The Smile Beyond Gain and Loss
Shrine maidens cleaning the grounds of the shrine Hello. When we speak of "conscience," most of us—myself included—tend to view it through the lens of duality: good versus evil, or a "good heart" versus a "bad heart." However, upon deeper reflection, it seems that conscience is something that transcends this simple binary. We often hear phrases like, "It is important to act according to one’s conscience," or "If you consult your conscience, you will understand." But if conscience were not something universal, shared by everyone, then individual differences would arise, and we would eventually lose sight of what "conscience" truly is. It may sound as if I am studying for a legal exam, but my point is this: I believe conscience is not merely a tool for judging whether an event is "right" or "wrong." To me, it feels like something far more simple, rustic, and pure. To put it simply, I understand it as a "...