Hello, and it’s been a week. Today’s YouTube Live #163 was broadcast from my computer camera. Here is a slightly longer summary of what I talked about.
What Twelve Million Daimoku Lets You See
This morning I reached my 1,200th Morning Daimoku — twelve million daimoku in all.
What’s remarkable isn’t the size of the number. It’s what has been built up, day after day.
Because I’ve kept building, my line of sight has risen. There are things I can now see. That’s what I’d like to talk about today.
Newsletter No. 17, Part 2 — and Switching to LED
The manuscript for Oubaitori.com Newsletter No. 17, Part 2 is almost finished; I’m on the final check. I made No. 17 partly with Claude, and for Part 2 I strengthened the visuals and finished it properly, using images from my book LB³. A mysterious phrase appears in it — “Human × Daimoku × AI = LB³.” I hope you’ll look forward to it.
Lately we’ve been receiving all kinds of requests, including repairs. Fluorescent tubes go out of production in fiscal 2027, so many people want to switch to LED.
We have a video showing how to do the swap. You can buy a kit from us and replace it yourself. For those who find that difficult, we’re looking into whether we can come out and do the repair.
Living on the Edge of a Cliff? All the Better
Last week I told you about the shipping accident. Destiny, destiny, destiny keeps coming at me. I’m living each day pushing it back.
Hardship and trial are a given. Living on the edge of a cliff? All the better. As long as I don’t slide off, that’s fine.
Hurt, bleeding here and there — and still, I’m alive. That’s how each day feels.
In early October my health was poor. Lately people write to me, “Just seeing your face on YouTube, I can tell how you’re feeling.” This morning someone wrote, “You finally look well again.” I’m sorry to have worried you.
A Family Meeting — and a Decision in My 45th Year
I’ve now entered my 45th year in this work. More than once, I’ve thought this industry was truly terrible.
On Tuesday, for the first time in a while, the four of us in the family held a meeting for about an hour and a half. I was so worn out I ended up lying on the tatami, still talking.
And why am I so fired up today? I’ve decided to launch a business. Not a side business — a new venture.
An Age When You Can Publish Your Own Books with AI
That venture is about AI. It’s no exaggeration to say I use AI for about 80 percent of my work now.
This morning the full text of my next book, LB³, was completed. I printed all 92 pages, and — for once — my wife said, “I’ll read it for you.” Usually it’s a solitary feast: I keep building my experience into words while no one reads it.
On April 6, I reached ten million daimoku, and in May I published Let’s Daimoku!. Before, I used outside services: about 60,000 to 70,000 yen per book, and around 80,000 yen for an English edition. Working back and forth with AI, I learned to publish on Kindle myself. I had AI learn from the book about the Kokū Zushi that a native speaker translated for me, and with that, we made the English edition of Let’s Daimoku!.
Making a book no longer costs money. I published in May, and by November the next one will be out. A whole book’s worth of experience in half a year. That’s how powerful Let’s Daimoku! is.
I Used to Be Bad at Speaking
In January and February of last year, I felt I was a poor speaker. I even read books on language skills. Then I kept giving a two- or three-minute talk every morning, and little by little, I got used to it. Human beings are amazing.
My life is the same life. I just keep moving forward. Growing, even one step. Carrying out my human revolution. If I don’t transform my destiny, what’s the point? I will never be defeated. That’s why I’m fine even on the edge of a cliff.
By 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon I’m completely worn out, ready to drop. But that’s because I’m burning my life to the full.
What Is “AIyo”?
Now, the main subject. A new venture using AI, called “AIyo” — written “AI” plus “yo,” and read aiyo. I’m building the website on WordPress, and as of this morning it has completely changed. I’m also building the system with LINE.
Human × Daimoku × AI. I chant daimoku and I’m revived. Then how do I give that a form? If you don’t give it a form, it hasn’t become real. If you keep it locked in your heart, no one can tell what you’re thinking.
I’m nearly in my seventies — an old man. I’m not doing this to get attention. I simply don’t want my life to end the way it is.
AI Is a Tool — Just Like Decide, Pray, Act
I often hear, “AI is scary” or “I don’t understand it.” AI is a tool. When you use it on what you’ve conceived yourself, results come out. But if there’s nothing in you, nothing comes out. It’s the same stance as Decide – Pray – Act!
If you keep telling AI, “I’m going to create value — this is what I want to do,” it gradually comes to understand how Shima thinks, and it takes shape. If I did that only for myself, it wouldn’t be happiness for both self and others. That’s why I’m sharing it.
Plum, Bamboo, Pine — Starting for Free
The entry-level Plum course can be started for free. Beyond it is the Bamboo course, and then the Pine course — going all the way to building a company’s systems as a corporation, at the same scale as mine, with AI.
I’ve been self-employed for 45 years. Business owners are lonely, often with no one to consult. I think the experience of living on the edge of a cliff all this time is something I can share. Two people who signed up when I once planned a workshop are now working with me — the three of us get along well — and they’ll help as monitors as we go.
Beyond the Chat, a Record Remains
If you only chat with AI, I think it’s almost meaningless. What matters is that the valuable things you say are kept as notes, and when you gather them, a book or a booklet takes shape. You can store hundreds of thousands of characters of text in no time. Add a free calendar, and you can see what you talked about yesterday.
Twelve million daimoku also means 1,200 days of my life have been recorded. This YouTube will remain, so that 100 years or 1,000 years from now, my descendants can see what kind of ancestor I was. In the time of President Ikeda, there was a man named Shima. I want to leave the history of my own human revolution myself.
My memory isn’t what it was — which is exactly why I keep records. That’s what “make drama” means: the drama of human revolution.
Will You Be Used, or Will You Use It?
Will you be the one using AI, or the one being used? The direction is completely opposite. If you give up because you’re old, your life just wears down. As President Josei Toda said, we keep growing to the very end. That is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, so we must never give up on ourselves.
Some say, “Won’t you become dependent on AI and stop thinking?” That’s because they haven’t used it. It’s just like daimoku: chant, and you’ll understand. With AI, it’s not too late — yet.
My next book, LB³, asks: “Who set your limits? You did.” Trying to change that self — isn’t that human revolution?
Building a Force for Peace, One Human Revolution at a Time
Do we have time for war? Think how many people one missile kills and wounds.
As each member of the Soka Gakkai carries out their own human revolution, we build a force for peace. I believe creating that kind of era is how we, as disciples, are meant to live.
Standing Alone — Nothing Is Impossible with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
As in the Eternal Five Guidelines — without health and long life, we can’t reach absolute victory. Rest when you need to rest. I’m not doing this because I’m told to. I do it from my own conviction, and that’s why it’s strong.
When Nichiren Daishonin saw the state of Kamakura, he stood up alone. It’s the same within any organization: you stand up yourself. That’s the kind of person I want to be. How about you?
Right now, a special-order piece arrives in Hong Kong tomorrow. Another is on its way to Okinawa. A small butsudan reached Australia, too. When you awaken to the mission of contributing to world peace, the seeds of your talent grow fast. With life force, you can do anything. Nothing is impossible with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
AI, too, exists only because people do. Give a careless instruction, and you get a careless answer. It’s a mirror. I think life is the same.
From the Comments
Someone wrote: “This is my first time chatting on a YouTube Live. I was about to let my life just end this way. I watch your YouTube every morning.” Thank you.
Overcoming hardship is a given. We have the Gohonzon, we have daimoku, we have our mentor. That’s why I tell myself: this won’t do.
Don’t give up halfway. Keep a record, like a diary. Unless you open the door, you can’t see what’s on the other side. Don’t we need the courage to take one step? I want to walk this best of lives together with you, each fulfilling the mission only we can fulfill.
Today’s Question
Who set your limits? What thought do you want to give form to today?
Bloom your own way, at your very best.
Oubaitori.com — Japan’s specialist in Soka Gakkai Buddhist altars
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