(Gorgeous sunshine of the setting sun)

It is already five years since my mother passed away on November 26th.
She was a very strict person, I was seldom commended by her for
anything I did. But she gave me words of strong encouragement just before
she died: “You will certainly become a splendid physician, far better than me.”

The image of the setting sun over Mt. Rokko that I saw from my 17th floor apartment right after I saw her off on her eternal trip still vividly remains
in my mind.

It was as if the sunshine was applauding her great victory of accomplishing
50 years as a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion. It was indeed
a marvelous evening sun. While she was living, she often said: “We all die
in the same way as we have lived.” Her life and the image of that great evening sun are superimposed on each other in my heart and mind. Thus I cannot help applauding her for the splendid way she went.

(Death means a temporary rest)
I have witnessed quite a few cases of death after my mother passed away.
All of them went like a senset seeking a rest after the curtain fell on their lives
What is the objective of dying? I once heard someone equating it to the process of recharging our energy, meaning we rise again like a glorious sun the next morning.

(A truth endorsed by science)
A certain newspaper once carried an article on the origin of life: The various
kinds of life we see today descend from one life that existed at the beginning, which diversified into what we see today. Science thus confirms that no living things can avoid death. Dr. Fukuoka, a molecular biologist, says that science has proven the grand rule of transmigration, which means every living thing exists depending on mutual help. Thus, the existence of every living thing keeps repeating life and death. Everything owes its life for its existence. This is the core of oriental thought. And it has been proven by science!

(Exquisite balance)
This truth can be witnessed in the life of every human being.
It was once said by a noted teacher that we all have within ourselves a great pharmaceutical factory. How true it is! It means our natural healing power. Acupuncture is the best way to help maximize this power.

Recently I was taken to an institution where they help patients of cerebral infarction with partial paralysis of their bodies. At the facilities I noticed how they are helping the patients redevelop their own physical power or abilities in the midst of various “barriers” such as chests of drawers of different heights, which was evidence of how much effort was being made there to help the patients enjoy improving their sense for living in given environments. The same applies to our physical problems. Depending solely on medicines alone for curing them is the surest ways to lose our “natural healing power.”

(The rhythm of the universe equals mercy)
In any case, it seems to me that the development of science is proving the mysterious value of oriental medicine. Mr. Kazuo Murakami, a biologist of world-wide reputation, expresses his wonder at the mysterious function of life, which he called “something great.” In my humble opinion, this “something” means “mercy” in Buddhist terms. Loving others, grieving at the misfortune of others, and many other feelings of compassion. They all come from the “rhythm” of the universe. It is no hyperbole to say that our way of living can improve only when it is based on this rhythm of the universe. It leads us to prepare for out next life as we close our life as if in the great evening sunshine I saw at my mother’s death.

The 5th anniversary of her death makes me think about many things. My heart is full of gratitude.