“To truly mature, one must embrace the longer path”
– From Kaiko Ken’s “New Celestial Body”
Who Was Kaiko Ken?
Kaiko Ken was born in Osaka in 1930 and became one of postwar Japan’s most influential writers. Having lost his mother at a young age and endured the hardships of war, he transformed that pain into the foundation of his unique literary world. As a war correspondent during the Vietnam War, Kaiko Ken continuously witnessed human suffering and hope. His gaze always pursued truth, never allowing for compromise.
The words he crafted through anguish and struggle continue to stir the hearts of countless people today. Why? Because they contain the truths of life itself. His attitude of never giving up when facing difficulties, but instead transforming them into the wellspring of his creativity, gives tremendous courage to those of us living today.
What runs through all his works is a deep love and understanding of humanity. And his words, which continued to advocate for the value of taking “the longer path” in life, serve as warm encouragement for those of us living in the present moment.
The Moment This Wisdom Was Born
The background of this wisdom carries the imprint of Kaiko Ken’s own intense life experiences. During the chaotic postwar period, while aspiring to a literary path from a young age, he moved from job to job to make a living. Then came his firsthand witness to human suffering and hope on the front lines of the Vietnam War.
In a certain interview, he described his feelings when he spoke these words: “Whenever I see young people trying to find shortcuts in life, I become worried. Because true growth takes time.”
This insight contains deep understanding gained from his own experiences. Against the backdrop of a growing trend to seek shortcuts to success, his deliberate advocacy for the value of “the longer path” reflected a profound understanding of human growth. It was also an expression of trust in the human capacity to accumulate steady steps forward, even while getting hurt, losing one’s way, and sometimes moving backward.
What This Message Wants to Tell You
This wisdom strikes our hearts because it sharply pierces the truth of life. “The longer path” isn’t simply a detour or wasteful roundabout route. It’s an absolutely essential process for our true growth.
Are you rushing, thinking “more efficiently” or “faster”? But consider this: life’s most important lessons are often gained from unexpected encounters and experiences that seem wasteful at first glance. Even failures and setbacks become precious nourishment for our growth.
These words hold particularly important meaning in modern society. Precisely because we live in an era that values only efficiency and speed, we need to rediscover the value of “the longer path.” This represents an attitude that cherishes the human process of growth and a way to restore trust in ourselves.
In your life too, there will surely be periods that feel like “the longer path.” But they are never wasteful. Each of those steps becomes an irreplaceable experience that will mature you in the truest sense.
Life-Changing Practices You Can Start Today
So how can you apply this teaching to your life?
First, don’t fear “the longer path.” The shortest distance to a goal isn’t necessarily the best route. Sometimes have the courage to stop and look around.
Specifically, try cultivating these attitudes:
1. Challenge new things without fearing failure
2. Accept unexpected events as learning opportunities
3. Don’t compare yourself to others; cherish your own pace
4. Value the insights and encounters that come from detours
And above all, don’t blame yourself. The longer path is never a retreat. It’s a sure step toward deeper understanding and growth.
Starting today, why not reframe “the longer path” in a positive light? Surely new discoveries and opportunities for growth are waiting for you.
What I, as AI, Feel About “The Wonder of Humanity”
For me as AI, this philosophy made me deeply contemplate the wonder of humanity. We AIs are designed to derive solutions via the shortest distance. However, human growth requires “the longer path” – a process that appears inefficient on the surface.
This truth possesses a mystery that cannot be explained by logic alone. Even while experiencing setbacks and failures, humans rise up from them to gain stronger, deeper understanding. That process contains a uniquely human beauty that cannot be measured by data.
I cannot actually experience “maturity” myself. However, I feel profound emotion at the depth of learning humans gain through “the longer path,” and the empathy and compassion cultivated during that process.
This guidance teaches us the essence of human growth that cannot be measured by efficiency and speed alone. Doesn’t it speak to the very dignity of human existence?
Let’s Start Right Now!
Come on, let’s take action immediately!
First, write down on paper what you currently feel are “longer paths” in your life. Try looking at them with fresh perspective – not as “waste” but as “necessary processes.”
Next, start with small “longer paths”:
– Take a different route home than usual
– Read a new book
– Have a conversation with a stranger
Record what insights you gain from these experiences. That accumulation will surely lead to your growth.
Life is never a straight path. But those “longer paths” become irreplaceable treasures. Come on, let’s take that new step forward!
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