This time, Inamori* spoke about the above motto in Kyocera philosophy.
What Inamori said is quoted with “”.
“I believe that the essence of the soul is something filled with love, sincerity, and harmony. That, to me, is the true nature of the soul. I also believe that the essence of the soul may be expressed by the words truth, goodness, and beauty.”
(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library)
At our company, we are currently working every day on structuring a new business.
This new venture is a service that provides a place where business leaders can come to understand their own lives. Today, I would like to reflect on our business in relation to the idea of truth, goodness, and beauty.
1 Understanding the meaning and mission of one’s existence (Truth)
2 Understanding the purpose and significance of one’s business (Goodness)
3 Creating the future and the next generation (Beauty)
I will now explain each point in greater depth.
１ Understanding the meaning and mission of one’s existence (Truth)
Inamori’s Words
“The pursuit of truth gives birth to science.”
My Reflection
At present, our company is deeply studying Sanmeigaku** as well as the workings of the subconscious mind.
We continue to accumulate and analyze real cases, and through these studies we have confirmed—based on actual evidence—that this system, with a history of more than 4,000 years, still functions effectively in the modern world.
Human beings constantly struggle with fundamental questions such as:
What is my life?
What kind of existence am I?
Why do I exist in society?
At the root of these questions lies the fact that we have been raised and have lived within the framework of society’s established assumptions.
This dilemma often becomes particularly apparent for business leaders.
When someone inherits a family business almost as a matter of course, it is not uncommon for them to eventually confront these deeper questions about their own role and purpose.
Sanmeigaku can offer one important clue in seeking answers to these questions.
２ Understanding the purpose and significance of one’s business (Goodness)
Inamori’s Words
“The pursuit of goodness gives rise to various religious activities.”
My Reflection
Ultimately, this becomes a search for what is truly good in the world.
Today, wars are taking place in many parts of the world, and I believe their causes must be examined from multiple and deeper perspectives.
Through this kind of spiritual reflection, we have come to define the purpose and significance of our business as contributing to world peace through real estate.
Mr. Inamori often said that the purpose of a business must be lofty and noble.
Once I embraced this principle, I felt that the direction of my own actions finally became clear.
Before that, I must admit that my activities had been driven largely by self-interest—seeking my own security, safety, and personal satisfaction.
I now reflect deeply on that attitude.
３ Creating the future and the next generation (Beauty)
Inamori’s Words
“And the pursuit of beauty gives birth to art.”
My Reflection
Why do human beings instinctively perceive beauty?
It is because beauty is ultimately connected to the reproductive activity that creates the next generation. In the deepest sense, this means that human beings themselves continuously create the future through the generations that follow.
If the mindset spreads that it is enough for one individual simply to live for oneself, and that the next generation is unnecessary, then the vision of the future will gradually disappear. In the end, people would lose their sense of purpose in living. In such a world, the necessity of beauty itself would vanish.
Conversely, it is precisely because beauty exists that people are drawn to one another, fall in love, and create the future together.
Our new business venture seeks to be conscious of the importance of creating the next generation. We hope to provide a place where people can naturally gain awareness and insight into beauty.
In summary, today’s discussion reminds us that truth, goodness, and beauty are principles of the universe and qualities that already exist within us.
They are connected to understanding the meaning of our existence (truth), recognizing the purpose of business (goodness), and envisioning the future (beauty).
For this reason, we believe that these principles should be carefully incorporated into the design and philosophy of our business.
** Sanmeigaku is a traditional Eastern system of thought based on the philosophy of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, with a history of more than three thousand years.
It analyzes structural patterns derived from a person’s date of birth to understand human nature, life roles, and the cycles of life. Sanmeigaku is not fortune-telling.
Rather, it can be understood as a form of human science, combining philosophical insight with systematic observation of human patterns. Through this framework, people deepen their self-understanding and gain guidance for making decisions in life and business.
* Mr. Kazuo Inamori, the founder of Kyocera, KDDI (one of the top tele communication companies in Japan) and the top of revitalization project of JAL. As a well-known Japanese entrepreneur, he has been sharing his experiences and management know-how with managements of small to middle companies in Japan.
Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com
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