President’s Message

Otani University was founded based on the spirit of Buddhism. It is a university that encourages people to inquire into the best way to live their own lives, in light of the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha, who revealed the way for all people to live a truly vibrant life in spite of the reality of human suffering, and Shinran, who demonstrated firsthand that those teachings can genuinely be realized in each and every one of us. The university aims to nurture people who can clearly discern what is really important and take solid steps forward in a society where various problems arise over and over. In other words, it is a university that fosters a perspective that grasps the present reality and sees how to move toward the future, as well as the perseverance needed to realize those goals even in difficult circumstances. This spirit is expressed in the phrase “Be Real – Compassionate Intelligence.”

Human beings live engaging in a great variety of relationships. We are sometimes supported and empowered by our relationships, and we are sometimes hurt by them. Our sense of self becomes clear in our relationships with others. What makes it possible for people to genuinely respect each other? What is the path beyond hatred and resentment? Otani University is a place where we can ask these questions and consider the answers to them together. Here at Otani, we turn our ears to the words of our predecessors who have sought that path before us in order to determine where we ought to proceed.

Ichiraku, Makoto
President, Otani University