Five Questions with Maki Saionji Kawamura

What Makes You Come Alive?

To be able to see the smile in others makes me alive.<br />I can work so much to make others smile and even that process is a lot of work for me,,,,I can enjoy every process of that work.<br />I just like to do anything that makes others happy. <br /><br />But when I was 26, I realize that I think and do too much for others that when people ask me what I want to do,,,,,My head became blank.<br />I could not tell people what I wanted to do and I did not feel alive when people who need help do not exist. I realized that my aliveness can only appear when there is other people's existence and that scared me. so from that time, I try to always make time to practice what do I want to do,,,,What do i like to do,,,,,At very beginning,,,,this question made me cry because I could not answer this question. but as I try continue this exercise,,,,asking what I want to do do not upset me. Now, what I want to do and what I can do for others are over lapping and I feel I became more balanced person than before.

Pivotal turning point in your life?

There are two moment in my life that has turned my life.<br />The first one is my grand father's death.<br />His last moment was far from peaceful that it made me wonder what death is and I felt that my mission is to shift the concept of death from fear and suffering to peace, joy and comforting.<br /><br />My second event was 10 years a go when I was during night duty at the hospital. I dreamt about my parents death. The dream terrified me and taught me the lesson to choose the path that is most important for me and this lesson guided me to leave my work as pediatrician and walk the path to support my parents' work.<br />

An Act of Kindness You'll Never Forget?

The first time I understood the power of anonymous kindness was at the Gandhi 3.0 retreat in 2014. There were about 50 people from different part of the world but they were present, just to serve. There were kindness every where I exist and people who were present appreciated the existence of each other. People were connected to each other not in the fact of what work they do but who they are. The place was filled with loving word, loving actions and every second was filled with kindness. These kindness never run out and it is not one kindness but continuous actions of kindness was so inspiring and so deep that it is always in my heart. When I got back to Japan, in my bag was a beautiful handmade bags. They were anonymous gift from someone,,,,,I wondered who and I wanted to know who gave this beautiful gift and because it was anonymous,,,,,the gift and the story that is carried by the gift stayed deep deep in my heart. The gift was beautiful but the surprise that came with the gift was so so special for me. The gift carried strong personal connection between the whole people that were present that day and with me.<br />

One Thing On Your Bucket List?

My mission is to create a setting where people carry their dignity until the last minute. In order to do this I work in three organizations to create peace in each and everyone's heart by using different methods and aims. As a physicion I try to create a place and community where people are able to speak about death and dying and by doing so the medical staffs help create a future with the patients where their dignity are kept until the last minute.

One-line Message for the World?

I am devoted to create a world/community where everyone's divine spark(true essence, source, highest self etc.) is revealed and that every one get connected to each other through their sparks.