Eternal Incompleteness is Perfection ── #WordsITreasure #KenjiMiyazawa

Still supported by the words of Kenji Miyazawa.

Eternal incompleteness is perfection
—— From Kenji Miyazawa's "An Outline of Peasant Art"

1. Introduction — The background and interpretation of these words

These words are found in the final fragment of Kenji Miyazawa's draft, "An Outline of Peasant Art."
Written around 1926, about ten years before his death, this document contains "a vision of a future where people in rural villages find joy in living through art and build spiritual richness."
What he envisioned was the idea that "Art is also necessary for those who live off the land."

However, that vision remained unformed, stopping at the draft stage. Nevertheless, he deliberately wrote there:
“Eternal incompleteness is perfection.”

This may be a philosophy that finds value in the very act of "not finishing," or perhaps it is a kind of "aesthetics that does not seek perfection."

While it is open to interpretation, one can feel a quiet affirmation deep within these words—that in being incomplete, the best one can do at any given moment shines brightly.

2. The process of "incompleteness" turning into "deepening"

How should we perceive this philosophy of "eternal incompleteness is perfection"? Following the presented diagram, we can see five steps for affirming "incompleteness" and continuing to walk forward.

① Incompleteness (Beginning): Struggling between ideals and reality
The start is the frustration and conflict of being unable to reach one's ideals. Kenji, too, suffered from the gap between the harsh reality of farmers and his own ideals. However, this "struggle" is the first step toward deepening.

② Continuing: Walking forward without giving up
Even when the finish line is not in sight, do not stop your feet. Value already begins to reside in the "continuation" itself, the stage before results are achieved.

③ Deepening (Insight/Maturity): Even if the form does not change, the heart deepens
Even if visible results (forms) do not appear immediately, changes are occurring within. The gaze that observes the essence of things is cultivated, leading toward spiritual maturity.

④ Incompleteness Again (To the next stage): New questions are born
Just as climbing one mountain reveals an even higher one, deepening leads to the birth of "new questions." Returning to a state of "incompleteness" here is not a step backward, but an entrance to a higher dimension.

⑤ Eternity (Circulation/Evolution): The unending journey is the "perfection" itself
Repeating this cycle—the process of constantly evolving and continuing to ask questions—is the true nature of what Kenji called "perfection."

Affirming the endless journey

As shown at the end of the diagram, the phrase "the unending journey is the 'perfection' itself" offers us great salvation.

If we think of perfection as a "goal far away," we might feel that we are incomplete because we cannot reach it. However, from Kenji's perspective,the "very moment now" where we wish to be better and are engaging in trial and error is already radiating a perfected brilliance—that is how I interpret it.

"Incompleteness" is not an end. I accept it as an "entrance to deepening" for constantly meeting a new self and for understanding the world more deeply.

3. Suddenly remembering, the scenery of that day

My personal experience is connected to why I have come to be deeply saved by these words.

I happened to have the day off and went to Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, as the mood took me.
The Kenji Miyazawa Memorial Museum and Kenji's Fairy Tale Village.
I remember that the time spent touching upon his words, his way of life, and his worldview was quiet, somehow warm, and calmed my heart.

The next day.
I stayed overnight, left Iwate, and was on my way home when I encountered the earthquake.
At the time, the area where I lived was devastated, but fortunately, my life was saved because I was staying in Iwate.

If you call that a coincidence, it was a coincidence.
But for some reason, ever since that time, whenever something happened, Kenji's words would suddenly come to mind.
(For the past few years, I have lost sight of myself and even forgotten things I should not have forgotten...)

Among them, these words were what pierced my heart the most.

4. Living within the fluctuations

We sometimes feel impatient, thinking we must "complete" something.
Work, relationships, or even ourselves.
I want to believe that one day I will be able to welcome a day when I can say, "This is fine."

But in reality, the moment that can be called completion rarely arrives.
The confidence I had until yesterday might turn into anxiety today, and
sometimes I end up without ever reaching the ideal I envisioned.

At such times, when I remember these words,
the tension in my shoulders eases just a little.

5. What I received from "Incomplete"

"Incomplete"—that is a word that originally has a negative ring to it.
It feels somewhat guilty and apologetic.
But these words affirm that entirely.

When I was able to think that way, I felt I could be a little kinder to myself and to others.

6. To everyone who read until the end

Right now, you might also have "things that cannot be completed," "things halfway through," or "a journey you are not satisfied with" within yourself.

But if these words remained in your heart,
I would like you to remember them gently when you feel like you are losing sight of yourself.

Growth and conflict are both precious things that can only be savored because they are in the present continuous tense.

Precisely because we are alive.

Afterword

Like Kenji, no matter how unformed things may be,
I sincerely hope that you will continue to support yourself as you walk the path you believe in.

ーーYorozu-san

💬 If you have any thoughts after reading this or have had similar experiences, please feel free to share them in the comments section.
"Your voice" is also a part of this place.

〇Reference〇

• "An Outline of Peasant Art" by Kenji Miyazawa (Available for free on Aozora Bunko)

・Aozora Bunko

The phenomenon I call myself
is a blue illumination
of a hypothetical organic alternating current lamp
(a composite of all transparent ghosts)

[Be Not Defeated by the Rain]

Kenji Miyazawa

Be not defeated by the rain,
nor by the wind,
nor by the snow or the summer heat.
With a sturdy body,
without desire,
never losing one's temper,
always smiling quietly.
Eating four go of brown rice a day,
with miso and a few vegetables.
In everything,
without counting oneself,
observing, listening, and understanding well,
and never forgetting.
Living in a small thatched hut
in the shade of a pine grove in the field.
If there is a sick child to the east,
going to nurse them.
If there is a tired mother to the west,
going to carry her bundles of rice.
If there is someone near death to the south,
going to tell them there is no need to be afraid.
If there is a fight or lawsuit to the north,
going to tell them to stop because it is pointless.
Shedding tears during a drought,
wandering aimlessly during a cold summer,
called a blockhead by everyone,
neither praised,
nor blamed.
Such a person,
I want to become.

Namu Muhengyo Bosatsu,
Namu Jogyo Bosatsu,
Namu Taho Nyorai,
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Namu Shakyamuni Butsu,
Namu Jogyo Bosatsu,
Namu Anryugyo Bosatsu

Be not defeated by the rain,
nor by the wind,
nor by the snow or the summer heat.
With a sturdy body,
without desire,
never losing one's temper,
always smiling quietly.
Eating four go of brown rice a day,
with miso and a few vegetables.
In everything,
without counting oneself,
observing, listening, and understanding well,
and never forgetting.
Living in a small thatched hut
in the shade of a pine grove in the field.
If there is a sick child to the east,
going to nurse them.
If there is a tired mother to the west,
going to carry her bundles of rice.
If there is someone near death to the south,
going to tell them there is no need to be afraid.
If there is a fight or lawsuit to the north,
going to tell them to stop because it is pointless.
Shedding tears during a drought,
wandering aimlessly during a cold summer,
called a blockhead by everyone,
neither praised,
nor blamed.
Such a person,
I want to become.

Namu Muhengyo Bosatsu
Namu Jogyo Bosatsu
Namu Taho Nyorai
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo
Namu Shakyamuni Butsu
Namu Jogyo Bosatsu
Namu Anryugyo Bosatsu

*The part 'hideri' (drought) is written as 'hidori' in the original katakana text, as will be introduced later. Assuming it is a contrast to 'cold summer' in the following sentence, it is considered a typo for 'hideri', and this article uses 'hideri' (drought).

Even sins and sorrows shine holy and beautiful there.

Kenji's middle school years were a turning point for modern Japan, but for Kenji, they were alsoSturm und Drang (Storm and Stress)days of high sensitivity, where the seeds of his diverse later activities in science, religion, and literature were nurtured.