Chieko Okazaki was an American writer, educator, and religious leader. She is best known for her work as a teacher and mentor to other writers and for her contributions to the understanding of Japanese Americans in literature.
Her writing has been praised for its beauty, honesty, and insight into the human experience. In this article, we will explore some of her best quotes and discuss what they mean for us as individuals.
About Chieko Okazaki:
Chieko Okazaki was born in Hawaii in 1926. Her parents were Japanese immigrants who had come to the United States to work. As a child, she was often teased and discriminated against because of her ethnicity.
Okazaki eventually went on to attend the University of Hawaii, where she earned a degree in sociology. After graduation, she became a teacher and later a principal. In addition to her work in education, Okazaki also served as the Relief Society president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1974 to 1978.
It was during her time as Relief Society president that Okazaki began to write prolifically. She wrote articles, essays, and books on a variety of topics, including race relations, feminism, and religious faith.
Okazaki’s writing was deeply personal and often drew upon her own experiences as a Japanese American woman. In her work, she sought to promote understanding and respect for all people, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Here are the best Chieko Okazaki Quotes
Chieko Okazaki is a powerful and highly respected figure in the American Zen Buddhist community.
She has been teaching and leading meditation retreats for over thirty years, and her words are often quoted for their wisdom and insight.
Let us dive deep into her teachings and explore some of the most memorable Chieko Okazaki quotes.
1. “Hooray for differences! Without them, there would be no harmony. In principles, great clarity. In practice, great charity.”
At first glance, the idea of differences may seem somewhat uncomfortable. After all, differences can create tension, disagreement, and even conflict. But in reality, our differences are what makes life joyful and meaningful.
Without them, everything would be the same, and there would be no variety or harmony.
In fact, I believe that our variations actually unite us in a deeper way, giving us a greater understanding of each other’s experiences and helping guide us to greater compassion and empathy in our interactions.
Whether it’s the color of our skin or the way we talk or think, every one of us is different in some way. And this diversity allows us to appreciate the beauty that comes from having many different perspectives and opinions.
So don’t be afraid of your differences – embrace them! After all, they are what makes life so beautiful. Hooray for the difference! And hooray for harmony!
2. “The commandment to work is imposed on us by our descent from Adam and Eve, but it is a blessing to us. Illness and adversity are not punishments for being alive; they are natural accompaniments of life. Our bodies are not vile and loathsome snares for our spirits but the temples of our spirits. The daily activities of mixing orange juice, making telephone calls, supervising homework, and scrubbing the bathtub are not distractions from our spiritual lives. They are the vehicles through which we live our spiritual lives.”
3. “We are all different. And that’s not a bad thing; that’s a good thing.”
We all have different skills and talents, and we all have different experiences and perspectives. This makes us unique, and it makes us valuable.
When we come together, we can create something greater than ourselves. We can learn from each other, and we can build something new and amazing. So embrace your differences, and celebrate them.
They are what make you special. And they are what make the world a richer and more interesting place.
4. “If you’re doing the best you can, that’s good enough.”
No matter what obstacles we face in life, we should always strive to do our best. This is a lesson that I have learned through my own experiences, both good and bad.
On days when everything seems to be going right, it can be easy to get complacent and lose focus. But just as often, when things are falling apart around us, it can be tempting to give up altogether or throw in the towel.
At those moments, it’s important to remember that as long as we are giving our all, even if the results aren’t exactly what we want, we’re doing good enough.
After all, if you’re doing your best at any given time, there’s no shame in that – so long as you keep pushing forward toward your goals at every opportunity.
Whether you’re dealing with challenges at home or work or just facing everyday struggles on your journey through life, remember that if you keep moving forward and never stop trying to improve yourself, you’ll be doing good enough for sure!
5. “Only you know your circumstances, your energy level, the needs of your children, and the emotional demands of your other obligations. Be wise during intensive seasons of your life. Cherish your agency, and don’t give it away casually. Don’t compare yourself to others — nearly always, this will make you despondent. Don’t accept somebody else’s interpretation of how you should be spending your time. Make the best decision you can, and then evaluate it to see how it works.”
6. “Hope is one of the three great Christian virtues because Christ Himself is the master of life and, therefore, the master of hope. We are free to choose because we were made free from the beginning, and He honors our agency and our right and ability to choose. The choice He offers is life, and life offers hope. Any other choice is a choice of spiritual death that will bring us into the power of the devil…Part of that hope in Christ is hope in the future, a future that includes resurrection and salvation and exaltation.”
7. “We are all different. That is what makes us beautiful.”
We are all unique individuals with our own set of skills, talents, and interests. That is what makes us beautiful. We each have our own story to tell, and we bring our own special perspective to the world.
We are all different, but we are also all connected. We are all part of the human family, and we all have the same basic needs and desires.
We all want to be loved and accepted for who we are. We all want to feel like we belong. When we celebrate our differences, we make the world a more beautiful place.
8. “We are not perfect. We are here to learn and grow.”
Life is all about growth. From the moment we are born, we start to grow and change. We learn how to crawl, then walk, and eventually run. We learn how to talk, and our vocabularies begin to expand.
As we grow older, we continue to learn and grow in different ways. We might learn new hobbies or how to play a musical instrument. We might travel to new places and learn about other cultures.
Or we might go to school and get a degree in something we’re passionate about. No matter how old we are or what we’re doing, there is always room for growth. And that’s what makes life so exciting!
There’s always something new to learn and somewhere new to explore. So let’s embrace our imperfections and remember that we are here to learn and grow. After all, that’s what life is all about!
9. “Sheer human decency and civility are two of the most important contributions to our community life that women of courage can make.”
Women have played a crucial role in shaping society throughout history, impacting everything from politics and economics to art and culture.
Perhaps above all, however, it has been women’s enduring commitment to basic human decency and civility that has made the biggest difference.
Whether helping to care for others or working to improve the lives of their fellow citizens, women of courage have stood at the forefront of progress, combating ignorance and intolerance with compassion and respect for others.
Their efforts have helped pave the way for generations of women to come, ensuring that our communities remain strong, vibrant places where people from all backgrounds can thrive.
So if you’re looking for someone who embodies the spirit of feminine courage and kindness, look no further than those extraordinary women who lead by example.
With sheer human decency and civility as their guiding principles, they are true heroes in every sense of the word.
10. “When we lose a righteous person who is dear to us, we have the wonderful opportunity to honor that person by incorporating the best principles from his or her life into ours. What were his gifts? What were her talents? A desire to serve, a happy outlook on life, generosity with material possessions, an even greater generosity in having a heart that included everyone? Following the example of a loved one, we can love the Lord, make covenants with the Lord, and keep them faithfully. We, too can seek to understand the Savior’s great mission of atonement, redemption, and salvation. We too can seek to become worthy followers of the Son of God. And we too can anticipate that when the time comes for us to step through the veil of mortality, leaving our failing and pain-filled bodies behind, we will see the loving smile and feel the welcoming embrace, not only of our Heavenly Parents and of the Savior, but also of our loved ones who will greet us in full vigor, full remembrance, and full love. When we are in the valley of the shadow, it is a time of questions without answers. We ask, “How can I bear this? Why did such a good woman have to die? Why aren’t my prayers being answered?” In this life, we will not receive answers to many questions of “why”—partly because the limitations of mortality prevent us from understanding the full plan. But I testify to you that the answer of faith is a powerful one, even in the most difficult of circumstances, because it does not depend on us—on our strength to endure, on our willpower, on the depth of our intellectual understanding, or on the resources we can accumulate. No, it depends on God, whose strength is omnipotence, whose understanding is that of eternity, and who has the will to walk beside us in love, sharing our burden. He could part the Red Sea before us or calm the angry storm that besets us, but these would be small miracles for the God of nature. Instead, he chooses to do something harder: He wants to transform human nature into divine nature. And thus, when our Red Sea blocks our way and when the storm threatens to overwhelm us, he enters the water with us, holding us in the hands of love, supporting us with the arms of mercy. When we emerge from the valley of the shadow, we will see that he was there with us all the time.”
11. “I never had a biological sister, yet the more closely I work with women in the Church, the more surely I know there is a spiritual sisterhood.”
We are bound together by our shared belief in Jesus Christ and His gospel. We are united by our love for our families and our desire to serve others.
And we are strengthened by our willingness to stand together against evil and oppression.
The sisterhood of the Church is a powerful force for good in the world, and I am proud to be a part of it. Together, we can accomplish anything.
12. “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”
Service is an essential part of life. Whether we are caring for those in need, volunteering our time and energy, or simply taking the time to be kind and compassionate, we are all called to serve others in some way.
Not only does this strengthen our communities and help us build relationships with those around us, but it allows us to be truly grateful for all the blessings that we have in our lives.
13. “Be spiritually independent enough that your relationship with the Savior doesn’t depend on your circumstances or on what other people say and do. Have the spiritual independence to be a Mormon–the best Mormon you can–in your own way. Not the bishop’s way. Not the Relief Society president’s way. Your way.”
14. “If we don’t have time for masterpiece moments, the very reason we came to earth is being wasted on us.”
For many of us, life is a constant race from one task to the next. Between work, family commitments, and our endless to-do lists, we often seem to have no time at all for ourselves.
But even amid all this hustle and bustle, it’s important not to lose sight of what really matters to us. At the heart of it all, every one of us has a desire for moments of true beauty and meaning in our lives.
For most people, these “masterpiece moments” might take the form of quiet time spent with loved ones or a thrilling adventure in an exotic new place. Whatever they may be for you, these special moments are what make life worth living in the first place.
So if we find ourselves too busy or stressed to experience them fully, then it is clear that we are squandering the precious opportunity that is being offered to us here on earth.
We must take the time to appreciate and savor those masterpiece moments that give our lives true purpose and joy – after all; they are what make it all worthwhile.
15. “We are here to rejoice together ‘in every good thing.’ It is the strength and joy from a Christ-centered and Christlike life that gives us reason to rejoice.”
When we focus on rejoicing in the good things, we open our hearts and minds to endless possibilities and opportunities for happiness.
Our trials and challenges can still be present, but by keeping our focus on the positive things in life, we can maintain hope and Joy. When we live Christ-centered and Christ-like lives, we naturally become more like Him.
We take on His qualities of love, forgiveness, patience, and service. As we do so, we feel His influence in our lives more strongly, and our capacity to rejoice increases. What a wonderful way to live! let us remember to always find reasons to rejoice ‘in every good thing’!
Let’s Wind Up……
Chieko Okazaki was an amazing individual with a lot of wisdom to share. Her quotes are insightful and provide motivation for anyone who reads them.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading about her as much as we have enjoyed writing about her.
So which one is your favorite quote.