Shinto

True courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to proceed in the face of it, with a pure heart aligned with the kami.

Susanoo, who was banished from heaven for his violent ways, redeemed himself by slaying the eight-headed serpent and saving the maiden Kushinadahime. Even those who have fallen can rise again through courageous and selfless action.

Okuninushi, the Great Land Master, built the world through cooperation with countless kami. No great work is accomplished alone; it is through the gathering of many spirits working together that the land prospers.

When Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, hid in the celestial cave, the world was plunged into darkness. Only through the joyful gathering and sincerity of the other kami was she drawn out, restoring light to the world.

Even in the deepest darkness, the kami of the sun waits to emerge again. No night lasts forever.

All beings share the same breath of the kami. The rivers, the mountains, the people — all are one family under heaven.

The love between Izanagi and Izanami brought forth the islands and all living things. Love is the creative force of the universe.

At the time of the beginning of heaven and earth, there came into existence in the Plain of High Heaven three deities: the Deity Master-of-the-August-Center-of-Heaven, the High-August-Producing-Wondrous Deity, and the Divine-Producing-Wondrous Deity.

When Izanagi followed Izanami to the land of the dead, he saw her decaying form and fled in horror. At the boundary between the living and the dead, he placed a great boulder to separate the two worlds forever.

In the cherry blossoms' brief glory, we find the deepest joy — for beauty shared with others is beauty doubled.

To be aware of the sorrow of human existence, and to be moved by things — this is the very heart of being human. It is mono no aware — the pathos of things.

The ancient way is simply to follow the natural feelings of the human heart. It is not something that needs to be taught through complicated doctrines.