My Principles of Living — Revised Again (1981) by Imaoka Shin’ichirō (1881-1988) in a revised English translation by Andrew James Brown and Kento Suzuki

My Principles of Living — Revised Again (1981) — Imaoka Shin’ichirō (1881-1988) 
in a revised translation by Andrew James Brown and Kento Suzuki

I. I have faith in Self [自己]. By awakening to the Agency [主体性], Creativity [創造性], and Sociality [社会性] of the Self [自己], I experience life as deeply worth living [生きがい]. Agency [主体性], Creativity [創造性], and Sociality [社会性] may also be described as Humanity [人格], Divinity [神性], and Buddha-nature [仏性].

II. I have faith in Others [他者]. Others [他者] are neighbours who possess the Self [自己] as others [他者]. By having faith in the Self [自己], I inevitably have faith in Others [他者].

III. I have faith in Cooperative Community [共同社会]. Though Self [自己] and Others [他者] each possess unique individuality, they never exist in solitary isolation; rather, they inevitably give rise to mutual interdependence [相互依存], solidarity [連帯性], and Cooperative Community [共同社会].

IV. I have faith in the Trinity [三位一体] of Self [自己], Others [他者], and Cooperative Community [共同社会]. Self [自己], Others [他者], and Cooperative Community [共同社会], while each retaining unique individuality, return-to-one/kiitsu [帰一]. Therefore, there is no difference in priority or superiority among them; each always presupposes the other two.

V. I have faith in the Cosmic Cooperative Community [宇宙的共同社会]. The Trinity [三位一体] of Self [自己], Others [他者], and Cooperative Community [共同社会] further unites with all beings throughout Heaven and Earth [天地万有], forming a Cosmic Cooperative Community [宇宙的共同社会].

VI. I have faith in the Church/Kyōkai [教会]. The Church/Kyōkai [教会] is a microcosm of the Cosmic Cooperative Community [宇宙的共同社会]. Only by belonging to the Church/Kyōkai [教会] do I truly become myself.

Addendum: I  interpret the above faith as free-religion/jiyū shūkyō [自由宗教] and, as a free-religionist/jiyū shūkyōjin [自由宗教人], together with my companions, I belong to the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai, the Japan Free-Religion Association, and the International Association for Religious Freedom. However, free-religion is neither opposed to established religions nor does it seek to integrate them. Instead, it aims to grasp and actualise the quintessence and ideals, not only of the various religions, but also all human activities. Therefore, these principles are nothing other than the attitude of life I always wish constantly to maintain. 

—o0o—

If you are interested, Imaoka Shin’ichirō’s Principles of Living from February 1965 and August 1973 can be read at this link. It’s fascinating to see the subtle development in his thinking over those years.