Abstract
In the faith-life of Beguines, faith and occupation are exquisitely integrated. The faith of Beguines is connected directly with life. In the life of Beguines, faith bears fruit in daily labor. This life-style was a shining example in the Europe of the latter Middle Ages. I believe that Meister Eckhart had some sort of connection with the Beguines. Eckhart is a theologian who acquired a degree of Meister at Paris University, and later taught there as a theologian. In one of his sermons, Eckhart expresses his idea that education exquisitely integrates with life, perhaps revealing a relation with Beguines. When we compare this outlook on labor with that of the Bible and St. Benedictus Rule, the Beguines outlook on labor is clearly unique. The unification of faith and occupation in the Beguines is parallel with the unification of work in the wooden clogs craftsman Myokonin Asahara Saichi and his Buddhist faith. The faith of Beguines based on Holy Communion bore fruit in a way of live in which one worked hard and faithfully for one's occupation. But Beguines did not work hard only for their occupation. They also take a careful attitude toward activities in everyday life such as eating meals and sleeping.
