A Door Opens, Then Another — The Morning Daimoku That Keeps Me Evolving

Good morning. This is Yukihiro Shima, from Oubaitori.com. My day began, as every day, with the morning daimoku. The air is clear. My hands come together, and something inside settles. How is your morning?

A door opens. Then another.

Yesterday, again, something I still need to learn appeared right in front of me. I keep pressing into this work, into this life. And when I do, a door swings open. Then, past that door, there is another one. It opens too.

I am not saying I have arrived. I have not. Most days I am reminded of how much I still do not know. But the doors keep coming, one after another.

When the daimoku continues, things connect.

This feeling comes from continuing the daimoku. Every morning, the same practice, without a break. And slowly, the scattered pieces begin to join into one line. “So that was for this.” The moment of understanding arrives later, more and more often.

It is less that I force myself to continue, and more that the road opens toward me while I continue. Perhaps that is what daimoku is.

To use this one day well.

Today I will look inside the door that has just opened. First roughly, then closely. To study it, and to look deeper still. A door has opened. I want to use this one day carefully.

Let’s Daimoku. Day by day, still evolving. Thank you. I look forward to today, together with you.