Title: Shohei Ohtani: The Secret of a Man Who Continues to Defy Conventional Wisdom - The Mandala Chart and the Common Ground of Kūkai’s Teachings - The Success Formula to Turn Dreams into Reality
Welcome! Today's theme is the surprising connection between Shohei Ohtani, a modern superstar who continues to defy conventional wisdom, and Kūkai, a great Buddhist monk from over a thousand years ago. Though they lived in vastly different times and fields, their success shares a common philosophy and a formula for achieving goals. The tool that underpins Ohtani's success, the “Mandala Chart,” is deeply connected to Kūkai’s concept of the “Mandala” that he introduced to Japan.
The Mandala that Kūkai brought to Japan is much more than just an artwork. It visually represents the structure of the universe and the path to enlightenment, providing a clear and accessible way for people to understand Buddhist teachings. In the same way, the Mandala Chart that Shohei Ohtani uses is a tool for visualizing his goals, breaking them down into actionable steps. Just as Kūkai’s Mandala represents the path to enlightenment, Ohtani’s Mandala Chart serves as a guide to his success and offers valuable insights for us as well.
First, let’s take a look at Kūkai and his Mandala. Kūkai was a prominent Buddhist monk in the Heian period, known for introducing Esoteric Buddhism to Japan. His “Two Mandalas” (Taizokai Mandala and Kongokai Mandala) visually express the truth of the universe and the path to enlightenment, allowing people to understand Buddhist teachings at a glance.
The “Two Mandalas” represent two realms: the Taizokai (Womb World) and the Kongokai (Diamond World). The Taizokai Mandala embodies the interconnectedness of all life, bound by the power of compassion. It illustrates the fundamental Buddhist concept of “oneness,” emphasizing that all life is connected, mutually influencing and supporting one another.
In contrast, the Kongokai Mandala symbolizes wisdom and mental growth essential for attaining enlightenment. Here, various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are depicted, each representing a specific state of mind or wisdom necessary on the path to enlightenment. Through these Mandalas, Kūkai conveyed the Buddhist path in a way that enabled people to pursue enlightenment with clarity and purpose.
Now, let’s turn to Shohei Ohtani and his use of the Mandala Chart. Since high school, Ohtani has utilized the Mandala Chart, which involves setting a major goal in the center and surrounding it with specific actions and related elements to visualize his goal. By breaking down his goals, the chart allows him to clearly understand how each day’s actions contribute to his ultimate objectives.
Ohtani’s dream was to succeed in Major League Baseball. To achieve this, he placed the goal of “becoming a first-round draft pick” at the center of his Mandala Chart and arranged eight essential actions around it. He further divided each action into detailed steps, creating a total of 64 action plans. By breaking down his dream into smaller, specific tasks, Ohtani was able to consistently monitor how his daily efforts brought him closer to his goal.
For example, under his goal of building physical strength, he included specific items like improving flexibility, stamina, and range of motion. For mental strength, he set goals like “staying calm under pressure” and “maintaining a stable mentality,” detailing specific actions for each. By precisely defining what actions to take and how to take them, he turned his dreams into reality step by step.
Just as Kūkai visualized the “path to enlightenment” with his Mandala, Shohei Ohtani visualized his journey to success with the Mandala Chart. The chart is not merely a plan but a tool that clarifies how each daily effort fits into his larger goal. Through this approach, he was able to reach his big dreams by steadily achieving smaller, immediate goals.
In an interview, Ohtani said, “Even if you have a big goal, it’s easier to keep working toward it if you know specifically what you need to do.” For him, the Mandala Chart was a tool that connected his daily efforts to his goals, helping him maintain motivation and commitment.
By using Kūkai’s Mandala and Ohtani’s Mandala Chart as references, we can also visualize the paths to our own goals and be mindful of how our daily actions lead to ultimate success. By clarifying our goals and defining actionable steps, we can find a clear path forward.
Kūkai’s Mandala is not just a religious symbol but a practical guide for “what to do” and “how to do it” in life. At the center of the Mandala sits the Buddha, with paths to enlightenment and obstacles radiating outward, guiding practitioners on a clear course toward enlightenment. This approach can also be applied to our daily lives.
Similarly, Ohtani used his Mandala Chart to clearly understand the actions necessary to achieve his goals, taking specific steps to fulfill them one by one. By breaking down our goals, creating action plans, and following them step by step, we too can harness the power to shape our destiny.
Today’s video explored the similarities between Kūkai and Shohei Ohtani through the lens of the Mandala and the Mandala Chart. Kūkai visualized Buddhist teachings in his Mandala, guiding people on the path of enlightenment, while Shohei Ohtani used the Mandala Chart to visualize his goals, steadily working toward his dream of playing in Major League Baseball.
What they share in common is a clear vision and the ability to break it down into actionable steps. By organizing goals visually and taking specific steps toward them, we can shape our own paths to success. Please consider incorporating the Mandala and Mandala Chart concepts into your daily life.
By clarifying your goals and defining the process to achieve them, you can steadily walk the path to success. Thank you for watching until the end. I hope this video has provided valuable insights. Please subscribe and give us a like. We look forward to seeing you in the next Post. Thank you.
