I once had the opportunity to see a framed calligraphy written by Tessho Yamaoka, an eminent statesman of the Meiji era of Japan,which impressed me deeply. The character for hodo, connoting “moderation”,was boldly inscribed at the beginning. This was followed by a sentence written in smaller characters which read, “Everything in life depends on this one word.”

This calligraphy imprinted itself upon my mind so strongly that even to this day I have not forgotten it. During the last twenty or thirty years, I have been immensely benefited on many occasions by recalling it tomind.

There have been numerous good maxims since ancient times,but it seems there are few which are more impressive than this one. It is only a single word, but what amazing power it contains! When we look at different things in the world with moderation as a standard, it serves us well. Man is inclined to go to extremes, such as not doing enough on the one hand, doing too much on the other; thinking in ways that lean too far to the right or to the left;being haughty when rich, and despairing when poor. The cause of failure in many cases seems to be this lack of balance.

Confucius taught in his Analects that one should keep to the middle path, which is simply another way of stressing the importance of moderation. We have often heard such old sayings as, “Practice moderation,” or,“Maintain moderation.” In other words, do not go to extremes.

To explain this from a spiritual viewpoint, as I have said many times, our fellowship teaches the importance of Izunome, or balance, which is the meeting point of the vertical and the horizontal, Shojo and Daijo.

When boiled down, this actually means moderation. Therefore, one of the most important things for us to keep in mind at all times is moderation. If we only live by that standard, everything will go well, I assure you. Nothing in our existence here is more important.