Fame and honor are illusions. The true mission on Earth lies elsewhere.

As a young child, I was an incredible crybaby. I believe I was the biggest one in my grade. Once I started crying, it wouldn’t stop for half a day. Because of this, even my teachers couldn’t bring themselves to scold me.

Despite that, from the age of 19 to 56, I lived my life as an entrepreneur. I’ve always been someone who struggles to learn from others, so when it came to work, I had no choice but to carve my own path. In the world of business, there’s no option to run away once you’ve made a decision. Even when problems arise, there’s no one to turn to for advice. That’s why I had no choice but to face everything head-on. Through that repeated process, I think I gradually became stronger without even realizing it.

That said, running a business comes with a mountain of unpleasant experiences. Unfairness, dissatisfaction, betrayal, suffering… How many times have I thought, “I just want to escape”? But looking back now, I realize that dissatisfaction and suffering ultimately depend on your perspective. They can change entirely based on how you think.

For example, working hard to become a company president or a teacher—that’s just one of the missions we’re given. What’s truly important is whether we can choose the “right path” within that mission.

It’s possible that choosing the wrong path might lead to easier success, more money, or a bigger company. In fact, many people probably take that route. But when death comes, nothing remains. Status, honor, wealth—all of it must be left behind on this Earth.

I also believe there’s a reason why wars never cease in human history. It makes sense if you think of this Earth as a kind of prison. A place where souls are confined to learn and grow. If you view it this way, perhaps the “god” of this Earth is a beast.

The beastly nature within humans—anger, greed, jealousy—unless we can let go of these, no matter how many times we’re reborn, we’ll remain trapped in this Earth, this prison (or hell).

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you take your own life, you’ll go to hell.” I believe this isn’t just superstition but rather means you’ll be sent back to this Earth (this prison, this hell). Taking your own life is like trying to “escape from prison.” Abandoning the mission you’ve been given is like running away in the middle of your lessons. That’s why I think you’re sent back to Earth to start over.

Many people mistake their mission for “a job given by someone else” or “a role in society.” But its true meaning is “the challenge your soul chose for itself.” To abandon that because of others’ words or societal norms is to lose your own will.

This world is overflowing with peer pressure and “society’s correct answers.” But simply accepting them doesn’t lead to true learning. A mission isn’t about following someone else’s instructions—it’s about feeling, thinking, and choosing for yourself. That accumulation is the growth of the soul, the most important lesson in this Earthly school.

When you realize this, I believe you finally discover the “meaning of life.” This Earth is a place of learning, a stage of trials. You mustn’t abandon the mission you’ve been given. Only by overcoming it can you move to the next stage and, ultimately, return (be released) to your true world.

And when it’s all over, you’ll finally be freed from this Earthly prison and return to the real world.

Everyone will eventually face death and leave this world. But unless you complete your final mission, your memory will be reset, and you may have to start over in a new body—something other than a plant—here on Earth.

In the end, what truly matters on this Earth isn’t “what you gain” but “how you live.” The intelligence and personality you’re born with are merely tools given to you to fulfill your mission. If you use them to hurt others, your mission remains incomplete, and you’ll have to walk the same path again.

That’s why you must face your mission without running away, overcome each challenge, and complete the final task. That, I believe with all my heart, is the true meaning of living on this Earth