Reading this story about life in Japan felt particularly calming. A tiny microcosm where perfection is possible.
“Handing in a lost or forgotten item is something that is taught at a young age,” says Tamura. “Children are encouraged to deliver lost items to the kōban, even if it’s 10 yen (7p). A child can deliver this coin to the kōban, the police officer will treat it formally as any lost item. A report is made up, and the coin is taken into police custody. Yet, knowing that no one would report [it], the police then gives the coin back as a reward. Therefore, although it is the same monetary amount, the process of handing it into the police is different from outright taking the money - that is, one is theft, the other is a reward.”
This made me nostalgic for my own childhood. We were taught to donate any money we found on the street to the temple. It was never okay to keep that money even if it was a small coin - it had to be given away so it could serve greater good. Much like the idea of a child turning in the coin to the police officer in Japan. I recall feeling flush with pride the few times when I was able to do that - in my small way I was adding to the pool of common good.
I have not been to a temple in years and don't particularly miss it. Recently on our walk we found a twenty dollar bill lying on the street and I picked it up. The childhood trigger kicked in and I knew that this was not mine to keep. While I did not end up taking it to the nearby temple, I gave it to someone who is experiencing a lot of financial hardship lately. It felt like a reasonable compromise.
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