Youth and Work Excerpts from a discussion between SGI President Daisaku Ikeda and Soka Gakkai youth representative Youth Representative:What criteria should we go by when looking for a job? Daisaku Ikeda: . . . Second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda once said the criteria for selecting a job could be found in The Theory of Value, a philosophical treatise by his mentor, founding Soka Gakkai president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi . . . Mr. Makiguchi taught that there are three kinds of value: beauty, benefit and good. In the realm of employment, the value of beauty means to find a job you like; the value of benefit is to get a job that earns you a salary so that you are able to support your daily life; the value of good means to find a job that helps others and contributes to society. Mr. Toda once said, Everyones ideal is to get a job they like (beauty), that is financially secure (benefit), and where they can contribute to society (good). But not many people are able to find the perfect job for them from the start. For example, someone may have a job that they like, but it isnt putting food on the table, or their job pays well, but they hate it. Thats the way things go sometimes. Then there are some who discover that theyre just not cut out for the career they dreamt of and aspired to. Mr. Toda said that the most important thing is to first become an indispensable person wherever you are. Instead of moaning over the fact that a job is different from what youd like to be doing, he said, become a first-class individual at that job. This will open the path leading to the next phase in your life, during which you should also continue doing your best. Such continuous efforts will absolutely land you a job that you like, one that supports your life, and allows you to also contribute to society. And then, when you look back later, you will be able to see all of your past efforts have become precious assets in your ideal field. You will realize that none of your efforts and hardships have been wasted . . . Youth: What about people who set out to achieve one dream, but then have a change of heart halfway, ultimately pursuing a different path altogether? Ikeda: Few people who are now actively working in various fields in society started out with the ambition of doing what it is that theyre doing . . . The important thing is to develop yourself in your present situation, to take control of your growth. Once you have decided on a job, I hope you will not be the kind of person who quits at the drop of a hat and is always insecure and full of complaint. Nevertheless, if, after youve given it your all, you come to the conclusion that the job youre in just isnt right for you and decide to move on, thats perfectly all right, too. My concern is that your decision wont be the outcome of your being swayed because you have forgotten that you are responsible for your environment. Taking your place as a member of society is a challenge; it is a struggle to survive. But wherever you are is exactly where you need to be, so you must strive there to the best of your ability. A tree doesnt grow strong and tall within one or two days. In the same way, a successful person doesnt get to where they are in only one or two years. This applies to everything. There is a saying that urges, Excel at something! It is important to become a person who is trusted by others wherever you are, a person who shines with excellence. Sometimes a person may dislike their job at first, but grow to love it once they become serious about doing their best in it. What one likes, one will do well, goes another saying. Growing to like your job can also enable you to develop your own talent . . . Youth: Some students say, I just want to get into a big-name company. Ikeda: Well, everyone is free to select where theyd like to work. I hope that those students will work very hard to achieve their goals. Japan, however, is in the midst of an economic recession, and the outlook for the future isnt good . . . Companies that were once considered prestigious no longer guarantee security, while educational background alone no longer assures one of a good job. These days it is possible for even large companies to go under. You wont be protected just because you work for a company with a big name. Thats the reality of our society today. So what, then, is important? The answer is true capability. It is vital to develop all kinds of strengths and abilities--such things, for instance, as an inquisitive mind, specialist skills, mental strength and flexibility. Study is a lifelong endeavor; just graduating from university isnt enough . . . Youth: Some view work as an unpleasant chore which they must do to earn money to support their leisure activities and have a good time. Ikeda: Im not going to criticize this way of thinking. However, I would like to share with you the words of the Russian novelist Maxim Gorky (1868-1936) from his play The Lower Depths in which one of his characters says, When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is slavery. Your attitude toward your work, which takes up the better part of your day, decisively determines the quality of your life . . . Youth: I think people can gain something much more valuable than money from working. Ikeda: . . . The greatest happiness is found by applying yourself with confidence and wisdom in your workplace as an exemplary member of society, working hard for the sake of a fulfilling life and the well-being of your family. A person who does so is a victor in life . . . The important thing is to be proud of your work and your capacity and to live true to yourself . . . Whats important is that you give free and unfettered play to your unique talents, that you live with the full radiance of your being. This is what it means to be truly alive. Excerpted from the December 11, 1996, issue of the Koko Shimpo.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 11:35:40 +0000
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