Month: September 2026

During Ohigan(the equinoctial week), many people likely renewed their sense of gratitude toward their ancestors by pressing their hands in prayer before the family altar or visiting gravesites. It is a time to turn our thoughts to family members who have passed away. I, too, felt a sense of spiritual energy as I reflected on my parents and other family members who have gone before me. When I commune with departed loved ones in my heart, I experience a feeling of inner clarity. I believe this is because the act of thinking of the deceased is a positive sentiment—one that attracts positive energy. Whether by praying at the altar or visiting a grave, the forms of observance may vary, but what remains constant is that the very act of remembering those who have passed helps steer our hearts toward a positive state.

This experience is not limited to the Ohigan period; many people seem to share a similar feeling when participating in the Shinkiko retreat seminars. During these seminars, Prof. Akira Ishii teaches a method of introspection that involves reflecting on various past events—specifically, things others have done for us, things we have done for others, and times we have caused trouble for others. As one reflects in this way, a sense of gratitude naturally arises. It is precisely because we practice—more than usual—the mindset of attracting “positive Ki” (a guiding principle for mind purification) while receiving an abundance of Ki energy that our hearts become clear and serene.

In other words, it is just as important to gradually reduce—day by day—the kind of mindset that attracts “negative energy” (such as fault-finding, dissatisfaction, and irritation), rather than simply focusing on cultivating gratitude. I believe that a clear, serene heart can only be sustained when both increasing the positive and reducing the negative are achieved together.

The most direct way to change yourself for the better is to turn this mindset into small, sustainable habits. For instance, upon waking, you might face a photograph or the family altar of a deceased loved one and silently say, “Thank you for this day.” During the day, if you feel a sense of fault-finding toward someone, pause for a moment and recall one good quality about them. Before going to sleep at night, reflect on just one thing someone did for you or one good thing that happened that day. These actions take only seconds, yet doing them daily creates a meaningful accumulation of progress. It is about maintaining a balance—gradually increasing gratitude while decreasing the tendency to find fault. Using milestones like Ohigan or retreat seminars as a starting point, and then carrying these practices into your everyday life, gives you the strength to maintain a clear and serene state of mind.

We recently held a Shinkiko retreat seminar in Miyazaki, and I would like to share an incident from the event that gave me a significant realization.

In late last month, while producing A5-sized HG White Sheets, I made a blunder: I accidentally engraved the SAS triple mark and the pyramid mark—which were supposed to be engraved separately on the front and back—right on top of each other. The marks overlapped to the point where neither could be distinguished visually; however, thinking I might still be able to put them to some use, I engraved the same pattern on the reverse side as well and sent the sheets to the Kumamoto Center.

However, people who received the Ki energy through this remarked that it seemed to reach a deeper level than usual; although I did not fully grasp it myself at the time, five individuals purchased it by the end of last month, insisting, “I absolutely must have this.” Furthermore, four of them attended our retreat seminar in Miyazaki and received the Ki again; they reported that the energy permeated deeply just as before, creating a sensation where negative thoughts were instantly purified. This led to the realization that this fused symbol might make it easier for the Ki energy to reach people involved in religious circles—particularly those who are unable to change due to fixed, preconceived notions.

Initially, I held the assumption that designs lacking clear, distinct markings were somehow inferior. However, I came to realize that this was not the case and that I should not be bound by such preconceived notions. Another realization struck me regarding the importance of convergence—much like how individual symbols merge into one, everything in the world is moving toward a state of unity. While forms of faith vary by country, region, and era—sometimes even leading to conflict—I believe that the spirit of prayer at their core is fundamentally the same. Through the retreat seminar in Miyazaki, I felt that we might be entering an era where, fueled by energy from the cosmos, diverse prayers and faiths shine ever brighter as they transcend boundaries and draw closer together as one.

For this reason, we have named this superimposed engraving option “Hybrid.” Although the sale on “White Sheets” concluded at the end of last month, we have extended the sale on additional engravings (46,750 yen per set) through the end of the year, allowing both existing White Sheet owners and new purchasers to upgrade to the Hybrid version. Additionally, for “Hi-Genki” models 3 through 8, we are now offering a “Hybrid” type (196,700 yen per set) as a new option alongside the existing “Power-Up” (SAS triple-mark engraving) and “Upgrade” (pyramid-mark engraving) services; we invite you to consider this option.

Today marks the start of the Shinkiko retreat seminar in Miyazaki. The venue is a hotel overlooking Aoshima Island and the “Oni no Sentaku-iwa” (Ogre’s Washboard) rock formations. Aoshima is a site steeped in the mythology of Yamasachihiko and Toyotama-hime; with archaeological traces of Yayoi-period rituals still present, it is regarded as a sacred place dating back to prehistoric times. The surrounding “Ogre’s Washboard” formations are natural sculptures created over millions of years as geological strata were uplifted and subsequently eroded by the waves. I am delighted to hold this retreat seminar in a new location during this year, which marks the 40th anniversary of Shinkiko. I feel a profound connection in being able to receive Ki energy on this land where prayers have been offered since ancient times.

Around the time this venue was selected, I happened to hear a radio program episode set on Aoshima. It was a show featuring readings by Tae Kimura—a program I have listened to for many years. In the story, the protagonist, feeling stuck in their career in the travel industry, visits Miyazaki and hears a story about waves from the head priest of Aoshima Shrine. The teaching was that waves follow a set rhythm—small, medium, and large—and that once a large wave passes, movement becomes possible again; therefore, one should not fight the waves but simply wait for the right moment. Hearing this allowed the protagonist to finally let go of their tension. I felt a sense of serendipity in encountering this story just after the training venue had been decided.

This concept resonates deeply when viewed from the perspective of Ki (life energy). Shinkiko is energy derived from the universe, and the Ki relay device serves to harness this energy and make it available for us to receive. By continuously receiving this energy—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—even negative Ki is gradually infused with the light-like energy of Shinkiko. No matter how heavy the negative Ki may be, it will inevitably transform into light—though this process can sometimes take time. The key is to avoid attracting further negative Ki through a negative mindset; instead, focus on finding the good in things and cultivate an attitude of surrender and trust.

Rather than trying to force your way through by struggling against the current, it can actually be a shortcut to have the courage to wait for the right moment while steadfastly receiving Shinkiko energy. We all tend to want to control things through our own efforts alone, but as beings who are part of nature, there are times when we need to surrender ourselves to the flow. Ceasing to resist and waiting quietly while receiving the energy—I feel that this, too, is a form of purifying the heart.

In this place where prayers have been offered since ancient times, I hope that through the retreat seminar starting today, each participant will become aware of the rhythmic waves within themselves and take home the key to letting go of tension.

There are many people who struggle to feel truly happy. One major factor behind this is a mental habit of blaming others. We tend to look for causes outside ourselves—attributing work failures to a boss or family friction to a partner’s personality, for instance.

Ultimately, however, whether or not we are happy depends not on who is to blame for our circumstances, but on how we perceive and respond to them. As long as we attribute the cause to others, we remain powerless to change anything ourselves; we are left merely waiting for other people or our environment to shift, while happiness stays forever out of reach.
If we look back, we realize that many past events were actually the result of a series of our own decisions. Even though we were the ones who chose our marriages and careers, when things go wrong, we often forget that these were our own choices—blaming instead “that person,” “the company,” or “my parents” for our situation. It is a common human tendency to let such opportunities for change slip away by shifting the blame onto others, even though changing ourselves could transform the situation.

From the perspective of Ki (energy), there is another profound reason for this. Often, the very things we attribute to other people or to negative events are actually the result of negative Ki influencing us from behind the scenes.

When strongly influenced by negative Ki (energy), one feels a growing urge to blame others or external circumstances—insisting “it’s all because of so-and-so”—while simultaneously harboring increasing regrets about decisions one had actually made oneself, dwelling on thoughts like “if only I had done things differently back then.” This negative energy tricks you into believing “it’s not my fault” while piling up regrets, draining your vitality, and leaving you exhausted. As long as you continue to blame others, your attention remains diverted from the negative energy within you; left unnoticed, this energy is never purified and continues to linger indefinitely.

Behind the mental habit of blaming others, negative Ki (energy) grows increasingly powerful—this is the true reason why those who frequently blame others drift further away from happiness. To break this vicious cycle, the first step is to pause and reflect whenever you feel the urge to say, “This is [someone else’s] fault,” by considering, “Perhaps there is some negative Ki within me as well.”
That very moment is a perfect opportunity to re-examine yourself. By receiving Shinkiko to boost your Ki and focusing on what you can do—rather than letting negative Ki overwhelm you—you can cultivate the habit of looking for the good in things. Consistently doing this strengthens the light within you and around you, creating the foundation that attracts happiness.