Word 041
In the quiet alleyways of Naramachi, Nara's old merchant district, the hum of tourists fades into stillness. Following a narrow lane, you arrive at Gango-ji Temple.
Looking up at the main hall's roof, you notice something remarkable — some of the tiles were fired during the Nara period, more than 1,300 years ago, and remain in place to this day. Through countless repairs and restorations, those ancient tiles have simply stayed where they were.
Not seeking recognition. Not trying to stand out. Just quietly present.
"No precedent?"
Then become the precedent.
But that does not mean you must do something grand or extraordinary.
It simply means: be free from the eyes around you, and just be yourself.
"There is a precedent" means someone was the first to do it. That first step had no precedent either. Like the ancient tiles of Gango-ji, simply being where you are — without apology, without performance — can quietly become a path for someone else.