How to Read “袖の振り合わせも他生の縁”
Sode no furi awase mo tashou no en
Meaning of “袖の振り合わせも他生の縁”
This proverb means that no matter how trivial an encounter or interaction may be, it is not a coincidence but rather the result of deep connections from previous lives.
Even a momentary contact like brushing sleeves with a stranger on the street is considered, according to Buddhist teachings, to occur because of karmic connections from past lives. In other words, it expresses that all people we meet and all events we experience in this world have meaning.
This proverb is used when encountering chance meetings or unexpected events. It is employed to express the mystery and preciousness of connections when meeting someone for the first time, having an unexpected reunion, or receiving small acts of kindness. Rather than dismissing these as mere coincidences, it is used with the intention of finding deep meaning in them and cherishing these encounters. Even today, it is used when feeling the importance of human connections or when expressing fateful encounters.
Origin and Etymology
“Sleeve’s swinging together is also other life’s connection” is a proverb deeply rooted in Buddhist concepts of reincarnation. “Other life” is a Buddhist term referring to past or future lives, in contrast to the current life called “this life.”
The background of this proverb lies in Japanese clothing culture that has continued since the Heian period. In the court dress of that time, sleeves were much larger than today, and it was a daily occurrence for sleeves to brush against others while walking. Especially in places where many people passed by, such as the main streets of the capital or temple approach roads, it was not uncommon for strangers’ sleeves to accidentally touch.
In Buddhism, it is believed that everything that happens in this world is not coincidental but connected through karmic relationships from past lives. In other words, even such a trivial event as sleeves brushing together on the roadside occurs because of some connection from a previous life.
The background to this proverb’s establishment lies in Buddhist thought that deeply permeated the Japanese spirit. From the Heian period onward, Buddhism was widely accepted from nobles to commoners, fostering a culture that found deep meaning even in small daily events. The Japanese mentality of cherishing chance encounters stems from this religious background.
Interesting Facts
In the court dress of the Heian period, the length of sleeves indicated social status. The higher the rank, the longer the sleeves, sometimes dragging on the ground. Therefore, sleeves really did frequently brush against each other in the imperial court and temples.
The word “other life” is sometimes written as “many lives” in modern times, but originally the Buddhist term “other life (past life/future life)” is the correct notation. They are easily confused because their meanings are similar.
Usage Examples
- To meet again in such a place with the person who gave up their seat for me on the train that time—truly, sleeve’s swinging together is also other life’s connection
- Being able to work with all of you like this is also what I believe to be sleeve’s swinging together is also other life’s connection
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more multifaceted. With the spread of SNS and matching apps, encounters with people have become far more diverse than before, while simultaneously tending to become more superficial. However, this is precisely why the concept of “sleeve’s swinging together is also other life’s connection” may hold new value.
Encounters in the digital age are calculated “coincidences” created by algorithms. The posts that appear on your timeline, recommended videos, matching partners—all of these are presented based on data analysis. While they may feel like chance encounters, they are actually highly calculated results.
In such an environment, what constitutes a true “connection”? In modern times, it’s not uncommon for online encounters to develop into deep offline relationships. Gaming companions can become lifelong friends, and casual interactions on social media can develop into romance.
What’s interesting is that many modern people still believe in “fateful encounters.” Even now, when science and technology have advanced and many things can be explained, people still want to find special meaning in chance encounters. This is because fundamental human desires—the thirst for connection and the wish to find meaning in one’s existence—remain unchanged.
Perhaps the spirit of treasuring each encounter has become even more important precisely because we live in modern times.
When AI Hears This
The quantum physics phenomenon of “entanglement” is a mysterious occurrence where two particles that have once interacted continue to instantly influence each other, no matter how far apart they become. When you measure the state of one particle, the other is simultaneously determined. This phenomenon, which Einstein called “spooky action at a distance,” bears a striking resemblance to the essence of human relationships illustrated by the saying about sleeves brushing together creating karmic bonds.
Two strangers whose sleeves accidentally touch on a street corner. From a quantum entanglement perspective, this “coincidence” might actually be a cosmic-level inevitable connection. Tracing back through the countless choices and actions that led to their meeting, and even further back through the life trajectories of their parents and grandparents, we find they may have been connected by invisible threads, much like quantum entanglement.
What’s particularly fascinating is that quantum entanglement possesses “non-locality” – the property of instant connection regardless of distance. This mirrors the human intuition of feeling “somehow nostalgic” or sensing a “fateful encounter” with someone we’ve just met. Modern complexity science has also proven through concepts like the butterfly effect that small events can generate massive changes, making it scientifically plausible that a single brush of sleeves could alter the course of a life.
The fact that ancient Eastern wisdom resonates with modern quantum physics speaks to the profound depth of human intuitive understanding.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of opening our hearts to small daily encounters. In our busy daily lives, we tend to focus only on efficiency and results, but what truly enriches life might be the unexpected connections with people born in unforeseen moments.
Casual conversations with convenience store clerks, warm exchanges when giving up seats on trains, small acts of kindness toward people in trouble on the street—all of these hold the potential to add new colors to your life. It’s not only great successes or dramatic changes that transform life.
In modern society, human relationships also tend to be streamlined for efficiency. However, truly memorable encounters often occur outside of calculations and plans. This is precisely why it’s important to have an attitude of gratitude for daily small encounters and to treat others with care.
The people you meet today, the words you exchange, the kindness you receive—try living believing that all of these have meaning. By doing so, life will surely become richer and warmer.
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