This and "My Faith" are very short and you could read them in a single sitting.I. This my self is none other than that which, following the way of suchness and entrusting itself to the wondrous working that is absolute and infinite, has settled down of itself in the present situation. By entrusting myself to the absolute and infinite, I am beyond fears of the problem of life-and-death. And with the problem of life-and-death beyond our fears, how much more so problems of lesser importance!
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II. The infinite variety of the myriad phenomena of the universe belongs to the wondrous workings of the one great mystery. And yet we simply take it for granted, regarding it all as a natural phenomenon, paying no respect or regard to it. Were we not endowed with any knowledge or sensibility, there would be no problem. But we are in fact endowed with them and we remain insensitive to them. How then can we avoid being termed perverted?
The reflection of a single color, the fragrance of a single scent, can never appear of themselves. The appearance of all these phenomena is without exception caused by the power of that one great mystery. Not only color and scent, what of the arising of our "selves"? No matter where the self's original source or final destination may lie, nothing lies within the domain of our own will. Not only are our previous lives and our after-lives not subject to our own will, the appearance and disappearance of our thoughts at this very moment is not a matter at our own dispensation. We are absolutely within the hands of the Other Power.
III. We are bound to die. But even if we die, we shall never be reduced to extinction. We are not made up of life alone; death belongs to us as well. Our existence is composed of both life and death. We are not to be dependent upon life and death; we are spiritual beings existing beyond life and death.
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V. Where is the infinite Other Power? It is visible in all your receiving, which is a manifestation of the infinite Other Power. Revere and cherish it, and thus be thankful to the Tathagata's enormous blessing. Yet in order to satisfy yourself, you are running after external things, following others, without seeking satisfaction within yourself. Are you not mistaken? Chasing after external things is the source of greed. Following others is the source of anger.
I've often had the intuition that there is some giving aspect to the universe sustaining us generously, but Mr. Manshi helped put it in terms I could relate to. I hope others feel as touched and encouraged to see the Other Power that pours over our lives in abundance.