Soko Morinaga Analysis

Pointers to Insight I found this short synopsis of Soko Morinaga’s journey a very compelling piece of literature. His main theme being that everyone should live a fulfilling life full of happiness and contentedness is a theme that everyone can agree with. Another theme that can be seen is the idea of a student and sensei being able to trust and respect each other’s capabilities and hold them accountable accordingly. From his time in highschool to his time serving in the war fighting effort on the Japanese side, he shows his perspective and the loss of his moral compass after the Japanese lost the war. Morinaga goes on to explain his reaction of losing his wealth, land, and family after the war leading him to severe depression. Finally, exhausted from this lackluster, morbidly depressing, cycle of self-pity he decides to make a change and attempts to become a monk. Through his time spent with Zuigan Roshi, the reader can see that Soko had much to learn about being a monk but first had to learn who he was. When Soko was leaving Zuigan Roshi for his new monastery for zazen practice, he had received death money and upon his arrival at the new monastery was held outside while being chastised and beaten for days on end. In his conclusion he gives a few bits of worldly advice that everyone can connect with. Soko Morinaga began his journey in Uotsu,

All of these tasks turned out to be much more difficult than what they truly were, and eventually Morinaga learned that he had to trust in the Roshi’s command as the Roshi would not tell him to do something without relevant purpose albeit hidden. Morinaga also learned that everything has an inherent value and this value just needs to be realized. Morinaga can be quoted as saying that “The Roshi’s word that originally there is no rubbish either in men or in things, actually comprises the basic truth of Buddhism.” (pg