Something You Forgot...Along the Way
Stories of Wisdom and Learning
By Staff Writer

What a little treasure! Little fits the bill as you can slip this book into a purse, briefcase or perhaps large coat pocket with no difficulty - which makes it convenient to read on the go. Takamori, a Pure Land Buddhist teacher born in Japan in 1929, has compiled 65 anecdotes about life and living. This is my kind of book. You can read one or two stories, put the book aside and return to it hours or days later, and read a few more.

Each anecdote has a moral attached. For example, in the chapter entitled "Counseling the Wayward Student" a teacher advises a bad student, who only writes to his parents when he needs them to send him money, to write to them regularly to inform them of his daily progress. As he begins to do so, his parents, at first shocked, are thrilled with his newfound consistent communication, and a whole new relationship between them blossoms. The moral: If you are a teacher, use your wisdom to advise, as the effect on your students may be great. In fact, it may change several lives for the better.

Each chapter is two or three pages in length, perfect for reading on the subway or bus on the way to work or during your lunch break at a local cafeteria. Eight of these chapters are only two pages in length with a little poem-like quotation devoted to a single observation on one side, accompanied by a beautiful photograph of nature on the opposite page. My favorite is Chapter # 58 "On Living Each Day"

Unless you progress a step...or a half-step more than yesterday...you haven't really lived today.

Truly a simple message, but oh so practical. Live every day to its fullest capacity! There is a beautiful picture on the opposite page of the greenest hillside I have ever seen. The hillside has a winding path and is sprinkled with green trees. Follow that path, as you never know where it may lead. That's what it means to me. Other such chapters treat the issues of vanity, avarice and self-reflection.

Famous people are included in the stories. For example, Chapter # 38 tells of the wisdom of Napoleon, who refused to look at instant gratification as important. He felt, if you did, you would lose sight of the bigger picture of the distant future. In Chapter # 49 Yataro Iwasaki, Japanese entrepreneur and founder of the Mitsubishi Group always wore sandals as a reminder of where he started. As rich as you may get, never forget your humble beginnings!

As a Buddhist, Takamori believes firmly in basic principles. In today's fast-paced world, we've gotten away from the basics that are so essential for good living. This wonderful small gem of a book will help put you back on the right path.

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