In order to become truly happy, first,
1. See only your good points (strengths).
2. Cultivate your good points (strengths).
3. See only the good points (strengths) in others.
4. Cultivate the good points (strengths) in others.
5. At this stage, never be concerned about what you had thought were your bad points (weaknesses, shortcomings).
You do not need to try to correct what you had thought were your weaknesses or shortcomings. If you focus on 1 to 4 above, everything will be corrected naturally.
6. Never be concerned about what you had thought were others’ bad points (weaknesses, shortcomings).
7. Keep your heart bright.
8. Hold on to optimism to the end, and do not fall into pessimism.
9. Use your head (intellect) to bring things to the positive.
10. Any situation is simply a situation, whether it is related to personal matters or societal matters. A situation is not a problem. Do not make a situation into a problem. In any situation, the only things to do are to always keep your heart bright and deal with the matter in an appropriate way.
11. Live life getting along well with yourself and others.
12. Realize that things are good in moderation. Do not run to extremes.
That’s all.
Living in happiness is simple. You will be able to truly feel this in a surprisingly short time, if you always focus on 1 through 12 above,
After you adopt the above points, in addition, there are some things that need to be done thoroughly. They are as follows.
1. Realize that true happiness is not related to situations or conditions.
2. See the present you 100% positively.
3. Accept your past 100% positively.
4. After you have done this, take time and reflect on your past thoroughly. If you discover a mistake, vow to yourself that you will never make the same mistake again from now on.
5. Accept your future 100% positively.
6. Most importantly, do your utmost to live the present moment joyfully, getting along well with others. Realize that everything starts from here.
Please be happy from this moment. It is something everyone can do easily.
Also, do not think that you cannot do this right away. That is pessimism.
Supposing that you cannot do this, you can still live joyfully, right?
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below. Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Are Humans the “Most Superior in All of Creation”?
Two life-shaping experiences
One day, after a certain occurrence at age 10, I was struck by the thought, “Why are there poor people in this world? There is definitely something wrong with this world.” Then, at age 14, I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Atomic Bomb Memorial) during a school field trip. The entire time while I looked at the many exhibits, I could not stop my body from shuddering. It was not from fear or anger, but simply from the strong feeling, “Humans are so foolish. There is definitely something wrong with this kind of world.”
The memory of these two life-shaping experiences continued to reside deep in my heart. Then, at age 22, I learned of the booklet, “With Everyone, Raise an Ideal for the Country” [“Minna de Kuni no Riso o”] by Shigemasa Wada, who originally made this proposal. After reading this booklet, I had a firm conviction, “This is the certain path where people will become happy and every country and the world will be saved.” I had found the answer to the questions that I had from childhood. I was truly moved from the depths of my heart.
In addition, I felt that my life mission was to convey this idea to the people all over the world. The fruit of 40 years of contemplation and actual practice was the book, “A Country’s Ideal and the Constitution—‘The Road to a Nation for International Peace and the Environment’” (in Japanese) [“Kuni no Riso to Kenpo—‘Kokusai Kankyo Heiwa Kokka e no Michi’”] and the English translation, “Beyond National Egoism— The Road to a Nation for International Peace and the Environment”.
Through an Infinite Relay of Life
In the 14 billion year history of the universe, the first primitive single-celled organisms appeared on the earth 3.5 billion years ago, and the evolution of living organisms began from here. Since then, evolution has continued and the various plants and animals emerged. Three million years ago, apes, or the first humans, appeared and the history of human evolution began. Then, 40,000 years ago, humans in our present form were born, and we arrive at the present-day humans, ourselves, of today.
From the first living organisms that emerged 3.5 billion years ago to each of us of living today, “life” has been passed on like a baton in a relay from one generation to the next. One can say this passing of the baton has occurred virtually an infinite number of times. This means that if even one link in this “chain of life” had been broken, you and I would not exist in this world. From this fact, it can be said that the life of each person and all living beings are irreplaceable.
In addition, in this sense, each one of us, and all living beings on the earth are standing at the forefront of the history of living beings. It is often said, “Humans are the most superior in all of creation.” Does this mean that among animals, humans are the most outstanding existences? Certainly, humans can make full use of a developed brain that other animals do not have, and humans have developed a shining technological civilization and material civilization. As a result, humans have overpowered other animals and are enjoying prosperity on this earth.
Are humans crazy apes?
However, at least since recorded history up until now, we humans have continued to massacre fellow humans on a large scale over and over again. In addition, we humans are discriminating against and abusing fellow humans. Furthermore, now, we put poison in our food and drinking water, pollute the air we breathe, and are destroying the world in which we live. In this kind of world, individually and as a society, many people bear a sense of insecurity and are suffering in life. There is definitely something wrong with this kind of world. With things as they are, it can hardly be said, “Humans are the most superior in all of creation.” Then, are humans “crazy apes”?
We can definitely bring to reality peace
Are humans originally such foolish and powerless existences? I do not think so. We humans have committed many mistakes and caused ourselves and others to suffer. However, with our power, we certainly ought to be able to correct the mistakes we have made. We humans can definitely attain not only our own happiness and peace in our hearts, but also resolve the many problems of society, and bring to reality world peace and the happiness of all humankind.
Perhaps the reasons why these have not been brought to reality until now are lack of interest, ignorance, and most of all, giving up. I am certain that if we firmly believe, “we can definitely bring this to reality,” and make clear the root cause of the mistaken ways, we definitely will be able to find the path to solving the problems. Isn’t that the point when we become existences that are worthy of the expression, “Humans are the most superior in all of creation”?
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
One day, after a certain occurrence at age 10, I was struck by the thought, “Why are there poor people in this world? There is definitely something wrong with this world.” Then, at age 14, I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Atomic Bomb Memorial) during a school field trip. The entire time while I looked at the many exhibits, I could not stop my body from shuddering. It was not from fear or anger, but simply from the strong feeling, “Humans are so foolish. There is definitely something wrong with this kind of world.”
The memory of these two life-shaping experiences continued to reside deep in my heart. Then, at age 22, I learned of the booklet, “With Everyone, Raise an Ideal for the Country” [“Minna de Kuni no Riso o”] by Shigemasa Wada, who originally made this proposal. After reading this booklet, I had a firm conviction, “This is the certain path where people will become happy and every country and the world will be saved.” I had found the answer to the questions that I had from childhood. I was truly moved from the depths of my heart.
In addition, I felt that my life mission was to convey this idea to the people all over the world. The fruit of 40 years of contemplation and actual practice was the book, “A Country’s Ideal and the Constitution—‘The Road to a Nation for International Peace and the Environment’” (in Japanese) [“Kuni no Riso to Kenpo—‘Kokusai Kankyo Heiwa Kokka e no Michi’”] and the English translation, “Beyond National Egoism— The Road to a Nation for International Peace and the Environment”.
Through an Infinite Relay of Life
In the 14 billion year history of the universe, the first primitive single-celled organisms appeared on the earth 3.5 billion years ago, and the evolution of living organisms began from here. Since then, evolution has continued and the various plants and animals emerged. Three million years ago, apes, or the first humans, appeared and the history of human evolution began. Then, 40,000 years ago, humans in our present form were born, and we arrive at the present-day humans, ourselves, of today.
From the first living organisms that emerged 3.5 billion years ago to each of us of living today, “life” has been passed on like a baton in a relay from one generation to the next. One can say this passing of the baton has occurred virtually an infinite number of times. This means that if even one link in this “chain of life” had been broken, you and I would not exist in this world. From this fact, it can be said that the life of each person and all living beings are irreplaceable.
In addition, in this sense, each one of us, and all living beings on the earth are standing at the forefront of the history of living beings. It is often said, “Humans are the most superior in all of creation.” Does this mean that among animals, humans are the most outstanding existences? Certainly, humans can make full use of a developed brain that other animals do not have, and humans have developed a shining technological civilization and material civilization. As a result, humans have overpowered other animals and are enjoying prosperity on this earth.
Are humans crazy apes?
However, at least since recorded history up until now, we humans have continued to massacre fellow humans on a large scale over and over again. In addition, we humans are discriminating against and abusing fellow humans. Furthermore, now, we put poison in our food and drinking water, pollute the air we breathe, and are destroying the world in which we live. In this kind of world, individually and as a society, many people bear a sense of insecurity and are suffering in life. There is definitely something wrong with this kind of world. With things as they are, it can hardly be said, “Humans are the most superior in all of creation.” Then, are humans “crazy apes”?
We can definitely bring to reality peace
Are humans originally such foolish and powerless existences? I do not think so. We humans have committed many mistakes and caused ourselves and others to suffer. However, with our power, we certainly ought to be able to correct the mistakes we have made. We humans can definitely attain not only our own happiness and peace in our hearts, but also resolve the many problems of society, and bring to reality world peace and the happiness of all humankind.
Perhaps the reasons why these have not been brought to reality until now are lack of interest, ignorance, and most of all, giving up. I am certain that if we firmly believe, “we can definitely bring this to reality,” and make clear the root cause of the mistaken ways, we definitely will be able to find the path to solving the problems. Isn’t that the point when we become existences that are worthy of the expression, “Humans are the most superior in all of creation”?
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Importance of Enlightenment
Transcript from a talk (Translated from Japanese)
Nothing is more important for us than “the importance of enlightenment.” This is because we ourselves are the ones who are living. What am I? What is this world in which I am living? Without truly knowing these, we are living only by our moods or thoughts.
Nothing is more foolish than not knowing truly about yourself, not knowing truly about life, and not living a true way of life, and it is a regrettable life. To grasp anew our true self and the true world, clearly and by experiencing (not with the head or intellect), is more important than all else. This is especially so in the present era in which our human society is rapidly headed toward a dead end.
Buddha became enlightened 2500 years ago. He keenly indicated that the source of all human suffering and chaos in society is ignorance, and that an absolute truth of existence is of being one and indivisible.
So, what is ignorance? Normally, we recognize, judge and think about things with our head (intellect). However, “thoughts” of our head are relative, separate things into “I” and “others,” and we mistakenly understand things as being separate existences.
Therefore, things we understand by our thoughts are only “false” things that we have interpreted in a way for our own convenience, and are not the “truth” as it is. Furthermore, the “self” we understand by “our relationship to others” through our thoughts is consequently merely the self that we have defined on our own, and is not the “true self” itself. By thoughts, we cannot grasp the true self and the absolute truth of existence of being one and indivisible.
In order to grasp the absolute truth of existence directly and not with the head, first, it is necessary to have a strong desire to attain this by experiencing, no matter what it takes. At the same time, it is vital to quiet down our thoughts of the head by proper meditation or “zazen” (sitting in silent meditation).
However, it is a fact that the wall of our thoughts is extremely thick and grasping the truth directly is very difficult. Speaking from experience, after running into a problem that cannot be solved with the head, struggling and struggling, and facing a complete dead end and desperate situation, suddenly, a consciousness beyond the head (thoughts) takes effect and you can grasp directly the absolute truth of existence of everything being one and indivisible.
The “Seminar of Life,” which I supervise, is based on this principle. So far, many participants have awakened to their true self and the true world in the short period of one week.
In any case, we must make this our top priority theme anew—
What am “I who exists” and not merely “I who lives daily life.”
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Nothing is more important for us than “the importance of enlightenment.” This is because we ourselves are the ones who are living. What am I? What is this world in which I am living? Without truly knowing these, we are living only by our moods or thoughts.
Nothing is more foolish than not knowing truly about yourself, not knowing truly about life, and not living a true way of life, and it is a regrettable life. To grasp anew our true self and the true world, clearly and by experiencing (not with the head or intellect), is more important than all else. This is especially so in the present era in which our human society is rapidly headed toward a dead end.
Buddha became enlightened 2500 years ago. He keenly indicated that the source of all human suffering and chaos in society is ignorance, and that an absolute truth of existence is of being one and indivisible.
So, what is ignorance? Normally, we recognize, judge and think about things with our head (intellect). However, “thoughts” of our head are relative, separate things into “I” and “others,” and we mistakenly understand things as being separate existences.
Therefore, things we understand by our thoughts are only “false” things that we have interpreted in a way for our own convenience, and are not the “truth” as it is. Furthermore, the “self” we understand by “our relationship to others” through our thoughts is consequently merely the self that we have defined on our own, and is not the “true self” itself. By thoughts, we cannot grasp the true self and the absolute truth of existence of being one and indivisible.
In order to grasp the absolute truth of existence directly and not with the head, first, it is necessary to have a strong desire to attain this by experiencing, no matter what it takes. At the same time, it is vital to quiet down our thoughts of the head by proper meditation or “zazen” (sitting in silent meditation).
However, it is a fact that the wall of our thoughts is extremely thick and grasping the truth directly is very difficult. Speaking from experience, after running into a problem that cannot be solved with the head, struggling and struggling, and facing a complete dead end and desperate situation, suddenly, a consciousness beyond the head (thoughts) takes effect and you can grasp directly the absolute truth of existence of everything being one and indivisible.
The “Seminar of Life,” which I supervise, is based on this principle. So far, many participants have awakened to their true self and the true world in the short period of one week.
In any case, we must make this our top priority theme anew—
What am “I who exists” and not merely “I who lives daily life.”
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Striving toward creating a nation in an exciting way
Transcript from a talk (Translated from Japanese)
Striving toward creating a nation in an exciting way—
Let us raise an ideal for Japan together
Modern-day Japan is facing a serious dead end in areas such as politics, the economy, education and social welfare. Further, globally, due to factors such as environmental destruction and wars, our human society is facing history’s worst crisis. In order to overcome this crisis from the root level, we need to create a completely different flow from the ones of the past. I feel that the key is in the present Constitution of Japan.
Including Japan, the main cause or culprit of this worst dead end of human society is conflicts of national egoism that says, “As long as it is in my country’s best interests.” These conflicts of national egoism cause wars, promote development of science and technology, promote competition among businesses, and create problems such as with the environment, poverty, and famine.
According to the Preamble of the present Constitution of Japan, Japan will make all out efforts to contribute to solving the many serious problems of the world by peaceful means. It proclaims strongly that this is how the country will secure its survival. This means Japan renounces national egoism by its own will unilaterally. In addition, Article 9 calls for renouncing all types of war including war for self-defense and abolishment of military.
I published the book, “Kuni no Riso to Kenpo” (“A Country’s Ideal and the Constitution”, original in Japanese and published in English as “Beyond National Egoism—The Road to an Nation for International Peace and the Environment” last year. In this book, I presented the following proposal:
In the midst of the dead end situation of the world, let us truly revive Japan. Further, in order to take initiative toward overcoming the critical situation of the world from the root level, let us more assertively bring to life the spirit of peace of the present Constitution of Japan, and let us raise a new ideal in Japan, ‘to aspire for a nation for international peace and the environment.’
In recent years, Japan has seen political turmoil and fallen into its worst ever recession. During this time, people have gotten the impression that the issue of revising the constitution has disappeared. However, considering that on May 18, 2010, the National Referendum law will come into force, it can be anticipated that before long, the movement to revise the constitution will become very active again. Now, especially since we are in this kind of period, we must think about this very seriously.
“Beyond National Egoism—The Road to a Nation for International Peace and the Environment
Shohei Nomura
Mamizu Shuppan Publishing
Contents
I. The Constitutional Debate That Will Determine Japan's Future
Chapter 1 Can We Protect the Peace Without Military Force?
Chapter 2 Arguments for and against Constitutional Revision
II. Know the Present State of the Global Environment and Human Society
Chapter 1 Know the Present State of the Environmental Problems
Chapter 2 Population, Food Supply, Water, Energy, and Nuclear Power Problems
Chapter 3 Considering Conflicts and Wars of the 21st Century
III. How Can We Overcome This Crisis?
Chapter 1 What Is the Fundamental Cause of the Crisis Situation?
Chapter 2 Considering the Future of This Nation
Chapter 3 Overcoming National Egoism
Proposal for the Japanese People
─Everyone, Let Us Raise an Ideal for the Nation
─Now, What Should I Do?
Proposal─For the People All Over the World
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Striving toward creating a nation in an exciting way—
Let us raise an ideal for Japan together
Modern-day Japan is facing a serious dead end in areas such as politics, the economy, education and social welfare. Further, globally, due to factors such as environmental destruction and wars, our human society is facing history’s worst crisis. In order to overcome this crisis from the root level, we need to create a completely different flow from the ones of the past. I feel that the key is in the present Constitution of Japan.
Including Japan, the main cause or culprit of this worst dead end of human society is conflicts of national egoism that says, “As long as it is in my country’s best interests.” These conflicts of national egoism cause wars, promote development of science and technology, promote competition among businesses, and create problems such as with the environment, poverty, and famine.
According to the Preamble of the present Constitution of Japan, Japan will make all out efforts to contribute to solving the many serious problems of the world by peaceful means. It proclaims strongly that this is how the country will secure its survival. This means Japan renounces national egoism by its own will unilaterally. In addition, Article 9 calls for renouncing all types of war including war for self-defense and abolishment of military.
I published the book, “Kuni no Riso to Kenpo” (“A Country’s Ideal and the Constitution”, original in Japanese and published in English as “Beyond National Egoism—The Road to an Nation for International Peace and the Environment” last year. In this book, I presented the following proposal:
In the midst of the dead end situation of the world, let us truly revive Japan. Further, in order to take initiative toward overcoming the critical situation of the world from the root level, let us more assertively bring to life the spirit of peace of the present Constitution of Japan, and let us raise a new ideal in Japan, ‘to aspire for a nation for international peace and the environment.’
In recent years, Japan has seen political turmoil and fallen into its worst ever recession. During this time, people have gotten the impression that the issue of revising the constitution has disappeared. However, considering that on May 18, 2010, the National Referendum law will come into force, it can be anticipated that before long, the movement to revise the constitution will become very active again. Now, especially since we are in this kind of period, we must think about this very seriously.
“Beyond National Egoism—The Road to a Nation for International Peace and the Environment
Shohei Nomura
Mamizu Shuppan Publishing
Contents
I. The Constitutional Debate That Will Determine Japan's Future
Chapter 1 Can We Protect the Peace Without Military Force?
Chapter 2 Arguments for and against Constitutional Revision
II. Know the Present State of the Global Environment and Human Society
Chapter 1 Know the Present State of the Environmental Problems
Chapter 2 Population, Food Supply, Water, Energy, and Nuclear Power Problems
Chapter 3 Considering Conflicts and Wars of the 21st Century
III. How Can We Overcome This Crisis?
Chapter 1 What Is the Fundamental Cause of the Crisis Situation?
Chapter 2 Considering the Future of This Nation
Chapter 3 Overcoming National Egoism
Proposal for the Japanese People
─Everyone, Let Us Raise an Ideal for the Nation
─Now, What Should I Do?
Proposal─For the People All Over the World
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Monday, March 2, 2009
Truth of Existence – Part 2
Transcript from a talk (Translated from Japanese)
Instinct is the accumulation of countless experiences of success
All wild animals live in harmony with nature, and move, circulate, and relate to each other following their instinct. This is because, by instinct, they live following the laws of nature. Instinct is the highest ability, which has been gained and built up genetically through the accumulation of better and better successful experiences in survival and flourishing of the individual and species. It has been developed through infinite trials and errors in the history of evolution over many hundreds of thousands, millions, and billions of years.
So, if wild animals live and act following their instinct, all will be harmonious and follow the laws of nature. With the exception of injuries, infection from bacteria or weakening of the body from lack of food, the functioning of the body will not become abnormal. In other words, except for injuries from accidents, wild animals basically do not become ill.
Humans live with the “head”
In contrast, humans have a “head (developed brain)”. Different from other animals, a special feature of humans is that we can think with our head. However, regarding the basic topic of living, the judgment ability of the head is very poor compared to instinct. The ability to make judgments with the head comes from the accumulation of experiences over a few million years at most.
In contrast, as described before, instinct is the accumulation and concentration of a billion years of experiences of success since living beings appeared on the earth. For example, let us consider foods that are absolutely necessary for an animal’s survival. Wild animals eat things they like and as much as they want, following their instincts. Things that are suited to the body taste good, and the animals like these foods. In contrast, foods that do not suit the body taste bad, and the animals do not like the smell of these food. These are the workings of the instinct. In addition, through the workings of the instinct, they naturally feel satisfied after eating the necessary amount, and do not eat more than that.
Wild animals do not become overweight
Wild animals do not eat foods that do not suit their bodies, and they do not overeat. Naturally, there are no overweight wild animals. If you think a hippopotamus is overweight, that is because you are comparing it to other types of animals such as deer. The body structure of the hippopotamus is suited for its survival, and it is not actually overweight for its species. The body structure of the hippopotamus is the standard for a hippopotamus. There is no hippopotamus that is abnormally overweight beyond the standard for its species.
Foods suited to humans
In contrast, in most cases, we humans think about and decide with our “head” the type of food, quantity, and number of times to eat based on our knowledge and experience. The result is that we overeat in most cases.
If we humans also followed our instincts, by nature, we would probably not eat very much meat and dairy products. For example, human teeth are not very suited to biting and tearing tough raw meat. It is supposed that for humans of the time before the development of techniques using fire to soften meat such as grilling or boiling, and over the many millions of years of our ancestors which were a type of ape, even if humans ate the meat of other animals, the main foods were things like nuts, fruits and leaves.
Difference between cats and humans
If we observe cats, which are originally pure and simple meat-eating animals, if a small animal scurries nearby, the cats instinctively get excited, follow the movements of the small animal with their eyes and wait for a chance to pounce on the animal.
In contrast, if we humans walk by a pasture and a kid goat comes near, in general, we might think, “how cute,” but we do not think things such as, “This looks delicious.” Still more, unless we are facing severe starvation, normally, the urge to pounce and capture does not naturally well up from inside.
These are only some examples. Of course, we humans can eat meat and consider it “delicious” by grilling or boiling it to make it soft, and adding seasonings such as salt, and vegetable and fruit juices that have good aroma and flavor to hide the bad taste of raw meat. Setting aside the question of whether meat is truly suited to the human body, it is a fact that these methods of preparing meat have widened the range of foods for humans, enriched our diet and food culture, enabled humans to survive more easily, and greatly broadened the area inhabitable to humans. However, perhaps the fact that we cannot consider meat to be “delicious” unless we season it or mix it with other things that have good aroma and flavor such as vegetables and fruits, means that it cannot be said that meat is originally a food that is very suitable for humans.
Is milk a good food?
How are dairy products? The components of milk differ for each species of animal. A human mother’s milk is suited to a human baby. A mother cow’s milk is suited to a baby cow.
In this sense, wouldn’t you say that there is a problem with giving cow’s milk to a human baby? Still more, mammals wean naturally after a certain period of time. They do not need the mother’s milk any longer.
When mammals mature, they get their own food and eat. However, many humans continue to drink milk even after becoming adults. Furthermore, this is not their mother’s milk, but the milk of a mother cow. Isn’t there something strange about this?
It may be a fact that cow’s milk has components that are also nutritious for humans, but nutrients that are necessary for a baby cow are concentrated in cow’s milk. Is cow’s milk truly good food for an adult human? Adult humans are stealing and drinking the milk meant for a baby cow. Even adult cows do not drink cow’s milk.
Food suited to the human body
So, what is the most suitable food for the human body? Basically, it is food that is raw, tasty, and has a good aroma by itself without being mixed with anything else, and without being cooked or boiled.
This may be quite far from the conventional ideas of most people today. However, if you look from the viewpoint of what is the natural way of the human body, you will see that this is definitely not such a strange idea. Our ancestors survived over many millions of years by choosing and eating foods that were tasty and had a good smell in the raw form, based on instinct, which is our highest ability given to us from nature.
As a consequence, the structure of the human body was adapted to these kinds of foods. Later, humans developed various methods of cooking and broadened the range of foods, but this history is only about a few tens of thousands of years old at most. It cannot be said that the human body has sufficiently adapted to these new foods.
Why do we overeat?
In many cases, we humans choose and eat food based on judgments and knowledge of the “head.” If we followed our instincts, we would eat things that suit the body, feel satisfied at the appropriate amount (relatively small amount), and stop eating.
However, since we eat based on judgments and knowledge of the “head,” we often do not eat things that are truly suited to the body (that our body likes). So, no matter how much we eat, we cannot feel truly satisfied. Then, in order to gain a feeling of satisfaction, we cannot stop from eating more and more. In the end, we overeat.
Abnormalities of the body are caused by unnatural lifestyle
In modern life, we do not walk much anymore. By walking, the human body adjusts itself and becomes balanced naturally, but now, we cannot do this natural adjustment well.
In addition, since we lack exercise, many people commute to a gym for exercise after work. Wild animals do not lack exercise even without commuting to a gym.
We can see these kinds of examples in various aspects of our every day lives. In short, since we humans make judgments with the “head,” we go away from the laws of nature, our lifestyles become unnatural, and as a result, our bodies become abnormal. This means that in principle, the abnormalities of our bodies will be cured if we correct and conform our lifestyles to a natural lifestyle, and leave things to the life power of nature (instinct).
Human society is a society that is one body
Our world, that is, human society, is a world that is one body in which originally everything is connected and circulates. This society is formed from relationships in which all people, including adults, children, elderly, infants, men, women, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces, are connected to each other and circulate.
These people are in various types of relationships such as family, friends, and acquaintances. Further, through organic gathering and joining, these people form the many types of systems and organizations such as shops, factories, offices, companies, public offices, courts, and schools.
Then, these collectively become a nation, and further, the world is formed from all of these factors.
The basic unit of the international society is the nation. Similar to all the cells, tissues and organs of a human body, it can be said that all people and other components, are irreplaceable and precious existences that form this society, which is one body.
Our society is not in harmony
Nevertheless, can we say that this society, which is one body, is completely sound and in harmony? Unfortunately, this is not the case. Even if each existence in this society is irreplaceable and precious, and inseparably connected to each other, their workings are not sound workings, and this world has not become one that is happy, in harmony and at peace. Why is this so? It is because abnormalities have been created in society through ideas and judgments that are not in line with the truth.
Similar to the situation of the human body, abnormalities are created in society through activities of individuals and each type of system and organization, when we follow mistaken beliefs, ideas and judgments of our “head” that are not in line with the truth (laws of nature).
This is the cause of suffering and agony of the mind and body of individuals. Further, it becomes the cause of hatred and fighting among people, and also becomes the cause of conflicts and wars, poverty, famine and environmental destruction.
In short, our society is also one body. However, it is not in harmony. This means that abnormalities have arisen in our society because of ways of thought and judgments that do not follow in line with the truth that “all existences are not separate, but one indivisible body,” which is the truth of existence.
The workings of the body and the workings of society
The body is one whole, so if there is an illness or injury somewhere in the body, it leads to disharmony of the whole body. In addition, the effects of the illness or injury and reaction of the body affect all reaches of all cells. Also, an illness or injury to one cell connects to illness of the entire body and mind which is one whole.
Similar to the human body, human society is also one body. The many problems of society are like the illnesses of the human body. In other words, just as suffering in one part of the body becomes suffering of the entire body and mind, if there is even one person in the world who is suffering from poverty, famine or war, is in need or is suffering, to feel it as my own suffering and unhappiness is a normal and sound sense that is in humans by nature, and this is the correct way of seeing things.
I feel it is human nature to consider this as suffering and unhappiness of oneself that is one whole, and work to remove the suffering or unhappiness, and restore soundness to the body even one moment sooner.
In this way, if each person becomes aware of this truth of existence, conflicts would not arise, and egoism such as “as long as it is in my interests” or “as long as it is in our interests” would not arise.
Sense of oneness and sense of separateness
Let us consider again the sense of oneness and sense of separateness from the perspective of the individual and the whole, because each of us humans certainly has an awareness of the “self” or awareness of the “individual.” In addition, it is a fact that each person, or each existence, appears to be separate. So, how should we think about this?
We can think of it as the difference between our picture of things based on our sensing and seeing with our five senses, versus the true form of this world. Let me explain this difference with an example.
Sunlight is colorless and is one. However, if colorless sunlight passes through a prism, it separates into seven colors like a rainbow. In fact, it is divided into many more than seven colors.
Just like in this example, we can think that all existences are originally one, but if passed through our five senses, it looks like countless numbers of “individuals.”
All humans are brothers and sisters
I would like to explain about the relationship between “the individual and the whole” using another example.
In 1987, according to research by Dr. Cann and colleagues, comparison of the genes of newborns from locations around the world such as Asia, Europe, Australia and New Guinea, showed that all humans living on the earth have in common the same ancestor, a female who lived in Africa 200,000 years ago.
In other words, all humans are descendants of this woman, and we humans are all brothers and sisters.
Setting aside the question of whether the common ancestor of all humankind has truly been determined, I believe that there is no objection to the idea that all humans have a specific common ancestor and that all humans are descendants of that specific ancestor.
This can be expressed by saying, “We branched off from a common ancestor.” Male and female descendants that “branched off” were united, and descendants of a common ancestor were born. This was repeated nearly an infinitely large number of times, and all of the descendents are related like the mesh points of a three-dimensional net.
It might appear that people branched off and became separate. But, actually, through this process, new bonds can be formed. So, in fact, we have not become separated and lost all relations to each other. We might appear to be separate, but this is also a form of one indivisible body.
All existences are one body
The relationship between “the individual and the whole” becomes clearer if we think about our human body.
Each human life starts from one fertilized egg. This fertilized egg cannot do many detailed biological activities as it is. One fertilized egg divided and became two cells, divided again to become four cells, and after dividing nearly an infinite number of times, formed over 60 trillion cells. From these cells, tissues and organs that have various functions were created. All together, these form one living organism, that is, one human.
So, is it the case that each cell, tissue, and organ is separate? They are unrelated? They are simply “connected”? Can the relationships with each other be explained completely with the expression, “They are very closely related?”
The individual and the whole
All of the above are mistaken. Each relationship is such that we cannot survive without the other, we help each other, and fill in for each other’s weaknesses. These aspects circulate among each other, and by each fulfilling its special qualities and roles, the one life (one living body) as a whole can live.
In summary, each individual is given life by all other individuals. Also, as an individual, the individual lives one large life that is the whole, and the overall one large life lives as an individual.
It is important to become aware of the truth of existence
This relationship between “the individual and the whole” is not limited to the human body, but is the proper form of the world of nature. In addition, it is the way human society ought to be by nature.
Indeed, we have an awareness of our “self,” and an awareness of the “individual.” However, it definitely does not mean that we all exist separately from each other.
Each of us humans, by nature, is an existence that is absolutely necessary for each other. The true form of human society is living in harmony with nature, helping each other, making up for each other’s weaknesses, and cooperating with each other.
Each person has an awareness of the “self,” and the reason we have a sense of the “individual” is that by having this sense, we can better enable others to live, and help the overall life advance. Through the inner demands of “life” itself that works far and wide throughout the macrocosm, and as a result of evolution, humans gained this kind of ability.
You can think of this as the same as the inner demand of “life” itself that caused one-celled organisms to evolve to many-celled organisms, and then to the various types of plants and animals that have complex tissues and organs.
In any case, all of the problems of human society arise from egoism, which is based on the sense of separateness. As human society has come to such a dead-end situation in the present era, now of all times, we must awaken to the truth of existence that “all existences are one (and not separate existences).”
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Instinct is the accumulation of countless experiences of success
All wild animals live in harmony with nature, and move, circulate, and relate to each other following their instinct. This is because, by instinct, they live following the laws of nature. Instinct is the highest ability, which has been gained and built up genetically through the accumulation of better and better successful experiences in survival and flourishing of the individual and species. It has been developed through infinite trials and errors in the history of evolution over many hundreds of thousands, millions, and billions of years.
So, if wild animals live and act following their instinct, all will be harmonious and follow the laws of nature. With the exception of injuries, infection from bacteria or weakening of the body from lack of food, the functioning of the body will not become abnormal. In other words, except for injuries from accidents, wild animals basically do not become ill.
Humans live with the “head”
In contrast, humans have a “head (developed brain)”. Different from other animals, a special feature of humans is that we can think with our head. However, regarding the basic topic of living, the judgment ability of the head is very poor compared to instinct. The ability to make judgments with the head comes from the accumulation of experiences over a few million years at most.
In contrast, as described before, instinct is the accumulation and concentration of a billion years of experiences of success since living beings appeared on the earth. For example, let us consider foods that are absolutely necessary for an animal’s survival. Wild animals eat things they like and as much as they want, following their instincts. Things that are suited to the body taste good, and the animals like these foods. In contrast, foods that do not suit the body taste bad, and the animals do not like the smell of these food. These are the workings of the instinct. In addition, through the workings of the instinct, they naturally feel satisfied after eating the necessary amount, and do not eat more than that.
Wild animals do not become overweight
Wild animals do not eat foods that do not suit their bodies, and they do not overeat. Naturally, there are no overweight wild animals. If you think a hippopotamus is overweight, that is because you are comparing it to other types of animals such as deer. The body structure of the hippopotamus is suited for its survival, and it is not actually overweight for its species. The body structure of the hippopotamus is the standard for a hippopotamus. There is no hippopotamus that is abnormally overweight beyond the standard for its species.
Foods suited to humans
In contrast, in most cases, we humans think about and decide with our “head” the type of food, quantity, and number of times to eat based on our knowledge and experience. The result is that we overeat in most cases.
If we humans also followed our instincts, by nature, we would probably not eat very much meat and dairy products. For example, human teeth are not very suited to biting and tearing tough raw meat. It is supposed that for humans of the time before the development of techniques using fire to soften meat such as grilling or boiling, and over the many millions of years of our ancestors which were a type of ape, even if humans ate the meat of other animals, the main foods were things like nuts, fruits and leaves.
Difference between cats and humans
If we observe cats, which are originally pure and simple meat-eating animals, if a small animal scurries nearby, the cats instinctively get excited, follow the movements of the small animal with their eyes and wait for a chance to pounce on the animal.
In contrast, if we humans walk by a pasture and a kid goat comes near, in general, we might think, “how cute,” but we do not think things such as, “This looks delicious.” Still more, unless we are facing severe starvation, normally, the urge to pounce and capture does not naturally well up from inside.
These are only some examples. Of course, we humans can eat meat and consider it “delicious” by grilling or boiling it to make it soft, and adding seasonings such as salt, and vegetable and fruit juices that have good aroma and flavor to hide the bad taste of raw meat. Setting aside the question of whether meat is truly suited to the human body, it is a fact that these methods of preparing meat have widened the range of foods for humans, enriched our diet and food culture, enabled humans to survive more easily, and greatly broadened the area inhabitable to humans. However, perhaps the fact that we cannot consider meat to be “delicious” unless we season it or mix it with other things that have good aroma and flavor such as vegetables and fruits, means that it cannot be said that meat is originally a food that is very suitable for humans.
Is milk a good food?
How are dairy products? The components of milk differ for each species of animal. A human mother’s milk is suited to a human baby. A mother cow’s milk is suited to a baby cow.
In this sense, wouldn’t you say that there is a problem with giving cow’s milk to a human baby? Still more, mammals wean naturally after a certain period of time. They do not need the mother’s milk any longer.
When mammals mature, they get their own food and eat. However, many humans continue to drink milk even after becoming adults. Furthermore, this is not their mother’s milk, but the milk of a mother cow. Isn’t there something strange about this?
It may be a fact that cow’s milk has components that are also nutritious for humans, but nutrients that are necessary for a baby cow are concentrated in cow’s milk. Is cow’s milk truly good food for an adult human? Adult humans are stealing and drinking the milk meant for a baby cow. Even adult cows do not drink cow’s milk.
Food suited to the human body
So, what is the most suitable food for the human body? Basically, it is food that is raw, tasty, and has a good aroma by itself without being mixed with anything else, and without being cooked or boiled.
This may be quite far from the conventional ideas of most people today. However, if you look from the viewpoint of what is the natural way of the human body, you will see that this is definitely not such a strange idea. Our ancestors survived over many millions of years by choosing and eating foods that were tasty and had a good smell in the raw form, based on instinct, which is our highest ability given to us from nature.
As a consequence, the structure of the human body was adapted to these kinds of foods. Later, humans developed various methods of cooking and broadened the range of foods, but this history is only about a few tens of thousands of years old at most. It cannot be said that the human body has sufficiently adapted to these new foods.
Why do we overeat?
In many cases, we humans choose and eat food based on judgments and knowledge of the “head.” If we followed our instincts, we would eat things that suit the body, feel satisfied at the appropriate amount (relatively small amount), and stop eating.
However, since we eat based on judgments and knowledge of the “head,” we often do not eat things that are truly suited to the body (that our body likes). So, no matter how much we eat, we cannot feel truly satisfied. Then, in order to gain a feeling of satisfaction, we cannot stop from eating more and more. In the end, we overeat.
Abnormalities of the body are caused by unnatural lifestyle
In modern life, we do not walk much anymore. By walking, the human body adjusts itself and becomes balanced naturally, but now, we cannot do this natural adjustment well.
In addition, since we lack exercise, many people commute to a gym for exercise after work. Wild animals do not lack exercise even without commuting to a gym.
We can see these kinds of examples in various aspects of our every day lives. In short, since we humans make judgments with the “head,” we go away from the laws of nature, our lifestyles become unnatural, and as a result, our bodies become abnormal. This means that in principle, the abnormalities of our bodies will be cured if we correct and conform our lifestyles to a natural lifestyle, and leave things to the life power of nature (instinct).
Human society is a society that is one body
Our world, that is, human society, is a world that is one body in which originally everything is connected and circulates. This society is formed from relationships in which all people, including adults, children, elderly, infants, men, women, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces, are connected to each other and circulate.
These people are in various types of relationships such as family, friends, and acquaintances. Further, through organic gathering and joining, these people form the many types of systems and organizations such as shops, factories, offices, companies, public offices, courts, and schools.
Then, these collectively become a nation, and further, the world is formed from all of these factors.
The basic unit of the international society is the nation. Similar to all the cells, tissues and organs of a human body, it can be said that all people and other components, are irreplaceable and precious existences that form this society, which is one body.
Our society is not in harmony
Nevertheless, can we say that this society, which is one body, is completely sound and in harmony? Unfortunately, this is not the case. Even if each existence in this society is irreplaceable and precious, and inseparably connected to each other, their workings are not sound workings, and this world has not become one that is happy, in harmony and at peace. Why is this so? It is because abnormalities have been created in society through ideas and judgments that are not in line with the truth.
Similar to the situation of the human body, abnormalities are created in society through activities of individuals and each type of system and organization, when we follow mistaken beliefs, ideas and judgments of our “head” that are not in line with the truth (laws of nature).
This is the cause of suffering and agony of the mind and body of individuals. Further, it becomes the cause of hatred and fighting among people, and also becomes the cause of conflicts and wars, poverty, famine and environmental destruction.
In short, our society is also one body. However, it is not in harmony. This means that abnormalities have arisen in our society because of ways of thought and judgments that do not follow in line with the truth that “all existences are not separate, but one indivisible body,” which is the truth of existence.
The workings of the body and the workings of society
The body is one whole, so if there is an illness or injury somewhere in the body, it leads to disharmony of the whole body. In addition, the effects of the illness or injury and reaction of the body affect all reaches of all cells. Also, an illness or injury to one cell connects to illness of the entire body and mind which is one whole.
Similar to the human body, human society is also one body. The many problems of society are like the illnesses of the human body. In other words, just as suffering in one part of the body becomes suffering of the entire body and mind, if there is even one person in the world who is suffering from poverty, famine or war, is in need or is suffering, to feel it as my own suffering and unhappiness is a normal and sound sense that is in humans by nature, and this is the correct way of seeing things.
I feel it is human nature to consider this as suffering and unhappiness of oneself that is one whole, and work to remove the suffering or unhappiness, and restore soundness to the body even one moment sooner.
In this way, if each person becomes aware of this truth of existence, conflicts would not arise, and egoism such as “as long as it is in my interests” or “as long as it is in our interests” would not arise.
Sense of oneness and sense of separateness
Let us consider again the sense of oneness and sense of separateness from the perspective of the individual and the whole, because each of us humans certainly has an awareness of the “self” or awareness of the “individual.” In addition, it is a fact that each person, or each existence, appears to be separate. So, how should we think about this?
We can think of it as the difference between our picture of things based on our sensing and seeing with our five senses, versus the true form of this world. Let me explain this difference with an example.
Sunlight is colorless and is one. However, if colorless sunlight passes through a prism, it separates into seven colors like a rainbow. In fact, it is divided into many more than seven colors.
Just like in this example, we can think that all existences are originally one, but if passed through our five senses, it looks like countless numbers of “individuals.”
All humans are brothers and sisters
I would like to explain about the relationship between “the individual and the whole” using another example.
In 1987, according to research by Dr. Cann and colleagues, comparison of the genes of newborns from locations around the world such as Asia, Europe, Australia and New Guinea, showed that all humans living on the earth have in common the same ancestor, a female who lived in Africa 200,000 years ago.
In other words, all humans are descendants of this woman, and we humans are all brothers and sisters.
Setting aside the question of whether the common ancestor of all humankind has truly been determined, I believe that there is no objection to the idea that all humans have a specific common ancestor and that all humans are descendants of that specific ancestor.
This can be expressed by saying, “We branched off from a common ancestor.” Male and female descendants that “branched off” were united, and descendants of a common ancestor were born. This was repeated nearly an infinitely large number of times, and all of the descendents are related like the mesh points of a three-dimensional net.
It might appear that people branched off and became separate. But, actually, through this process, new bonds can be formed. So, in fact, we have not become separated and lost all relations to each other. We might appear to be separate, but this is also a form of one indivisible body.
All existences are one body
The relationship between “the individual and the whole” becomes clearer if we think about our human body.
Each human life starts from one fertilized egg. This fertilized egg cannot do many detailed biological activities as it is. One fertilized egg divided and became two cells, divided again to become four cells, and after dividing nearly an infinite number of times, formed over 60 trillion cells. From these cells, tissues and organs that have various functions were created. All together, these form one living organism, that is, one human.
So, is it the case that each cell, tissue, and organ is separate? They are unrelated? They are simply “connected”? Can the relationships with each other be explained completely with the expression, “They are very closely related?”
The individual and the whole
All of the above are mistaken. Each relationship is such that we cannot survive without the other, we help each other, and fill in for each other’s weaknesses. These aspects circulate among each other, and by each fulfilling its special qualities and roles, the one life (one living body) as a whole can live.
In summary, each individual is given life by all other individuals. Also, as an individual, the individual lives one large life that is the whole, and the overall one large life lives as an individual.
It is important to become aware of the truth of existence
This relationship between “the individual and the whole” is not limited to the human body, but is the proper form of the world of nature. In addition, it is the way human society ought to be by nature.
Indeed, we have an awareness of our “self,” and an awareness of the “individual.” However, it definitely does not mean that we all exist separately from each other.
Each of us humans, by nature, is an existence that is absolutely necessary for each other. The true form of human society is living in harmony with nature, helping each other, making up for each other’s weaknesses, and cooperating with each other.
Each person has an awareness of the “self,” and the reason we have a sense of the “individual” is that by having this sense, we can better enable others to live, and help the overall life advance. Through the inner demands of “life” itself that works far and wide throughout the macrocosm, and as a result of evolution, humans gained this kind of ability.
You can think of this as the same as the inner demand of “life” itself that caused one-celled organisms to evolve to many-celled organisms, and then to the various types of plants and animals that have complex tissues and organs.
In any case, all of the problems of human society arise from egoism, which is based on the sense of separateness. As human society has come to such a dead-end situation in the present era, now of all times, we must awaken to the truth of existence that “all existences are one (and not separate existences).”
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Truth of Existence – Part 1
Transcript from a talk (Translated from Japanese)
Is the sense of separateness a truth of existence?
On an individual level, group level and national level, we humans (humankind) are suffering from various problems. We can say that ultimately, the root cause of all of these problems is egoism of humans, and this is different from other animals. This means that if egoism were the true nature of humans, it would basically be impossible to resolve our many problems. So, is egoism the true nature of humans? This is, in fact, a very important topic. Egoism is the way of thinking and way of life, “caring only about myself,” (or “as long as it is in my interests,”) and this comes from the “sense of separateness” in which “everything in this world exists separately from each other.”
“Truth of existence” – Humans
So, is the sense of separateness a “truth of existence?” First, let us think about the existence of humans as the closest thing we can relate to. There are over 60 trillion cells in the human body. If we examine one cell, it is made up of many components including genes, cell fluid, cell membrane, etc. These cells form the tissues of our body such as membranes, blood, other bodily fluids, and muscles. These tissues form our organs such as the stomach, colon, heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, nose, mouth, blood vessels and bones, etc. Further, these organs form our body parts such as head, neck, chest, abdomen, hands, feet and so on, and these parts form one individual human body.
The existence of each individual human is not just a physical body. We are formed from various components such as our senses, intelligence, knowledge, ideas, memory, emotions, heart and mind. In other words, an individual human existence is formed from many components at different levels such as cells and tissues, organs, body parts, as well as intelligence, memory, emotion, and heart/mind. These components are continuously breaking apart, coming together, circulating, being active, or stopping. In other words, these components do not exist separately from each other, but are at a level that is clearly beyond simply having a close relationship or connection. Their relationship cannot be broken apart even if you try. They are inseparably related, complement each other, help each other, and circulate to sustain each individual human life.
In this way, each human existence is a microcosm. “All cells, tissues, organs, as well as intelligence, memory, emotions, and heart/mind cannot survive without each other.” They exist, circulate, and function harmoniously in a “relationship of giving each other life, and being given life by each other.” To say it another way, it is a relationship of “All for one, one for all.” In other words, "All (everyone) for the sake of one (one person), one (one person) for the sake of all (everyone)." This means, each existence is not separate from others, or has a shallow relationship of being slightly related, but we have a very close relationship with each other. We can even go as far as saying, "I am you, you are me," "everything is me, I am everything." Maybe it is suitable to express this situation as, "a relationship where we are one body, and cannot be separated apart," "one indivisible body," or simply "one body."
Macrocosm
Just as human existence (life) is one body and an indivisible microcosm, the macrocosm itself is one indivisible body. The planets revolve around the sun following laws in an orderly way. Moons and satellites revolve around planets in an orderly way. It is said that in the Milky Way, there are about 200 billion solar systems like ours. With the best telescopes of today, we have found approximately a billion galaxies that are about the same scale as the Milky Way. Our universe is a macrocosm with an infinite, uncountable number of stars, planets, galaxies, and matter among the stars and planets. These all move in harmony following laws and circulating in an orderly way. In this way, the macrocosm obeys the laws and moves in an orderly way. It is a world that is one and indivisible.
Microscopic world
The microscopic world is also called a small universe or microcosm. For each type of atom, the size of a nucleus is different. In the various atoms, a fixed number of electrons revolve around the nuclei following the laws and without becoming disorderly. These together with the nucleus express the workings of one atom. In addition, each atomic nucleus is formed from various micro-particles. The whole is in harmony. It is the same for molecules. Atoms and molecules are one body.
Nature
Nature is the same. Nature is formed from various components such as the sky, clouds, rain, sun, moon, snow, rivers, oceans, mountains, soil, desert, grasslands, minerals, plants, animals, microorganisms and so on. All of these components are related to each other, circulate, and are one overall. Nature is also a world of coexistence as one body in harmony.
By the way, there are different opinions about the concept of “in harmony.” For example, lions eating deer is a grim fact of the law of the jungle. If we look at natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, we say that nature cannot be considered to be in harmony. However, that is only the way we humans look at things with our head according to our own convenience and self-serving ways. We look at things on the surface level and only at the parts from a relative point of view. The true form of nature is also a world of coexistence in harmony.
Plants and animals
Let us think about nature a bit more in detail. For example, plants create the components of their body by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants use the sun’s energy to make the components of their body from carbon dioxide absorbed from the air and water absorbed from the roots. At the same time, plants product oxygen and release it to the air. Grass-eating animals such as deer eat these plants. Meat-eating animals such as lions eat these deer.
Through respiration, animals absorb the oxygen produced by plants, and at the same time, animals produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and release it into the air. Plants use this carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The oxygen absorbed by animals is used to break down and digest the food they eat and to provide energy for their activities. Waste materials from the animals and the dead bodies of animals are broken down as food for microorganisms, and in the end, are scattered in the soil and air.
The components that are scattered into the soil become nutrients for the plants. When the plants themselves wither and die, they are broken down by microorganisms and return to the soil once again to become nutrients for the next plants. At the same time, some components are also scattered into the air. The various components that are scattered into the air, in fact, circulate around the world through circulation of the atmosphere, are absorbed by the soil, plants, and animals again, and enter a different circulation pathway.
Water
In a similar way, water not only circulates among the rivers, ponds, lakes, oceans, clouds, rain and snow, but becomes components of the bodies of plants and animals. In addition, water is excreted out of the bodies, and for example, goes into rivers in the end. This circulation follows unimaginably complex pathways.
In other words, nature and the human body are similar, and there are a countless number of levels of components that compose them. All of these are “existences that are necessary and vital, ” that complement each other, support each other, circulate, and are in harmony. Nature, which is one huge life, is sustained and works by all of these components. In this way, nature is indeed a world that is one indivisible body.
Similar forms of one indivisible body
If we observe in this way, aren’t the things in this world created similarly to each other? Probably, “similar form” is an unfamiliar expression. To put it simply, “similar form” means “various phenomena follow common patterns.”
As I explained for the human body, for all things in this world, the components at each respective level follow the laws of nature. The laws of the universe, are related to each other, affect each other, complement and cooperate with each other, form one harmonious universe overall, and form a component of one level above. In other words, it can be said that the components at a particular level are unified together to form one body, and live “one life” [not each being separate lives] as one indivisible body in the level above. Then, the components of the level above gather together, and in a similar way, form the components of the next higher level.
If we look straightforwardly at the cells, tissues, organs, and the entire body that are the components (world) of the life of animals, plants, and microorganisms, and further, if we look at nature and the universe, perhaps we can clearly see and grasp the similar forms. Simply put, originally, everything is not separate, but is one and indivisible. In addition, all existences beside humans or human society are in harmony, following laws as they move, circulate, and relate to each other.
(If you have any comments regarding this blog, please send email to the address below.
Comments will not be released to the general public without consent.)
nomura@kuninoriso.jp
Is the sense of separateness a truth of existence?
On an individual level, group level and national level, we humans (humankind) are suffering from various problems. We can say that ultimately, the root cause of all of these problems is egoism of humans, and this is different from other animals. This means that if egoism were the true nature of humans, it would basically be impossible to resolve our many problems. So, is egoism the true nature of humans? This is, in fact, a very important topic. Egoism is the way of thinking and way of life, “caring only about myself,” (or “as long as it is in my interests,”) and this comes from the “sense of separateness” in which “everything in this world exists separately from each other.”
“Truth of existence” – Humans
So, is the sense of separateness a “truth of existence?” First, let us think about the existence of humans as the closest thing we can relate to. There are over 60 trillion cells in the human body. If we examine one cell, it is made up of many components including genes, cell fluid, cell membrane, etc. These cells form the tissues of our body such as membranes, blood, other bodily fluids, and muscles. These tissues form our organs such as the stomach, colon, heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, nose, mouth, blood vessels and bones, etc. Further, these organs form our body parts such as head, neck, chest, abdomen, hands, feet and so on, and these parts form one individual human body.
The existence of each individual human is not just a physical body. We are formed from various components such as our senses, intelligence, knowledge, ideas, memory, emotions, heart and mind. In other words, an individual human existence is formed from many components at different levels such as cells and tissues, organs, body parts, as well as intelligence, memory, emotion, and heart/mind. These components are continuously breaking apart, coming together, circulating, being active, or stopping. In other words, these components do not exist separately from each other, but are at a level that is clearly beyond simply having a close relationship or connection. Their relationship cannot be broken apart even if you try. They are inseparably related, complement each other, help each other, and circulate to sustain each individual human life.
In this way, each human existence is a microcosm. “All cells, tissues, organs, as well as intelligence, memory, emotions, and heart/mind cannot survive without each other.” They exist, circulate, and function harmoniously in a “relationship of giving each other life, and being given life by each other.” To say it another way, it is a relationship of “All for one, one for all.” In other words, "All (everyone) for the sake of one (one person), one (one person) for the sake of all (everyone)." This means, each existence is not separate from others, or has a shallow relationship of being slightly related, but we have a very close relationship with each other. We can even go as far as saying, "I am you, you are me," "everything is me, I am everything." Maybe it is suitable to express this situation as, "a relationship where we are one body, and cannot be separated apart," "one indivisible body," or simply "one body."
Macrocosm
Just as human existence (life) is one body and an indivisible microcosm, the macrocosm itself is one indivisible body. The planets revolve around the sun following laws in an orderly way. Moons and satellites revolve around planets in an orderly way. It is said that in the Milky Way, there are about 200 billion solar systems like ours. With the best telescopes of today, we have found approximately a billion galaxies that are about the same scale as the Milky Way. Our universe is a macrocosm with an infinite, uncountable number of stars, planets, galaxies, and matter among the stars and planets. These all move in harmony following laws and circulating in an orderly way. In this way, the macrocosm obeys the laws and moves in an orderly way. It is a world that is one and indivisible.
Microscopic world
The microscopic world is also called a small universe or microcosm. For each type of atom, the size of a nucleus is different. In the various atoms, a fixed number of electrons revolve around the nuclei following the laws and without becoming disorderly. These together with the nucleus express the workings of one atom. In addition, each atomic nucleus is formed from various micro-particles. The whole is in harmony. It is the same for molecules. Atoms and molecules are one body.
Nature
Nature is the same. Nature is formed from various components such as the sky, clouds, rain, sun, moon, snow, rivers, oceans, mountains, soil, desert, grasslands, minerals, plants, animals, microorganisms and so on. All of these components are related to each other, circulate, and are one overall. Nature is also a world of coexistence as one body in harmony.
By the way, there are different opinions about the concept of “in harmony.” For example, lions eating deer is a grim fact of the law of the jungle. If we look at natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, we say that nature cannot be considered to be in harmony. However, that is only the way we humans look at things with our head according to our own convenience and self-serving ways. We look at things on the surface level and only at the parts from a relative point of view. The true form of nature is also a world of coexistence in harmony.
Plants and animals
Let us think about nature a bit more in detail. For example, plants create the components of their body by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants use the sun’s energy to make the components of their body from carbon dioxide absorbed from the air and water absorbed from the roots. At the same time, plants product oxygen and release it to the air. Grass-eating animals such as deer eat these plants. Meat-eating animals such as lions eat these deer.
Through respiration, animals absorb the oxygen produced by plants, and at the same time, animals produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and release it into the air. Plants use this carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The oxygen absorbed by animals is used to break down and digest the food they eat and to provide energy for their activities. Waste materials from the animals and the dead bodies of animals are broken down as food for microorganisms, and in the end, are scattered in the soil and air.
The components that are scattered into the soil become nutrients for the plants. When the plants themselves wither and die, they are broken down by microorganisms and return to the soil once again to become nutrients for the next plants. At the same time, some components are also scattered into the air. The various components that are scattered into the air, in fact, circulate around the world through circulation of the atmosphere, are absorbed by the soil, plants, and animals again, and enter a different circulation pathway.
Water
In a similar way, water not only circulates among the rivers, ponds, lakes, oceans, clouds, rain and snow, but becomes components of the bodies of plants and animals. In addition, water is excreted out of the bodies, and for example, goes into rivers in the end. This circulation follows unimaginably complex pathways.
In other words, nature and the human body are similar, and there are a countless number of levels of components that compose them. All of these are “existences that are necessary and vital, ” that complement each other, support each other, circulate, and are in harmony. Nature, which is one huge life, is sustained and works by all of these components. In this way, nature is indeed a world that is one indivisible body.
Similar forms of one indivisible body
If we observe in this way, aren’t the things in this world created similarly to each other? Probably, “similar form” is an unfamiliar expression. To put it simply, “similar form” means “various phenomena follow common patterns.”
As I explained for the human body, for all things in this world, the components at each respective level follow the laws of nature. The laws of the universe, are related to each other, affect each other, complement and cooperate with each other, form one harmonious universe overall, and form a component of one level above. In other words, it can be said that the components at a particular level are unified together to form one body, and live “one life” [not each being separate lives] as one indivisible body in the level above. Then, the components of the level above gather together, and in a similar way, form the components of the next higher level.
If we look straightforwardly at the cells, tissues, organs, and the entire body that are the components (world) of the life of animals, plants, and microorganisms, and further, if we look at nature and the universe, perhaps we can clearly see and grasp the similar forms. Simply put, originally, everything is not separate, but is one and indivisible. In addition, all existences beside humans or human society are in harmony, following laws as they move, circulate, and relate to each other.
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