April 10, 1951

Tuesday – Overcast

Rained all morning. but cleared in the afternoon. Discussed several matters with Mr. Toda until 2:00. Polished various plans for the future.

At Koiwa, beginning at 6:30, Mr. Toda lectured on the The Four Stages of Faith and Five Stages of Practice.The lecture was attended by fourteen enthusiastic youth division members. K. did not attend.

Deeply impressed by Mr. Toda as a great philosopher. He is not mere knowledge. A fresh stream of principles, reason, conviction, determination, theory and foresight well forth like a spring arising out of his sagacious wisdom. Returned home just after 10:30.

Began to read from a collection of Walk Whitman’s poetry:

When I peruse the conquer’d fame of heroes and the victories of mighty generals, I do no envy the generals,

Nor the President in his Presidency, nor the rich in his great house,

But when I hear of the brotherhood of lovers, how it was with them,

How together through life, through dangers, odium, unchanging, long and long,

Through youth and through middle and old age, how unfaltering. how affectionate and faithful they were,

Then I am pensive – I hastily walk away fill’d with the bitterest envy.

- ‘When I Peruse the Conquer’d Fame’, Leaves of Grass

To bed, 1:30. It’s warm.