Normally when we perceive something, we quickly conclude that it is good or bad. But instead, we should take it as chaos filled with possibilities and limitations yet to be realized, and closely look at the face of that chaos. And then we try to suppress the seeds of negative transformation and draw out the seeds of positive transformation. This method is called the chaos-perception approach.

In this approach, we first accept the situation, clearly identify its possibilities and limitations, and do our best to resolve the situation, rather than automatically perceive it as pleasure or pain (good or bad). I believe that the chaos-perception approach. is the Divine Truth that can be easily applied and used to respond to any situation.

It Is Important to Be Consistent

It is not easy, however, to apply a chaos-perception approach to each and every reality.

That is because we tend to apply this approach to the things that we can easily perceive as chaos, but we tend to make blind assumptions for the things that we cannot so easily understand as chaos, and arrive at conclusions without ”

much thought. This means that every individual has their own issues that they do not comprehend as chaos. For example, they will perceive work-related issues as chaos, but will make blind assumptions about issues at home. Or, when faced with a long-standing problem, they may quickly forget the principle that the “situation is chaos.

If you ask yourself this question “Do I really perceive the future of this situation as chaos?” this is the next step for truly living according to the Divine Truth.

If you reflect on your life by asking “What kind of things are difficult for me to perceive as chaos?” this will provide an important guide to your life.

By facing our reality in this way, we will deepen our understanding of the chaos-perception approach and will be able to apply it to all aspects of life.

The first principle for us to follow though does not have to be the chaos-perception approach. It can be “practice of listening*2” in which we earnestly listen to people around us or to those we relate with, or to envision a blue print or goal before tackling a situation. It can also be the practice of Shikan Sheet*4 or Wisdom*5, or to choose one Bodaishin among 12*3 to copy and instill the words of prayer while

imaging the Bodaishin in our heart.

The important point is to devote ourselves to performing these steps. We should consistently follow such a lifestyle at every moment.

The Way of Life in Which We See the Same Principle at All Points of Life

It is particularly effective to apply a chaos-perception approach to a situation in which we cannot see any possibilities or limitations.

Similarly, the “practice of listening” brings us a significant breakthrough when we intently keep listening to a person whom we previously could not lend an ear to. Living based on the Divine Truth or the Study of the Soul will emit an immense light when it is consistently applied to every aspect of our daily lives.

Take any moment or scene of our lives; the same way of living our life should be manifested. No matter when, an unchanging state of heart should be maintained. Into any encounter or event, the same feeling should be poured.

Even if we beginby following only one principle, by being

consistent, we come to understand the meaning of such a way of living more deeply.

Editor’s and translator’s note

1 The Study of the Soul It is the perspective that grasps our lives from the level of the soul, and refers to the system of the truth, the Divine Truth, that permeates every aspect of the human soul and the world. As opposed to the study of phenomena that is directed at the tangible world, the study of the soul is an investigation of all things, including the formless and intangible world. (excerpted and summarized from page 3 of The Reason Why You Were Born as You)
2 The Practice of Listening It means to listen to what other people are trying to convey to you, rather than what you want to say. Even then, if your desire to say something takes precedence while you are listening to the other party, or if you let what the other party is saying go in one ear and out the other, saying to yourself, “And then?” this is not the true practice of listening. Be aware that you are now building up breadth of heart for accepting others fully and believe that you can definitely develop such a mind-heart. (excerpted and summarized from page 250 of The Reason Why You Were Born as You)
3 Twelve Bodaishin In the Study of the Soul, Bodaishin is defined as “heart that seeks one’s real self, to love others, and to contribute to world harmony.” Although everything about Bodaishin cannot be described with words, its resonance and radiance are expressed as the following twelve Bodaishin: a heart like the moon, a heart like fire, a heart like the sky, a heart like a mountain, a heart like ears of rice, a heart like a spring, a heart like a river, a heart like the earth, a heart like the Kannon Bodhisattva, a heart like the wind, a heart like the sea, a heart like the sun. These twelve Bodaishin can also be said to describe the characteristics of the light that pervades in the universe and nature from the twelve aspects. (excerpted and summarized from 12 Bodaishin, published only in Japanese)

4 Shikan Sheet (Reflection and Insight Sheet) Shikan sheet invented by Takahashi Sensei is a worksheet for transcribing the movement of the mind-heart of each moment as it is. The practice in which one transcribes the movement of the mind-heart on this Shikan Sheet and purifies the darkness hidden in it with The Path of Prayer is called the practice of Shikan. (Refer to The Book to Solve the Equation of Destiny,　published only in Japanese)
5 Wisdom (In-En-Kaho Wisdom) In-En-Kaho (inner cause-environmental conditions-result) Wisdom invented by Takahashi Sensei is the wisdom and method to solve various problems and create a new future by the perspective of In-En-Kaho. First, we draw the problem to our In (inner cause), examine how this In is combined with En (environmental conditions) to produce Kaho (result), and to grasp the flow of energy of circulation of darkness that exists there. Next, we transform our In, change and establish En (partners, principles, systems). Then, the energy leading to darkness gradually stops, while the energy generating circulation of light intensifies, so that we can blaze a path to solution and creation.

Preliminary translation as of March 2, 2017

GLA member-volunteers translated Takahashi Sensei’s words.
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