ELEVATED THINKING

In life, constant effort toward progress is essential. Without sustained advancement, stagnation sets in, leading inevitably to decline and obscurity.

A Tokyo publishing house released a 160-page book that provides insight into Japanese society and the Japanese mindset. The book, titled Japanese Society (1987), is authored by Chie Nakane, a professor of social anthropology at Tokyo University. She describes the Japanese mental makeup in detail, summarising it as: “The constant desire to rise a little higher than the average” (p.155).

According to Nakane, this desire to exceed the average defines the Japanese way of life. They treat it with the reverence of a religious teaching, striving continuously to live by it. Life, as she describes, is never static; one either ascends or descends. This principle is absolute—if one does not strive to rise, one will inevitably begin to fall. No extra effort is needed to decline.

This principle applies equally to both faith and worldly matters. A true believer is one whose faith is constantly growing. If one’s faith stops increasing, they naturally start moving toward a decline in belief. Here, remaining in a single state is impossible.

The same principle applies to worldly affairs: one must relentlessly pursue progress in life. Those who fail to maintain their path of advancement inevitably succumb to stagnation and eventual decline. Staying committed to growth is vital, for neglecting it is akin to embracing decay.