[A moving true story] How a 4-year-old's innocent question changed the values of adults - The Eight Million Gods and the Little Philosopher

📚 Key Points of this Article

• A 4-year-old's innocent questions change adult stereotypes
• What is the Japanese concept of the eight million gods?
• The beauty of Japanese culture in embracing diversity
• Understanding and coexistence beyond religious differences

🎭 Character introduction

👧 Rai-chan (4 years old)

A genius girl with a pure heart and fluent English. She attends a Buddhist kindergarten and surprises adults with her honest questions..

⛪ Father James

American English teacher and devout ChristianAlthough he initially had doubts about Japanese religious views, his values changed after meeting Rai-chan.

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

Head priest and principal of a Buddhist kindergartenHe has a gentle personality and is a wise man with a deep understanding of the concept of Japan's eight million gods.

🌟 Act 1: Pure doubt

⛪ Father James

"Rai-chan, Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. In Christianity, God is the one and only God."

👧 Rai-chan

"When you say "one and only," does that mean that God is alone?The teacher says it's lonely to be alone in kindergarten, but doesn't Jesus feel lonely?"

⛪ Father James

"Well... that's because... God is special..."

👧 Rai-chan

"But if Jesus Christ can really do anything, he can make everyone get along, right? Why are there so many different religions in the world?"

💭 The four-year-old's innocent question leaves the grown-up Father James speechless..

🎄 Act 2: Culture Clash

🎅 What happened at the Christmas party

At a Buddhist kindergarten's Christmas party, the head priest, Kotetsu, appeared dressed as Santa Claus!

⛪ Father James

"Oh my God! What on earth is going on here?! Monk Kotetsu! A Buddhist priest hosting a Christian event... isn't this blasphemy against religion?"

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

"Oh, oh, oh, Father James, don't get so excited."

👧 Rai-chan

"Hey, I wish God would save everyone! I think it's a bit stingy to say that you can't be saved unless you believe in Jesus Christ.My grandma said so.There are seven gods in a grain of riceIt's okay to believe in many gods! I don't like the idea of only being able to believe in one god. It's like having all your toys monopolized."

🏯 Act 3: Revelation of Wisdom

🌸 What are the eight million gods?

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

"Father James, let me tell you something. There is a "Eight million godsThere is a way of thinking that says, "It's not literally eight million, butToo many to countIt means that gods reside in mountains, rivers, trees, stones, and even in the hearts of people.

👧 Rai-chan

"That's right! Flowers have gods too, so they say you shouldn't step on them."

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

"That's right, Rai-chan. The Japanese have lived in harmony with nature. That is why they are able to readily accept the existence of Christ.Jesus Christ, Buddha, and the Japanese gods all watch over the people under the same sky.That is the Japanese way of thinking."

👧 Rai-chan

"So everyone gets along, right? If the gods were fighting, it would cause trouble for the humans below..”

🌟 Characteristics of Japan's Acceptance of Diversity

• The concept of eight million gods born from nature worship
• A culture that embraces other religions rather than excluding them
• Tolerance that allows Christianity, Buddhism, and Shinto to coexist
• Flexibility to enjoy Christmas and New Year

🏠 Real-life story: The eight million gods living in our daily lives

✨ From the author's own experience

An interesting incident occurred at a community gathering the other day. A devout Christian woman who has visited our home several times said to me during a group chat:

👩 Christian Women

"Even though you're a man, you always keep the kitchen and bathroom very clean! That's amazing."

🏠 Author

"Thank you. But it's not because I'm some great person. It's all thanks to the 8 million gods, who also have gods in the kitchen and the bathroom."

🌞 The Japanese teaching that "The sun is watching"

In Japan, there is a long history ofThe sun is watching" This is not just superstition, but the teaching of the eight million gods that say that gods reside in each and every one of our actions.

🧹 The spirit of keeping clean

• Thank you to the kitchen gods
• Respect to the Toilet God
• The meaning of purifying a place
• The heart that values what cannot be seen

💝 The heart that values things

• A god resides in each tool
• Use it with gratitude
• Use it for a long time and with care
• When you're done using it, feed it

🎌 The foundation of Japanese moral education

Such a "Because God exists" "Because the sun is watching" This idea is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and education.

It is the foundation of our morality..

🌱 Nurturing Hearts

• Gratitude：God resides in everything
• RespectReverence for the invisible
• Responsibility: The feeling of being constantly watched
• HumilityRespect for beings beyond human

🌟 Behavior that appears

• Cleanliness: Creating a space that is worthy of God
• Politeness: Treat things with care
• Continuity：Everyday accumulation
• Spontaneity: Even if no one is watching

💡 Points to note

The woman complimented me on the cleanliness of my house, but in fact she was saying,Eight million gods" This is a natural expression of the teachings of Japanese culture.Beauty"or"PolitenessIt was a moment when I felt how wonderful it was to be able to share this.

🤝 Commonalities across cultures

Christian "How to live a life that does not shame God" and Japan's "Gratitude to the Eight Million Gods"

Although the expressions are different, the underlyingrespect"and"thanks" Perhaps our hearts are the same.

🌍 Japanese behavioral principles from an overseas perspective

✈️ Questions that tourists have

🎌 Impressions of Japan from overseas

There is one thing that amazes many foreign tourists who visit Japan.

😊 What people praise

• 🌸 The city is surprisingly clean
• 🙏 Great manners
• 🛡️ Good security and safety
• 🤝 Kind and polite service
• 🚇 Public transport is on time

🤔 Questions

• 👀 Are you worrying too much about what other people think?
• 😰 I'm feeling stressed
• 🎭 Can't show your true self?
• 😔 Aren't you tired?
• 🔒 In a cramped society?

🌍 Friends from abroad

"Japan is a really wonderful country! But don't Japanese people get tired of always worrying about what others think of them? From our perspective, where individualism is the norm, it seems very restrictive..."

💫 The truth is not in the eyes of others, but in the eyes of God

However, in reality,I care about what others think"rather than,"God-conscious" It is.

This is a completely different state of mind.‼

😰 If you are concerned about what others think

• 🔍 Sense of surveillanceA constant feeling of being watched
• 😨 fearFear of being criticized
• 🎭 actingThe need to hide who you really are
• 💔 stress: A heavy mental burden
• 😔 Fatigue: Always in a state of tension

🙏 When you are conscious of "God's eyes"

• ✨ Sense of care: Feeling warm and embraced
• 🌟 GratitudeNatural gratitude for blessings
• 💖 natural body: It's okay to be yourself
• 😌 Peace of mind: There is emotional support
• 🌸 FulfillmentSatisfaction with meaningful activities

🎯 The motivations for the actions are completely different

❌ Motivation for caring about what others think

"I don't want to be criticized," "I don't want to be embarrassed," "I don't want to be disliked."

Motivation to be God-conscious

"I want to express my gratitude," "I want to repay the blessings," "I want to live beautifully."

🌱 Specific behavioral differences

🧹 Reasons to clean

Other people's eyes: "I don't want to be seen as dirty."
God's Eyes:Thanks to the God of Cleanliness"

🚇 Train etiquette

Other people's eyes: "I don't want to be noticed."
God's Eyes:Respect for the God of Harmony"

🐱 Learn natural ways of living from cats

Cats don't groom themselves because they are worried about what other people think. They do it instinctively because staying clean is natural.The Japanese "God-conscious behavior" is just as natural..

🌟 Why it's stress-free

💝 Acting with Love

Actions born from gratitude and love for God are natural expressions, not obligations.

🌸 Inner Motivation

A heart that seeks harmony with the divinity within, not external coercion

🏠 My Answer

"We are not tired of worrying about what others think of us. We feel that God is watching over us, and we act with gratitude. This is not a burden, but rather a source of support for our hearts..”

🌍 Friends from abroad

"I see… then it certainly doesn’t cause stress. Doing something for someone you love is a joy.For the Japanese, God is a beloved being."

🤝 Understanding across cultural differences

Individualistic cultures value "being yourself," while Japan values "harmony with God.".

💫 Act 4: Change of Heart

⛪ Father James

"I... how foolish of me to try to impose my beliefs..."

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

"It's not stupid. It's important to have beliefs. It's just that there's more than one way to share them with others..”

👧 Rai-chan

"Father James, don't cry.I'm sure God is happy to see everyone getting along.”

⛪ Father James

"Rai-chan... you're a true teacher."

👧 Rai-chan

"Hehe, but I'm only four years old, so I have a lot to study. Let's study together, Father James!"

🌈 Closing: A new understanding

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

"Accepting diversity does not mean abandoning your own beliefs. It means respecting the beliefs of others and seeking ways to coexist..”

⛪ Father James

"Now I understand why Japanese culture has retained its uniqueness while incorporating cultures from all over the world."

👧 Rai-chan

"I don't really understand the complicated aspects, but I think it's really wonderful to be able to enjoy Christmas and New Year's together!"

👥 Father James

"That's true."

👧 Rai-chan

"Besides, if there are many gods, that means everyone is being watched over, right? It would be hard for one god to look after everyone in the world. We just need to work together!"

⛪ Father James

(wiping away tears) "I never thought I'd learn something so important from you, a four-year-old..."

🙏 Monk Kotetsu

"A child's mind is clear, and that is why he is able to readily accept the truth."

👧 Rai-chan

"Well then, let's all go to the festival next time! I'm sure the gods will be happy!"

🌸 Epilogue

The conversation between the three people became a bridge of understanding that transcended religious and cultural differences. The pure heart of the four-year-old girl melted the preconceived notions of adults and opened the door to a new world..

💡 What we can learn from this story

🧒 The value of a child's perspective

• Pure questions unconstrained by stereotypes
• Raising essential issues that adults overlook
• The Ability to Accept the Truth with an Open Heart

🌍 Embracing diversity

• Embracing different values, not excluding them
• Respect others while upholding your beliefs
• Flexible thinking to find ways to coexist

🎌Characteristics of Japanese culture

• Tolerant religious view based on the eight million gods
• A philosophy of life in harmony with nature
• Ability to assimilate foreign cultures and maintain uniqueness

🔍 Learn more about the eight million gods

📖 The meaning of the eight million gods

"Yaoyorozu(Yaoyorozu)" is not literally the number 8 million, but "Too many to count" In Japan, since ancient times, it has been believed that gods reside in all things.

🌿 Something that is said to house God

• Nature such as mountains, rivers, and the sea
• wood/stone/animal
• Tools and buildings
• Phenomenon or concept

🌸 The beliefs of the eight million gods that remain today

• Needle memorial service (offering a memorial service for used needles)
• Doll memorial service (a memorial service in gratitude to dolls)
• Purification of the car (praying for road safety)

• Groundbreaking ceremony (greeting to the god of the land)
• Shichigosan (appreciation for children's growth)
• Amulets (with various wishes)

🌟 Japan's diverse culture is attracting worldwide attention

🎄 Fusion of Religious Events

• Christmas(Christianity)
• New Year(Shinto)
• Obon(Buddhism)
• Halloween(Celtic origin)

🍜 Fusion of food cultures

• ramen(Independently evolved from China)
• Curry Rice(India → UK → Japan)
• bread(Independently developed from Europe)
• Western food(Japanization of Western cuisine)

Japan has built its unique culture by "integration" rather than "rejection.".

💭 Message to our readers

This story teaches us an important lesson.

🤝 Understanding each other

When people with different values engage in dialogue, new realizations and understandings are born.

👶 The innocence of children

A child's pure perspective can sometimes shed light on fundamental issues that adults overlook.

🌈 The beauty of diversity

By not eliminating differences, but by recognizing the strengths of each and coexisting, we can create a richer world.

🔚 Conclusion

This story, which began with a pure question from four-year-old Rai-chan, gives us much to think about.

Japan's "Eight million gods" may offer one answer to the diversity problems facing modern society.

I hope that we too can continue to have pure hearts like Rai-chan and build a society where we can respect each other's differences.

💬 About this article

I hope this story has helped you to deepen your understanding of Japan's concept of the 8 million gods and its culture of embracing diversity. Please let me know your thoughts and opinions.