An Ode by an Ancient Coast Guard
by Toyoko Dickey

 It's been 30 years since I was connected to the Shinnyo Teaching.
Many kinds of things happened in those 30 years.
One of my friends has been diagnosed as depression, and I'm posting a poem that may be able to convey my feelings to him. (Scroll down, please.)
The 2010 Winter Training will start tomorrow.
I believe that I was able to spend each year with joy because I attended the Winter Training every year.
I'm grateful that I had encountered the Shinnyo Teaching.
I'd like to share this wonderful Shinnyo Teaching with you all.
"Dear my friend, no matter what, please stay alive!"
I'd like to thank you all of you.
Shinnyo Keishu-sama, thank you very much.


An Ode by an Ancient Coast Guard

Please tell me
If all living things in this world
Are destined to live limited lives,
Is the sea mortal?
Is a mountain mortal?
How about the wind?
Is the sky the same?
Please tell me

I sometimes
Ponder upon the miseries of human lives
Upon the sorrows
Which everybody will equally feel
Upon the agony of life
Upon the sorrow of growing old
Upon the pains of illness
Upon the misery of dying
And upon my present self

Please answer me
If every life of all existences in this world
Has its own destiny,
Is spring mortal?
Is autumn mortal?
Like summer goes
Like winter comes
Must everything pass away?

Can I reckon
On the twinkling of a tiny life
Something like a faint hope
Which cannot be grasped by human words?
Some people are passing
Others are coming
A waning moon
Will be waxing again
In our everyday lives

Please tell me
If all living things in this world
Are destined to live limited lives,
Is the sea mortal?
Is a mountain mortal?
Is spring mortal?
Is autumn mortal?
Is love mortal?
Is the human heart mortal?
Must everything including my beloved home country
Pass away?