Come not for sightseeing but religious practice.

You should come to Mt. Inari, not for sightseeing but as if you have religious practice. Don’t expect service for tourists here, but do anything you can for other people instead.

Don’t ask anyone to show you something, but feel something yourself.

If a Shinto priest is cold to you, you are unhappy. However, he is also an ordinary person after duty. Maybe a shrine maiden is part-time. You get angry because you think they are superior to you. In such a case, you might want to realize that the situation is not so good and that you should come at a different hour next time. Furthermore, reflect on inside of yourself when you have got angry. You might get mad because the priest or maiden looked like you or because you remember something unpleasant by them. It is too simplistic to criticize the priest or shrine maiden because that is your problem.

These days, we tend to demand too many from others. I suspect it is because it has become apparent for us to be under someone’s care at establishments such as convenience stores, supermarkets and restaurants. Maybe we lack feelings of gratitude.

It would be best if you visited Fushimi Inari Taisha with humble hearts.

KATO