Hello everyone. I am a Buddhist living in Tokyo.

I would like to share with you the essence of Buddhist sutras.

This podcast contains parables and simple expressions that represent the essence of the sutras, the teachings of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

We hope that this podcast will help you meet enlightened people in your daily life and help you find fresh answers to life situations.

This podcast is a transcription from the English version of the Buddhist scriptures published by the Association for the Propagation of Buddhism.

The Association for the Propagation of Buddhism, which means in Japanese "an organization of people who transmit the teachings of Buddha," has an office in Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo (in the neighborhood of Keio University). You can access Buddhist sutras translated into languages around the world. This podcast is an unofficial channel of the association.

In this first installment, listen to the most important doctrines of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths. The Buddha realized them 2,500 years ago. If you practice and realize these, you too can become a Buddha.

This year and last year, we heard the news of the deaths of many people. It is really sad.

However, the truth of the impermanence of life and death is a fact that has been taught to us by those who have awakened to it, so please do not be surprised and awaken to the wisdom of this truth.

Unfortunately, as imperfect beings, no matter how much we grieve the death of our neighbors, it is very difficult for us to help them.

No matter how deeply we pray and cry for the resurrection of our dying relatives, as we all know, we cannot raise them from the dead. The thought is a noble but imperfect act of mercy that cannot be performed.

Wisdom can be invoked. Anyone can perform it. And when we practice the perfect act of mercy and eventually become truly wise, we can help our neighbors who wish to become wise and help them realize their wishes. That is what it means to awaken to wisdom.