and appreciative but I have a long way to go.
💁Ikuko Gach: It is a great step when you know you are prideful. There are many people who do not know that they are prideful.
MS. KM: I see. It is comfortable if I am not dominated by being prideful. It is also comfortable to be with people who are not prideful.
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Comments on “Story of Human’s Role
GE(06-16-2020)
I love the last line in your post. Let’s be together!
There’s so much discord and dissension in our world.
HF (June 15)
I was surprised by reading this story. I would like to share 2 things.
＊All tenants of the building that I work for need to register their pets by the building regulation. Recently one of the tenants came to me with a complaint document. The complaints were “There are people who have pets that are not suitable for this building” and ” “It is disgraceful.” I was totally shocked. Then my tears started coming out as I was sad.
“What is a pet?” I thought.
A cleaning lady of the building happened to pass by and she said with tears “I never liked the word ‘pet’, I feel a sense of wrongness with that word and feel sorry for them.” We talked a little and she said in the end “Dogs cannot talk, that’s all. But we don’t talk their language either!” I was happy to see someone who is feeling this way.
*Yesterday, a dog of a tenant in the building died. The mother and her daughter came to ask me “The car that can cremate our dog is coming. It is a car that can cremate our dog in it. Is it possible to have the car park in the premises so we can be close together while cremating?” They both were crying so hard and the girl was crying out loud.
The reason for cremating in a car was they could not use a crematory nor could they be there because of the Corona virus situation. The dog was loved by their physically handicapped grandmother. I answered right away, “Of course!” That afternoon the crematory car came and everything went peacefully. The family was standing for the entire cremation of 1hour and half. I joined my hands in prayer saying “Thank you”. I cried too.
The mother was concerned about me that this might cause me some trouble as I was in charge of the building. However, this didn’t matter at all to me at that time. Later that night, I reported this to the chairman of the board of this building. He understood sympathetically. I decided from now on to act upon how I feel every day.
😉 From Ikuko to HF: Your “pet” experienced came at the same time as I wrote my blog!
Ms. Madoka Ebihara (June 15)
My heart feels warm when I read your writings. Every sentence tells me something important. Thank you. I agreed with “Story of Human’s Role”. Many things become normal even when they are not.
Your pure feelings for Max were conveyed to me. My acquaintance left 2 parakeets with me as they could no longer keep them because of their housing situation. I live together with them now. Originally they were supposed to be living in a group life and flying in the sky of Australia. Their eggs were hatched in Japan. I would like to cherish everyday living with them as they decided to come to me.
Ms. Kazuko Muramatsu (June 15)
“It is our role to provide them an environment that is easier for them to focus on their learning.” I see, I thought so too. I am growing plants both inside and outside on the terrace in my apartment. I am a beginner so I learn about plants from the internet. However, I have learned from Mr. Adachi’s DVD that we are enslaving plants. I stopped using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. I am worrying while I am taking care of them as I am doing something different from the information I get from the internet. Some are blooming less flowers but they are all endlessly growing well. We apply chemicals to the plants for more flowers. This is humans’ ego and I am sorry for what we do to the plants. I am learning much from the plants.
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Other comments etc
S (06-25-2020)
Your painting, how can I express this? It feels like feelings from the universe are conveyed. I especially keep looking at three new paintings for a long time. Bob’s photographs have mysterious feelings. It feels like I notice “dry plate” within myself. They are wonderful and interesting. I also continually keep looking at them. I cannot express this well but I am very happy and I appreciate to encounter important viewpoints and feelings.
Ms. Anri(06-17-2020)
Something happened today, how can I say…I flattered myself that I grew up from who I was before. I have encountered an unpleasant occasion that was similar to the one I experienced a year ago. But this time, I focused on the inner part of me. I tried to be thorough by pausing my emotions and watching myself from outside. Last time when this happened my anger and sadness did not settle for about 3 days. But something was different this time. I felt a little achievement. I am going to continue to work patiently with my emotions. Thank you very much for teaching me, it is very helpful. 😊
Anonymous (June 14)
My daughter started to have an interest in English. Today, we are going to write a sentence together. Last time we studied “keep this far apart” in Bob’s photograph with pigeons in it. Real English is fun!
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Comments on “Story of Fear and Worry”
Ikuko Gach(06-18-2020)
Today I talked to this person who is very close to me on “Story of Fear and Worry”. I would like to share this with you. He said “Fear” is not always a bad thing. When fear comes to tell you to take action, fear gives an important hint. For example, when some disaster occurs, fear tells us to leave that place to avoid getting hurt etc. This is an important instruction that “fear” teaches us. In this case, appreciate “Fear’. I have heard this from him before and I have completely forgotten to add to my blog, sorry!
RB (June 15)
Ikuko, "Story of fear and worry” is a story of how knowledge comes from experience and the willingness to question. “The unexamined life is not worth living”. Your blog is an invitation to do this together. Thank you.
Ms. Anri(June 8)
I was surprised that your story came so timely for me. Lately, before I went to sleep, I have been remembering mistakes and unpleasant things that I have made in the past. It has been painful thinking when “what if” comes back to me. Then I read your story below and I instantly took a screenshot.
The problem is the thought that crosses our mind “What If…”. It is a waste to think “What If? What Do I Do?”. I have never heard that problems were solved because we worried about them. The base of fear and worry is our ego and desire that create the situation of I DO NOT WANT to be sad or I WANT TO LIVE.
I only wanted to avoid feeling sadness. I felt so refreshed when Ikuko said “What if” is a waste of thought. Since I was very little, I have always been thinking “What If?”- paranoia, almost. Because of this thought, I have wasted much time in my life. I’d like to start accepting these feelings and continuously work with patience.
Ms. YI(June8)
I somehow always have new awareness when I read your blog. Fear and worry come to me especially when dealing with other people. I sometimes cannot do anything because I become furious by thinking that I do not want to be blamed. Recently I was thinking how self-centered I was not accepting other people nor appreciating what they did for me. Aa, so sorry! Just then, your story came so timely. As Ikuko says “Catch it! Seriously!”, I imagined doing it. Then my fear disappeared and some warm feeling rose in me. Then the word “dominate” came to my mind. I realized I have been dominating people by wanting the others to be as I think and to agree with me. I am sorry.
I haven’t acted enough yet but I’d like to patiently continue to watch my emotions. I was judging that emotions were not good. But I realized that emotions are some hint for me to learn and they are okay to feel. Thank you for sharing your private experience.
GE(June 8)
Ikuko,
Thank you for sharing. This is helpful advice for me as a person and as a physician. Your blog is beautiful.
Ms.DMG(June 8)
I think your writing is so calming I will try to catch my fear and worry. Your messages are such great reminders to keep it simple as hard as that may be sometimes. I appreciate you very much.
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Comments on Ms. Ayumi Fletcher’s Story
Ms. Kosumi Ishikawa(June 2)
As well as learning about her path, I somehow felt her strength and tenderness from reading her words. ( It is hard to put in words). Her story made me live today naturally. Thank you.
Ms. KM(June 2)
Flower Essence is amazing. I have heard about it. I did some research this time as I was curious. How do you do it? I’d like to experience it. I want to try the flower field meditation method as this can be done by imagining the flowers. I hope I can pick up appropriate flowers. By reading different people’s stories, I came to realize that they enter from their individual entrance and proceed along their own path. I think that’s ok.
Ikuko Gach(June 2)
Thank you Ayumi for participating in our website. It was very interesting to read your story as I did not know anything about the flower essence. It is amazing and deep! I thought when Ayumi picks the flowers, she uses her intuition. It is so nice to have a profession. Keep doing your best😉
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Comments on Kosumi’s Story
Ms. Ayumi Fletcher(June 2)
Kosumi's story made was very interesting. After reading Kosumi's story, each person has their own story, I also thought that if I made a decision, the road would naturally open up. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing what I need to do for the Earth. I wonder if all I have to do is become aware of myself and my desires, let them go, and enjoy living in harmony with my family and those around me. But when I read Kosumi-san's story, I thought, "Oh, I'm fine with me." All I have to do is decide and simply do it. Thank you Kosumi san and Ikuko san.