The following comes from Andrew J. Brown's translation of a revision of Imaoka's Principles of Living in August 1973.

“My Principles of Living” consisting of seven articles was established in February of the 40th year of Showa (1965) as my personal statement of faith. Over time, and with the support and feedback from the members of Tokyo Kiitsu Kyokai and others, it became a tradition collectively to recite these articles together during its Sunday gatherings. However, later on, I felt the need to declare faith in nature as the foundational source of human existence and life. Therefore, a new article has been added after the fourth article in the revised version below, resulting in a total of eight articles. The freedom of free religion primarily signifies individual internal freedom, and it deeply respects this freedom. Therefore, this statement of faith is not binding on the members in any way, but I would be happy if each one of you were to use it as a reference in helping you to formulate your own principles of living. In this sense, I humbly request your thoughtful consideration and critique, not only of the new fifth article, but of all the articles.

1. I have faith (shinzuru) in myself. I recognize my own subjectivity and creativity and feel the worth of living in life (ikigai). Subjectivity and creativity can be rephrased as personality, divinity, and Buddha-nature.
2. I have faith in my neighbour. The neighbour is oneself as a neighbour. If I believe in myself, I inevitably believe in my neighbour.
3. I have faith in a cooperative society. Both oneself and a neighbour, while each possessing a unique personality, are not things that exist in isolation. Because of this uniqueness, a true interdependence, true solidarity, and true human love are established, and therein a cooperative society is realized.
4. I have faith in the trinity of self, neighbour, and cooperative society. The self, neighbour, and cooperative society, while each having a unique personality, are entirely one. Therefore, there is no differentiation of precedence or superiority/inferiority between them, and one always contains the other.
5. I have faith in the unity of life and nature (shizen). Life, which constitutes the trinity of self, neighbour, and cooperative society, further unites with all things in the universe.
6. I have faith in the church (kyokai). The church is the prototype/archetype (genkei) and driving force of the cooperative society. I can only be myself by being a member of the church.
7. I have faith in a specific religion. In other words, I am a member of the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai. However, a specific religion (including the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai) neither monopolizes religious truth nor is it the ultimate embodiment of it.
8. I have faith in free-religion (jiyū shūkyō). While having faith in a specific religion, the endless pursuit and improvement towards universal and ultimate truth is the core of religious life. Such a dynamic religion is called a free religion.

Flashcards

Year Imaoka established his Principles of Living. :: 1965

Number of articles in Imaoka's original Principles of Living. :: 7

What did members of the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyokai do with Imaoka's Principles of Living? :: Recite them during Sunday gatherings.

Why did Imaoka revise his Principles of Living in 1973? :: He added a declaration of faith to nature.

Principle 1: I have faith in myself. I recognize my own subjectivity and creativity and feel the worth of living in life. Subjectivity and creativity can be rephrased as personality, divinity, and Buddha-nature.

Recite principle 1 in Imaoka's Principles of Living (hint: don't forget ikigai) :: I have faith in myself. I recognize my own subjectivity and creativity and feel the worth of living in life. Subjectivity and creativity can be rephrased as personality, divinity, and Buddha-nature.

Principle 2: I have faith in my neighbour. The neighbour is oneself as a neighbour. If I believe in myself, I inevitably believe in my neighbour.

Recite principle 2 in Imaoka's Principles of Living :: I have faith in my neighbour. The neighbour is oneself as a neighbour. If I believe in myself, I inevitably believe in my neighbour.

Principle 3: I have faith in a cooperative society. Both oneself and a neighbour, while each possessing a unique personality, are not things that exist in isolation. Because of this uniqueness, a true interdependence, true solidarity, and true human love are established, and therein a cooperative society is realized.

Recite principle 3 in Imaoka's Principles of Living :: I have faith in a cooperative society. Both oneself and a neighbour, while each possessing a unique personality, are not things that exist in isolation. Because of this uniqueness, a true interdependence, true solidarity, and true human love are established, and therein a cooperative society is realized.

Principle 4: I have faith in the trinity of self, neighbour, and cooperative society. The self, neighbour, and cooperative society, while each having a unique personality, are entirely one. Therefore, there is no differentiation of precedence or superiority/inferiority between them, and one always contains the other.

Recite principle 4 in Imaoka's Principles of Living :: I have faith in the trinity of self, neighbour, and cooperative society. The self, neighbour, and cooperative society, while each having a unique personality, are entirely one. Therefore, there is no differentiation of precedence or superiority/inferiority between them, and one always contains the other.

Principle 5: I have faith in the unity of life and nature. Life, which constitutes the trinity of self, neighbour, and cooperative society, further unites with all things in the universe.

Recite principle 5 in Imaoka's Principles of Living :: I have faith in the unity of life and nature. Life, which constitutes the trinity of self, neighbour, and cooperative society, further unites with all things in the universe.

Principle 6: I have faith in the church. The church is the prototype/archetype and driving force of the cooperative society. I can only be myself by being a member of the church.

Recite principle 6 in Imaoka's Principles of Living :: I have faith in the church. The church is the prototype/archetype and driving force of the cooperative society. I can only be myself by being a member of the church.

Principle 7: I have faith in a specific religion. In other words, I am a member of the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai. However, a specific religion (including the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai) neither monopolizes religious truth nor is it the ultimate embodiment of it.

Recite principle 7 in Imaoka's Principles of Living (hint: parenthetical statement):: I have faith in a specific religion. In other words, I am a member of the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai. However, a specific religion (including the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai) neither monopolizes religious truth nor is it the ultimate embodiment of it.

Principle 8: I have faith in free-religion. While having faith in a specific religion, the endless pursuit and improvement towards universal and ultimate truth is the core of religious life. Such a dynamic religion is called a free-religion.

Recite principle 8 in Imaoka's Principles of Living :: I have faith in free-religion. While having faith in a specific religion, the endless pursuit and improvement towards universal and ultimate truth is the core of religious life. Such a dynamic religion is called a free religion.

Related

• For notes from early kiitsu kyokai discussions on these principles, see 2024-02 kiitsu kyokai
• imaoka creed of life meditations
• imaoka mga simulain ko sa pamumuhay

References