Kazuo Inamori, known as the “God of Management” in Japan, used his unique management philosophy to turn Japan Airlines from losses to profits in 2011. At the age of 65, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and hospitalized. Though the diagnosis came as a blow, it marked the beginning of the billionaire’s awakening to the meaning of life.
Relinquishing worldly possessions
Inamori founded Kyocera and KDDI, which made the Fortune Global 500. Despite his business success and immense wealth, he was always troubled by a simple question: “What is the meaning of life?”
Two months after leaving the hospital with a cancer diagnosis, Inamori went to Enpukuji Temple in Kyoto. He resigned from all his positions, left behind worldly affairs, and became a monk. Although his wealth could have bought many temples, he received no special treatment. He lived in the same monk quarters, wore the same clothes, and ate the same food as the other monks. Even though his body had not fully recovered, he still carried a begging bowl, going door to door to beg for alms.
One late autumn day, as the weather turned wintery, Inamori, barefoot and wearing straw sandals, went from house to house. His toes, exposed through the straw sandals, were cut and bleeding, but he endured the pain. By dusk, he was exhausted and began his heavy-footed journey back to the temple.
As he walked along, with falling leaves fluttering like butterflies and blending into a thick layer of dead leaves on the roadside, he couldn’t help but sigh at the desolate scene of late autumn, reflecting on the vicissitudes of life.
A simple act of kindness reveals the meaning of life
Just as Inamori was contemplating the meaning of life, an old woman across the street sweeping the ground put down her broom and walked straight over to him. She reached into her pocket, took out a 100-yen coin, and handed it to Inamori. “You are a monk in training, aren’t you? You must be very hungry. Take this and buy some bread to fill your stomach,” she said.
As her aged hand placed the coin in his hand, Inamori felt like lightning had struck him. He trembled with emotion, and tears streamed down his face. He experienced a happiness that he had never felt before. In that instant, experiencing this simple act of kindness, he felt enlightened. He understood the true meaning of life and had reached the realm of happiness that he had been so painstakingly seeking all his life.
The old woman, who did not seem wealthy, displayed a compassionate heart without hesitation or arrogance. The woman’s touching gesture enabled the billionaire to grasp the genuine meaning of happiness. Soon after, he departed from the temple, returning to secular life with a newfound purpose: to spread the message of happiness and kindness.
In this world, the meaning of life cannot be measured by the amount of money you have. What matters is how much love and kindness you contain. Making others feel loved and accepting the gift of others’ kindness is a valuable existence.
We live in this world needing to warm others and to be warmed by others. Only when your heart is mutually warm can the world and life retain meaning and not fall into despair. Never give up on yourself, and never measure your worth, or the worth of others, by money. What matters is the kindness and compassion contained in your heart.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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