Religious conviction means to awaken to the relationship one has with something infinite and absolute within one’s finite self。 It is to awaken to the fact that we live an eternal　“life” and are made alive by such eternal life。 Or it can be said that it is to awaken to the fact that we are pierced through，　and illuminated by，　eternal light。 Through such awakening，　we can overcome all transitoriness in the world，　live our short lives to the fullest，　overcome death and discover in ourselves a transcendental ground of our lives。 It is Buddhist faith that awakens us to this groundwithin ourselves。 And from this　“faith，” there arises an absolute　“faith in oneself”　（jishin 自信）　within ourselves。

The Educational Ideal of Otani University

In contemporary Japan，　where it is gradually becoming difficult for Buddhism to serve as the core of our view of life and view of the world，　people seem to feel that，　in everything they do，　their lives are empty。 This is because Buddhist education，　which was once common in Japan，　is no longer being carried out。 It is also proof that Buddhism is no longer being spread in the world。

We at Otani University call a person who has experienced such awakening　“individuals who will strive to achieve the true spirit of　’having faith oneself and teaching others to have faith‘” and make it the goal of Buddhist education at our school。 To be more specific，　in his　“Address for the Opening of Shinshū University，” Kiyozawa Manshi 清泽满之　（1863－1903），　the first president of Otani University，　proclaimed　“we seek what is for us the matter of greatest importance；　to establish one’s own religious conviction and then relay that faith to others。 That is，　the special character of our university is to cultivate individuals who will strive to achieve the true spirit of　’having faith oneself and teachings others to have faith。’” To repeat，　the goal of our university’s education differs from that carried out in other schools in that it seeks to cultivate“ individuals who will strive to achieve the true spirit of　’having faith oneself and teachings others to have faith。”