Literary Art: eBooks
Since 2024
We are pleased to add two more editions of “Living with the Soil” in Korean and Filipino this Christmas, 2024.
Peace on Earth and in our hearts!!
「土とともに生きる」：
アジア学院とわたし
今から遡ること50年以上前から「共に生きる」生き方の模索を実生活を通して模索し続けた著者の豊かな人生を痛快に描く一冊。本を書くよりアジア学院の日々を守ること一点に集中した筆者が、多忙な日々の生活の合間にインタビューや依頼執筆・講演内容を寄せ集めて彼の「たった一冊の本」として出版されたこの本は彼の信念の在処を示している。貧しい満洲移民の子として生まれ、進学のために出家し、5年間の禅寺修行で「生きる基礎」を培った著者の人生は、ひょんなことをきっかけにキリスト教への入信、アメリカ留学、学び舎の創設へと奇想天外な展開をしていく。学び舎のモットーは「共に生きるために」。その対象は人種、国、言語、文化、宗教を超え、「人の在り方」を指し、さらには生きとし生けるもの全てを包み込む。半世紀前から有機農業を推進し、持続可能な環境保護の具体的な法方を提供し続けた彼の人生。完成された一冊を出版することが目的で作られていない本を、各読者の方々がご自身の人生経験と照らし合わせながら、高見敏弘との対話を楽しんで「共に生きるために」の指針を探求していただければ幸いです。
“Living with the Soil”:
Asian Rural Institute and Me
This book vividly portrays the rich life of an author who has dedicated over 50 years to exploring the concept of 'That We May Live Together' through real-life experiences. Rather than focusing solely on writing, the author devoted his efforts to sustaining the operations of the Asian Rural Institute. Compiling interviews, commissioned writings, and lecture content amidst his busy life, he published this work after his retirement as his 'only book,' showcasing his deep convictions.
Born to poor Manchurian immigrants, the author's journey—from becoming a monk for educational purposes and cultivating the 'foundation of living' through five years of Zen monastery training, to an unexpected conversion to Christianity, studying in America, and founding an educational institution—unfolds through remarkable developments.
The motto of this institution is "That We May Live Together." This encompasses all races, nations, languages, cultures, religions, and even all living beings, pointing to the "way of being." The author's life, which has promoted organic farming and provided concrete methods for sustainable environmental protection since half a century ago.
We hope that by engaging with this book, which was not created solely for the purpose of publishing a completed work, you will enjoy a dialogue with Toshihiro Takami and be inspired to find your own way of 'living together' as you reflect on your personal life experiences.
「흙과 함께 살아가기」：아시아학원과 나
지금으로부터 50년 이상 전에 시작된 "함께 살아가기"라는 삶의 방식을 실생활을 통해 탐구해온 저자의 풍요로운 삶을 통쾌하게 그린 한 권의 책. 책을 쓰는 것보다는 아시아학원의 일상을 지키는 데에 전념한 저자가, 바쁜 일상 속에서 인터뷰, 의뢰받은 글쓰기, 강연 내용을 모아 그의 "단 한 권의 책"으로 출판한 이 책은 그의 신념이 어디에 있는지를 보여준다. 가난한 만주 이민자의 아들로 태어나, 학업을 위해 출가하고, 5년간의 선사 수련을 통해 "삶의 기초"를 다진 저자의 삶은, 우연한 계기로 인해 기독교로의 개종, 미국 유학, 학문의 집 설립으로 이어지는 기상천외한 전개를 보여준다. 학문의 집의 모토는 "함께 살아가기 위해". 그 대상은 인종, 국가, 언어, 문화, 종교를 초월하여 "인간의 존재 방식"을 지향하며, 나아가 살아 있는 모든 생명을 포용한다. 반세기 전부터 유기농업을 추진하며, 지속 가능한 환경 보호를 위한 구체적인 방법을 제공해 온 그의 삶. 완성된 한 권의 책을 출판하는 것을 목적으로 쓰여진 책이 아니기에, 각 독자분들이 자신의 삶의 경험과 대조하며 다카미 도시히로와의 대화를 즐기며 "함께 살아가기 위해"의 지침을 찾으실 수 있기를 바란다.
불완전한 번역본을 웹사이트에 게재하는 것을 죄송스럽게 생각하면서도, API를 탑재함으로써 이해하기 어려운 부분을 독자 개개인이 확인하고, 이 책의 "불완전함"이 우리가 소중히 지키고자 하는 것의 본질과 방향성을 찾는 계기가 되기를 간절히 바란다.
Coming UP Soon!
"Pamumuhay Kasama ang Lupa": Ang Asian Rural Institute at Ako
Isang aklat na masigla at malinaw na inilalarawan ang masaganang buhay ng may-akda na higit sa 50 taon na ang nakaraan ay patuloy na hinanap ang paraan ng pamumuhay na "kasama ang iba" sa pamamagitan ng tunay na karanasan sa buhay. Sa halip na maglaan ng oras sa pagsusulat, ang may-akda ay nagtuon sa pangangalaga ng pang-araw-araw na buhay sa Asian Rural Institute. Sa gitna ng abalang araw-araw na gawain, ang mga panayam, mga sinulat sa paghingi, at nilalaman ng mga talumpati ay binuo upang maging kanyang "nag-iisang aklat," na nagpapakita ng pundasyon ng kanyang mga paniniwala. Ipinanganak bilang anak ng mahirap na migrante mula sa Manchuria, ang may-akda ay nagdesisyon na maglayas para makapag-aral, nagtamo ng "batayan ng buhay" sa pamamagitan ng limang taong pagsasanay sa Zen temple, at sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon ay naakay sa pananampalatayang Kristiyano, nag-aral sa Amerika, at nagtatag ng isang institusyon ng pag-aaral. Ang motto ng institusyon ay "Upang Mabuhay Kasama ang Iba." Ang motto na ito ay tumutukoy hindi lamang sa mga tao sa iba’t ibang lahi, bansa, wika, kultura, at relihiyon, kundi pati na rin sa lahat ng nilalang na may buhay. Mula kalahating siglo na ang nakaraan, isinusulong niya ang organikong pagsasaka at nagbibigay ng mga kongkretong paraan para sa napapanatiling pangangalaga sa kalikasan.
Ang aklat na ito, na hindi nilikha para maglathala ng isang perpektong aklat, ay nag-aanyaya sa bawat mambabasa na ihambing ang kanilang sariling karanasan sa buhay, makipag-usap kay Toshihiro Takami, at tuklasin ang gabay para sa "pamumuhay kasama ang iba."
Bagamat humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa paglalathala ng di-perpektong isinaling aklat sa website, umaasa kaming ang paggamit ng API ay magbibigay daan sa bawat mambabasa upang suriin ang mga bahagi na mahirap maunawaan. Nawa’y magsilbi ang "hindi perpektong anyo" ng aklat na ito bilang inspirasyon para matuklasan ang "essence at direksyon ng mga bagay na nais nating ingatan nang may halaga."
Coming UP Soon!
Publication Background
About twenty years ago, my father, usually not one to seek assistance, asked me to create a website to publish his writings in Japanese and English. Due to his declining health, only a few documents were submitted to the website. In the years that followed, my focus was divided between raising two young children and pursuing art projects.
After our father's passing, his final wish was for his wife, Shinko, to be eternally happy. When the opportunity arose to translate his book—the best time was when Kaori's younger child starting university and the elder still studying—we discovered that another group had already been working on an English translation for two years, primarily for academic use.
Following thorough consideration and influenced by our mother Shinko's belief that the publication should aid global farmers, a cause important to our father, we decided not to proceed with the external party's contract. Their translation significantly differed from the original, and agreeing to their terms would prevent us from releasing our own version. Additionally, there was a risk that our father's name might not be properly credited in their version.
We proposed to the other group an alternative: publishing an explanatory book rather than a direct translation. The entire process, which led to our final decision, was a trial of our commitment to preserving our father's legacy, and we'll honor that commitment in our future actions. Currently, we offer the English and Japanese version online for free and may consider a physical publication to effectively reach farmers worldwide.
We appreciate the guidance and support from Jennifer Thompson, Laure Sullivan, and Paul Wilson. Without your advice, we might not have been able to make a decision that truly brought peace to our hearts. Our heartfelt thanks also go to those who provided emotional support during this period.
Note on Footnotes:
Confirmed details pertain to individual and organizational names. Other information is based on documents and oral accounts, reflecting the personal views of Kaori T Natsume, the supervising editor.
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