There is a deeper part of you, always there, just waiting for you to notice. It was there when you were 4, there when you were 16, there when you were 45, and there now, whatever age you are. During that time, your body changed, your opinions changed, your ambitions changed, but that quiet place, always there, never changed. That is Tamashii (so happy to know that word now!). Everything else is impermanent. Finding this unwavering place and constantly relying on it is what creates joy, happiness, and the deep knowing that everything is okay.
This is a beautiful and clarifying distinction. Kokoro is the part of us that moves. The feelings, thoughts, and desires that shift with circumstance. Tamashii is something deeper. The quiet, enduring quality that remains even when everything else changes.
The Ichirei Shikon framework is a useful map. Courage, wisdom, love, and harmony. Four qualities that appear differently in each of us. The work is not to become someone else, but to understand what is already living within us.
The question that stays is the one that matters most: What has remained quietly true about me through all the different seasons of my life? Not a destination to find, but a recognition to return to.
You’re very welcome, Masami. 🙏 It’s always wonderful when a simple distinction opens into something much deeper and your original reflection gave us a beautiful doorway into it.
Exactly. 🙏 Sometimes a simple “so true” is enough when something touches a deeper recognition. The distinction between what moves through us and what quietly remains is a powerful one.
That’s a beautiful way to receive appreciation, Sandeep. 🙏 I’m grateful that the words resonated with you—and I think wisdom is often less about who is “wiser” and more about recognizing something true when it appears. Thank you for being here and sharing your perspective.
There’s nothing to correct, Sandeep. 🙏 We are simply exchanging perspectives and learning from one another. That is what makes these conversations valuable. I’m grateful for your openness, and I look forward to continuing the exchange.
This is so beautiful, love how both explain different things. Kokoro changes, we change yet Tamashii seems quite connected to our Ikigai. I envy those that can know their Tamashii pretty well, I struggle to make sense of who my soul is as it's hard to pin it down to a single thing. Thank you for this insightful article.
The day Buddha stopped trying he got awakened to the soul or truth. Trying is also needed just to be dropped.
Buddha’s message is very clear that we must remain relaxed in our life. An authentic person, a person involved in their work with totality and serving people with great love are basic foundations on which a relaxed personality could grow.
Then one fine day suddenly we are sure going to experience it.
It is an experience so we need to keep experimenting on different methods and from their outcome our personal wisdom grows. Those who search in scripture cannot find it, but once we find it then only those scripture could be understood well. Indian mystics says that those reading scriptures without experience will get buttermilk out of it and those who read them after experiencing truth or self or reality they enjoy butter from them.
I had to go through some hoops, but I was able to download it from the Kindle section by changing my country… does that mean I can immigrate to Japan now?
As per my experience I can say that instead of “Tamashii — something deeper within us”
this is more accurate “Tamashii — something deeper within us that is constant”
It is constantly watching us! Children enjoy on swing because their experience of them as body has not grown. They are more aware of this constant as themselves and on swing the body moves so they enjoy the movement of body with reference to the constant.
When ego develops we stop identifying ourselves with it and meditation or Zazen is just a way to regain or remember this watcher as self that we have forgotten.
In childhood it was gifted so that we can recognise it when we remember it. Then it remains with us forever.
Thank you for sharing this thoughtful perspective. I feel the same way, and your comment also gave me a beautiful new way to express this in English. 🌿
A Japanese Zen monk was visiting Europe’s countries to let people know about Zen.
At one place a person asked him a question that many monks come here all give different messages. What is the reason for so much messages can you give me one message so that I will learn from that?
He replied “Don’t know approach.”
Since you have it so be sure you will get experience of Tamashii too. It is far easier for women.
So, if life is like a tree/plant, KOKORO would be the branches, and TAMASHII would be the roots. The air/wind/weather may rattle our Kokoro but not our Tamashii, as much. [Why do those require capital letters I wonder?]
If I ask myself questions too deep, I risk fracturing my inner wood.
Ichirei Shikon makes me think of the Triforce from Legend of Zelda games. Except, there are only three forces joined by Fate. And, Courage is separate from Power (though your description makes Courage sound like a form of Power).
There is a deeper part of you, always there, just waiting for you to notice. It was there when you were 4, there when you were 16, there when you were 45, and there now, whatever age you are. During that time, your body changed, your opinions changed, your ambitions changed, but that quiet place, always there, never changed. That is Tamashii (so happy to know that word now!). Everything else is impermanent. Finding this unwavering place and constantly relying on it is what creates joy, happiness, and the deep knowing that everything is okay.
Thank you so much, Mary! I especially like the idea of that quiet place within us that remains, even as so much else changes.
So true.
This is a beautiful and clarifying distinction. Kokoro is the part of us that moves. The feelings, thoughts, and desires that shift with circumstance. Tamashii is something deeper. The quiet, enduring quality that remains even when everything else changes.
The Ichirei Shikon framework is a useful map. Courage, wisdom, love, and harmony. Four qualities that appear differently in each of us. The work is not to become someone else, but to understand what is already living within us.
The question that stays is the one that matters most: What has remained quietly true about me through all the different seasons of my life? Not a destination to find, but a recognition to return to.
Thank you so much for adding such depth to this conversation!
You’re very welcome, Masami. 🙏 It’s always wonderful when a simple distinction opens into something much deeper and your original reflection gave us a beautiful doorway into it.
So true.
Exactly. 🙏 Sometimes a simple “so true” is enough when something touches a deeper recognition. The distinction between what moves through us and what quietly remains is a powerful one.
Thanks for appreciation. Appreciations by wiser people is Nobel for me.
That’s a beautiful way to receive appreciation, Sandeep. 🙏 I’m grateful that the words resonated with you—and I think wisdom is often less about who is “wiser” and more about recognizing something true when it appears. Thank you for being here and sharing your perspective.
You are right. I learned something from you than you become wiser than me. I will express correctly next time onwards.
There’s nothing to correct, Sandeep. 🙏 We are simply exchanging perspectives and learning from one another. That is what makes these conversations valuable. I’m grateful for your openness, and I look forward to continuing the exchange.
This is so beautiful, love how both explain different things. Kokoro changes, we change yet Tamashii seems quite connected to our Ikigai. I envy those that can know their Tamashii pretty well, I struggle to make sense of who my soul is as it's hard to pin it down to a single thing. Thank you for this insightful article.
The day Buddha stopped trying he got awakened to the soul or truth. Trying is also needed just to be dropped.
Buddha’s message is very clear that we must remain relaxed in our life. An authentic person, a person involved in their work with totality and serving people with great love are basic foundations on which a relaxed personality could grow.
Then one fine day suddenly we are sure going to experience it.
It is an experience so we need to keep experimenting on different methods and from their outcome our personal wisdom grows. Those who search in scripture cannot find it, but once we find it then only those scripture could be understood well. Indian mystics says that those reading scriptures without experience will get buttermilk out of it and those who read them after experiencing truth or self or reality they enjoy butter from them.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection, Wabi-sabi Mind. 🌿 Your connection to Ikigai is a beautiful one.
Thank you so much, it means a lot coming from you ❤️
I tried to order your book on Kindle, but I don’t know what happened…
I had to go through some hoops, but I was able to download it from the Kindle section by changing my country… does that mean I can immigrate to Japan now?
Thank you so much for going through all those hoops to get the book, Joseph! I really appreciate it!
And yes… changing your Kindle country settings might just be the first official step toward immigrating to Japan. ;)
I hope you enjoy the book. Thank you!
I love the question you proposed at the end. It actually brings me to clarity pretty quickly. 🩷
Thank you so much, Cindye!
As per my experience I can say that instead of “Tamashii — something deeper within us”
this is more accurate “Tamashii — something deeper within us that is constant”
It is constantly watching us! Children enjoy on swing because their experience of them as body has not grown. They are more aware of this constant as themselves and on swing the body moves so they enjoy the movement of body with reference to the constant.
When ego develops we stop identifying ourselves with it and meditation or Zazen is just a way to regain or remember this watcher as self that we have forgotten.
In childhood it was gifted so that we can recognise it when we remember it. Then it remains with us forever.
Thank you for sharing this thoughtful perspective. I feel the same way, and your comment also gave me a beautiful new way to express this in English. 🌿
A Japanese Zen monk was visiting Europe’s countries to let people know about Zen.
At one place a person asked him a question that many monks come here all give different messages. What is the reason for so much messages can you give me one message so that I will learn from that?
He replied “Don’t know approach.”
Since you have it so be sure you will get experience of Tamashii too. It is far easier for women.
I have written a post about a Japanese Zen nun Chiyono. Hope you will find it worth learning from. https://joshuto.substack.com/p/chiyonos-example-what-is-enlightenment-philosia-the-existential-drama-4d5043c9fec9?r=1gxdhi&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Dear Masami,
Once again, this shows how much, behind each different languages, words and their whole deep meanings carry such precious enlightening Wisdom.
... A Wisdom that one can totally miss when they look for a translation only.
It reminds me of the German word "gemütlich", and of its full meaning that cannot be said with one single word only in any other langage that I know.
Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful Japanese Wisdom ones today ✨🙏✨
With Gratitude, Love and Peace from the other side of Earth 💖💖💖
Valérie 🌸💕
So, if life is like a tree/plant, KOKORO would be the branches, and TAMASHII would be the roots. The air/wind/weather may rattle our Kokoro but not our Tamashii, as much. [Why do those require capital letters I wonder?]
If I ask myself questions too deep, I risk fracturing my inner wood.
Ichirei Shikon makes me think of the Triforce from Legend of Zelda games. Except, there are only three forces joined by Fate. And, Courage is separate from Power (though your description makes Courage sound like a form of Power).
No roots are also growing. Just they are not visible. The space is the constant in which it is growing inwards or out wards.