Compass of the Times 233

Maintain Your Core

Keiko Takahashi

---

The Appearance of Walls Is the Evidence of Your Taking Action

In the article last month, I addressed the importance of taking action. I wonder how many of you have renewed your awareness of the importance of taking action during the past month and have taken a new step forward for implementation?

Some of you may have actually taken action on something that you had only thought about but never put into action or something that “you had hoped to try someday.” If so, that action was a meaningful step in your life. And what were the results?

It is human nature to hope that things will turn out well. In many cases, however, unexpected obstacles or walls may appear, and things rarely go as smoothly as we might expect. As soon as we start making concrete moves, problems arise, and we face difficulties, but that is one reality that appears because we have taken action.

Confronting the Outer “Three Streams of Influence”

When we are confronted by a wall or an obstacle, it can be said that this is when we try to bring forth our ideas to the outer world and send outward the energy that is inside of us.

If the outer world were the same as our inner world, there would be no conflict or friction; however, there is a solemn difference between our inner and outer world.

Many people exist in the outer world. Each individual harbors the Three Streams of Influence¹ as their condition of life and has their values and way of life derived from those. Furthermore, we receive the Three Streams of Influence of place and era that are prevalent in the regions and places to which they belong. These are the values of the regions and the fields of work, as well as the values of the era.

Of course, we also have within us our soul’s aspirations and karma and the values and way of life formed by the Three Streams of Influence.

The difference in our values and way of life causes our thoughts to be misunderstood or considered unacceptable, or it can set things back or cause trouble and obstacles.

The problem is that it often takes much energy to deal with what arises in the outer world. Sometimes, it happens that our inside loses its composure and becomes out of balance.

Think about when you receive a “No” response from someone you wish to be acknowledged by. Or, think about when you take a step toward achieving what you truly wish and receive a “No” response.

It torments us more than we can imagine. It can overwhelm us, upset us, and, as a result, we might lose our confidence and even our way of life. And that is why we are extremely fearful of situations in which we might receive a “No” response.

Maintain Your Core

We humans cannot control the world outside of us at will. Many of the outer realities are beyond our control. This means that every time we have aspirations or a vision, we are subjected to a time of trial.

The oppression and blows brought by the obstacles and walls that arise in the outer world are a constant threat to us.

What is most important at such times is that we do not lose ourselves by what happens in the outer world.

We must not change the way of life we have cherished, nor let go of the innermost aspirations and visions, nor move from our center. We must focus our minds on keeping to our center. It is more important than anything else to fight against the fear within us and overcome it in order to protect our center.

One of the most important ways of living that the Study of the Soul² values is to listen to the calling when we receive a “No” response from the outside world. We renew ourselves by asking, “What is this situation calling me to do?”

It does not mean, however, to lose sight of ourselves. This is the process in which we observe our inner side more deeply to establish our core, the way of life in which we believe.

Excerpt Translation of G. Monthly Journal August 2023 issue
Preliminary translation by GLA member-volunteers
 ©GLA 2023 All rights reserved