Touched

The Shape of Love: Discovering Who We Are, Where We Came From, and Where We're Going
by Masaru Emoto, M.D.

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Westerners frequently use the expression "I love you," whereas the Japanese don't. Japanese men in middle age or older tend to be especially shy about expressing their love for someone, and may do so only on very rare occasions. I was no exception until about ten years ago, but now I often say it to my employees and family members. Some people say, "Love doesn't have to be expressed in words." For those who have the vibration of divinely pure consciousness, it may be a different story, but most of us ordinary folks are better off verbalizing it.

Of course, the accompanying emotion is important. Water does not respond in beautiful crystals when "I love you" is communicated obligatorily and carelessly. So the best way of saying "I love you" would be to do so naturally and wholeheartedly, when the moment and the emotion arise. Of course, I hope that women also feel comfortable saying "I love you," without worrying that they are imposing themselves on others. To children, sweethearts, husbands, and friends, women should freely express it. When you say these words, the water inside of you is affected by beautiful radiance.

Touched

The crystal in Figure 8 shows a shape of hands in prayer in one of its outer parts. I believe that people feel touched when their prayers come true, or when their latent desire or hope is fulfilled. I wonder if this is why the shape of prayer appeared in this water crystal. As indicated in the two Japanese characters (kanji) that mean "touched" - "feel" and "move" - the word has a strong power to affect our hearts.

Without having experiences of "being touched," people find it difficult to live with vigor and health. Mrs. Suzue Kato, who lived to be 104 years old, used to say, "Live each and every day having ten 'touched' experiences." Even busy people, I hope, will have at least three "touched" experiences in a day - in the morning, during the day, and in the evening.

One of the most moving experiences I have ever had since I started to take photographs of water crystals was when I saw the picture of a water crystal from Fujiwara Dam. We had initially gone to the dam to collect a sample; the water looked very dirty, as it contained impurities such as bacteria. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the picture of an amazingly beautiful crystal. At the time I had no idea why we could take such a beautiful picture. Later it occurred to me that the crystal might have been formed at the level of subatomic particles that we cannot see even with an electron microscope. Yet somehow we were able to capture the picture of it.

Between the soul of the person who took the picture and the intrinsically exquisite energy of the water, there must have been a beautiful phenomenon of resonance. Thus it was possible for us to take the wonderful picture of the water crystal. It was a moving experience for me to understand this. I was also touched by the fact that such a beautiful picture came about due to some power beyond the natural world.

Do you know the character Jean Valjean in Les Misérables? He is a criminal who one night steals silver from a church. When the police take him back to the church the next day, the bishop protects Valjean by telling the police that he gave the silver to him and proceeds to hand him some silver candleholders, too. Valjean feels as if he's been struck by lightning. The goodness starts to grow in him. Actually, I would say that what is awakened in him is the innate goodness that has quietly remained within him together with other qualities such as truth and beauty.

As you probably know, after Valjean has this experience, he lives a wonderful life and does many things to help others. I would think that the bishop, who has had such an impact on Valjean, would also receive substantial energy of gratitude in return.

Touching experiences such as these aren't confined to great works of literature, however: they can be found in our daily lives. One example for me was when my company went bankrupt with a 100 million yen - about $1 million - debt. We had a family council that included all of my brothers, and they said, "It will be very difficult to clear such a big debt. You should declare personal bankruptcy and divorce your wife." I felt half-resigned and thought I had no other choice but to accept their advice. In reality, I didn't have the energy to argue. However, my wife decidedly said, "I will not divorce him. I know he can get back on his feet again." For the next seven years, she worked as a saleslady for an insurance company, and we lived off her income. She made it possible for me to focus on working hard to repay my debt.

Perhaps "touching" is an act of love. It is a great gift from the soul for those who live their lives wholeheartedly.

Copyright © 2007 by Masaru Emoto.

About the Author

Dr. Masaru Emoto is a graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University and the Open International University as a doctor of alternative medicine. His previous book, The Hidden Messages in Water, has sold more than 600,000 copies world-wide. He lives in Tokyo and frequently travels to the United States to speak about his work.