1) Humans Are Precious

As we glimpse at the creation we can know that there is an origin of each creature. There must be an origin. As we consider the origination, it matters which one is the center. Is it man or something else? Also, which one is important-mineral world, world of plants, or animal world?

It is said in an old saying: "Among all of creation man is the most precious." The problem is, by whom is this saying acknowledged, and who decides man is precious? Now then, does this mean that the world of plants is not important? Of course it is important, but what is meant is which of these has the utmost value. Then, is just one's full life evaluated? If I am just one in a chain from of old, from my ancestors, through my blood lineage, then how about all my ancestors? Are they all accredited the same as myself? Then how about my descendants, are they all valued the same? Who evaluates them? That is the question. The other question is, "Can we trust the answer?"

If one says, "Man is precious," or "That man is a precious man," who is it that decides that? We can trust the answer if it is from the one who is the motivation, the origin, the central being, the master, rather than ourselves. But if I decided it, or we decided it, it is not trustworthy because centering around our lives we do not know where to head; and the rest of the people in the world at present don't know either. We cannot trust if the answer is from those who have no vision and who believe that their lives are nothing but those of animals. If these people say, "Among all creation man is the most precious," it is absolutely unacceptable and it is universally unjustifiable.

Who would be the judge to make it acceptable? If it were someone who made all creation come into being... When we look at the mineral world there are so many elements having cross relations. They are not formed, not shaped without meaning. \They retain their objective value centering around some directive. It is the same in the plant world and the human world as well. If there is someone who has made everything in such order and He says, "Among all creation man is the most precious," then this can be approved by the whole.

\To be in such a case, I myself should have some kind of relation with the very Essential Being who thinks I am precious.

Then, is a person valued as in the present situation or is one valued as one leads one's life towards completion of one's whole purpose of living? Concerning this, one is not evaluated by the present life situation and living environment. Rather, it is conceivable that the evaluation is implicitly weighted heavily on the content of human responsibility and achievement of purpose.

In that point of view, what am I? It matters what I am. What am I whom people expect to be precious? It is possible to draw a conclusion of preciousness mentioned in the old saying by matching oneself to the standard of preciousness which people expect, according to the process one has gone through and how one attained the goal. One who is called precious before he has reached the goal should think that he has not reached that status. That is why they say, "One should be matured."

What is precious about man? Is it because he walks upright? Even a baby can walk upright! What is the merit of a man. The merit people have is that they are qualified to share love with God.

What the most precious thing for man is, the thing one must know, is the root, the essence. That is to know God steadfastly, to know your parents firmly, to know your spouse resolutely, to know your children solidly, to know your brothers steadily, that is all. After that, one should affirmatively know the country one's brothers live in. This is the end. That is the first.

The recent trend among young people is to attain a master's degree, a doctorate degree... But can you exchange your degree for your mother, for your wife, for your brothers, for your parents? What should we call one who has the most precious thing, yet knows nothing about it? He must be ignorant and will be defeated. He must decline.