by Goi Sensei in 1955 in Ichikawa Go-chome Hall
What is the present?
What is the present? The present I am speaking of is not the temporal present of the moment, but the present that connects heaven and earth, vertically and horizontally, and connects to eternity.
It is the present that encompasses all—past, present, and future.
When we open the present, eternity exists within it.
I believe it is vital for us to live fully in that present.
I am speaking to you now in this capacity with a physical life of thirty-eight years and several months. But I did not suddenly come to be in this position; it is a manifestation of a long period of refinement and training of the soul, stretching back through past lives, that has brought me to this present moment. The eternal present breathes within this present self of mine.
The present and eternity are not separate things. The present truly includes the past and is the same as eternity that includes the future. Therefore, to live the present with sincerity is to give life to the past and to the future. It is to give life to past lives and to fulfill eternal life.
When we live each moment with the utmost sincerity, it becomes Kū, and within that Kū, eternal life flourishes. The vibration of our lives comes from Kū, and it is the vibration emanating from eternal life itself.
The eternal present is not the present of a specific hour and minute, nor is it a fleeting moment of each passing instant. It is the present that connects to the Great Flow of Life, the Source of all sources, encompassing the whole Universe. It is the present that is one with the Divine. It is not the present that requires the time and place for the manifestation of karmic causes and effects; it is the present that lies at its foundation, or even transcends it.
Note:
Kū: Kū could be translated as ‘emptiness’ or ‘nothingness.’ Goi Sensei explains that Kū is not a nihilistic or negative state. It contains nothing, yet everything. It is the life of the Divine, just as it is, living vibrantly.
Live each moment to the fullest
Being truly earnest in the present means making the most of past lives in the present, making the most of the present for the future, and bringing forth the radiance of Divine Eternal Life. They can build the glorious, complete human being who is one with the Divine.
Those who believe that the present moment extends into eternity, and dedicate their thoughts and actions to living each instant fully, are the shining embodiments of divinity. No matter how dark one’s past lives may have been, if they live the present moment earnestly, the evil deeds of past lives are transformed into good deeds and brought to light. Therefore, not a single minute or second of the present should be wasted. To wastefully consume the present is to kill and bring death to one’s life.
Those who diligently refine their life every minute and second, who earnestly strive to improve themselves and practice accordingly, will inevitably develop a marked difference from those who waste their time idly indulging in frivolous pursuits. Those who realize truth in this must promptly strive to make the most of the present moment.
We must earnestly consider what truly nourishes the heart and enriches the soul, and live the present moment to the fullest.
If you say that human life is fleeting, that there is no past or future, that humans live moment by moment, and that one should therefore enjoy that fleeting life as much as possible, and indulge in sensual pleasures, that is empty. That moment is not the eternal present. Such actions are evil deeds that deplete life.
Distinguishing between the present that harbors the Divine and the present of karma is crucial. Fully living the former present ultimately leads to Buddhahood, while the latter is empty, preventing eternal enlightenment and causing one’s soul to wither and die.
How to Make the Most of the Present
So how can we make the most of the present moment?
First, you must believe that you are not merely a physical body. You must believe that you are an eternal being, one who comes from the Divine, a Wake-mitama*, or branch-spirit of the Divine. You must believe in eternal life.
You must believe that your original self exists in heaven as Choku-rei*, or the Direct Spirit.
It is important to recognize that the life originating from your heavenly self, Choku-rei, is what enables you to live here and now as your physical body.
Even when the physical self is asleep, the heavenly self, Choku-rei, works without rest. And the Guardian Spirits and Guardian Divinities, who constantly purify the impurities of that human being, Wake-mitama, in the physical, subconscious, and spiritual realms, also work tirelessly.
If you in the physical realm were in a state of emptiness where you entrusted everything to your heavenly original body, Choku-rei, or guardian spirits and guardian divinities, your Direct Spirit, Guardian Deities, and Guardian Spirits could dedicate all their power to the purification and salvation of all humanity. However, humans in the physical realm are constantly troubled, grieving, sorrowful, and fearful within the limitations of this physical realm, perpetually separating themselves from the original body with waves of karma. Consequently, the full power of the Guardian Spirits and Guardian Divinities is diverted from this purification, preventing them from dedicating their entire strength to the greater purification and salvation of humanity. It is therefore vital for us humans in the physical realm to break through the limitations of this realm and pray to connect with our original body, Choku-rei, in heaven at any time.
In the present, in each and every moment, ascending from the physical body toward the Guardian Spirits and Guardian Divinities means persistently focusing your thoughts on uniting your own thoughts perfectly with those Guardian Spirits and Divinities. When you do this, there is no need for your Guardian Spirits and Guardian Divinities to descend to you. Instead, you ascend from your physical body toward them. This generates tremendous power for purification and creates capacity. That capacity can then be directed toward the vast, expansive purification of all humanity.
Notes:
Wake-mitama: Branch-spirits of God, or a spirit branched out of God.
Choku-rei: the Direct Spirit, the Original Central Spirit
Comments: