First, an example of the manifestation of light was this year’s award of the Nobel Prize, which was announced last month. The Nobel Prize is awarded to people such as scientists who perform research in various fields over a long period of time and have achieved feats of world-wide acclaim. The fact that there were two Japanese winners attracted our attention: Professor Takaaki Kajita from the University of Tokyo in physics and Professor Satoshi Ohmura in physiology and medicine. Particularly, the record of achievements of Mr. Ohmura, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Kitazato University, gave a strong impression of the inner light of humanity.

Mr. Omura has been studying microorganisms in the soil. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, which Mr. Omura was involved extensively in developing, was initially a drug for domestic animals. However, later on, it turned out to have powerful effects on tropical endemics or scabies, which previously were untreatable. Mr. Omura and the pharmaceutical company provided the drug for free to one billion people in order to save as many as possible.

In order to do this, he abandoned his right of royalty on the patent, which was estimated to have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars. This is the reason why people say that he was also worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Even with all these accomplishments, Mr. Omura humbly said, “I just borrowed the power of microorganisms. Am I even allowed to have this prize?” This episode teaches us the brilliance of the human inner light.

On the other hand, in the midst of the announcement of the Nobel Prize, a painful incident happened where nearly a hundred people‘s lives were taken away due to the suicide bombing in Turkey. This can be called a reality where darkness that lies within humans has erupted.

That is not all. In Syria, in the Middle East, the democratic movement called “the Arab Spring” gave rise to disputes between the government and anti-government powers. Furthermore, the recent invasion by powers both inside and outside the nation

such as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq-Levant or ISIS) resulted in over 4 million refugees fleeing the country. This has led to a serious problem in Europe dealing with the large number of refugees now trying to enter its borders.

In the same human race, on one hand, there are those who devote their lives to the development and peace of mankind, while on the other hand there are those who hurt, abuse, and take lives away without a qualm from those with different views or different appearances.

Human beings are entities who embody extreme inner light and darkness, and have a constant influence on their surroundings.

Cease Darkness and Draw Out Light

Then, what must we do as beings with such a two-sided nature?

The answer is very clear. It is to stop darkness, and to draw out light. Some of you may be disappointed

because it sounds too simple.

However, it is not always easy to carry out what appears simple. Zen Master Dogen once described the true nature of Buddhism through a dialogue between Haku Rakuten and the Zen Master Dorin in Shobogenzo. When Haku Rakuten asked, “What is the essence of Buddhism?" the Dorin Zen Master answered, "Refrain from all evil whatsoever, uphold and practice all that is good." Although simple and clear, there is unlimited depth in living it.

Human beings are entities that harbor extreme light and darkness within themselves. Precisely because we possess this condition, we possess the power to make every amorphous Chaos differentiate into light or darkness by interacting with it.

There is only one way for us to live with this duality: to cease darkness within Chaos and draw out its light by ceasing our own inner darkness and drawing out light.

Notes
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 are 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 pp.3-4, The Reason Why You Were Born as You by Keiko Takahashi)

Preliminary translation as of November 17, 2015

GLA member-volunteers translated Takahashi Sensei’s words.
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