It’s part of Kendo’s philosophy that everyone should strive for two principal things: to be of service and support to one’s family, and to be of value to the society in which one lives. This approach to functioning successfully has more facets than are first apparent – in order to do these things, you must succeed in other ways first, beginning with your self.

Society is a very complex thing, dependent upon countless subtleties in the great many relationships which give it life, and we are all responsible for the quality of those relationships. Kendo has remarked many times before about the role that certain people play as “instruments of destiny” – it is their function to bring the challenges which test our patience, our self-control, our philanthropy, and our wisdom. Indeed, life can be regarded as a never-ending series of tests, which is why it is so important to be in touch with our intuitive selves for wise guidance, and it is Kendo’s aspiration to help everyone he can towards that enlightened and empowered goal.

The Buddhism which Kendo practises and advocates is disarmingly simple, which is perhaps why it is so effective: meditation for peace and strength, mindfulness as the expression of diligence, self-improvement, and excellence, and reflection and contemplation to keep steering the wayward conscious mind towards working as part of an enlightened team, as opposed to leading us astray. When reflected-upon, the sheer wisdom of these practises is reassuring in itself, which is also an excellent starting point if we have other preoccupations, such as a need for healing.

This perspective gives rise to a really helpful perspective for those with health issues – don’t become preoccupied with something you can’t change by willing it: remind yourself of the things where you can still make a difference, and apply yourself conscientiously to yourself. One of the lessons of the Medicine Buddha is to “Fear Not”, and in many ways this is another test, one of discrimination. Kendo has remarked that worry in itself is counter-productive, but so is allowing your attention to be diverted from your principal responsibility as a human being – being of the greatest possible value to your family and your society. Fear not, and without even realising it, you’ll make more of a positive difference than you can imagine.

As an adjunct to this month’s Healing Message, with the constant improvement in communications, the society around us encompasses more and more of the whole world, and it is evident that the earthquake in Nepal is a tragedy of huge proportions, particularly following Tuesday’s second quake, which brought even more destruction, deaths, and injuries. The Kendo Nagasaki Foundation has already contributed towards disaster relief in Nepal, and Kendo encourages everyone to help to whatever extent they can – even small donations all add up, and can really make a difference in the lives of people who have lost what little they had. We continue to support them, and wish them well.