Are We Here to Outdo Others, or to Refine Ourselves? We often spend half our lives competing with the outside world—comparing wealth, status, and success. But what Shindo teaches us is this: True strength comes from turning inward. There’s no need to chase the heavens—because you already are the sky. “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true clarity.” We may easily spot the flaws in others, yet we often fail to see our own greed, fear, or insecurity.
The greatest illusion in life is thinking we already know ourselves. “To conquer others takes force; to conquer yourself takes strength.” Defeating others requires external power, but overcoming yourself takes inner strength—the power of the mind. True strength is the courage to face the chaos and shadows within. It means seeing your own ignorance and pride clearly, and admitting your wounds and weaknesses honestly. Life’s real battlefield is not the world outside, but the silent struggle within—like the moment you open your eyes in the morning and battle your own resistance, or when anger rises and you choose instead to let it melt into a calm inner pool. External victories are fleeting, but inner breakthroughs give true meaning to life. “Those who are content are truly wealthy. Greed is simply another form of poverty.” A poor person is not someone with little money, but someone who always feels it is not enough. Even a simple life in the mountains, with humble meals and peace of mind, is true abundance. We keep chasing external things without pausing to ask: Do I already have enough? True abundance is found in seeing the fullness of this very moment—not in waiting for some future gain, but in fully living the now. Only by holding onto the inner path can we stay grounded in a restless world. Let go of attachment, and you will live with greater clarity and ease.
Shindo is a path of inner freedom. It is a life skills education that flows with life itself. You learn wisdom, and you practice it through the simple yet powerful act of: “Do good without asking about the outcome.”
