Quote 10: Destiny can only be enjoyed by those who have courage

This time, I will quote from "To the Source" by So-shu Shiko (Kodansha, 2013).

"Consider not who said it, but what was said" (The Imitation of Christ)

Those who wish to know "who" the author is should look it up themselves.

What is important is the "words." Is that not so?

This is a quote from the section titled "Life challenges the unknown; living one's destiny."

Once destiny begins to turn, it does not stop

"Once destiny begins to turn, it does not stop. Therefore, when destiny begins to turn, life becomes frightening. It can also be said that if it is not frightening, it is not life." (p. 150)

Feeling fear in life might mean that one has reached the starting point of life. If destiny is not turning, perhaps that person's life has not even begun yet. Have you heard the call of destiny, the vocation?

The wheel of destiny

"Shakespeare wrote in his 'King Lear' that 'The wheel is come full circle,' and that is exactly right. Destiny begins to rotate like a wheel, and once it starts, no one can stop it. The wheel is one of the concepts used as a metaphor for 'destiny' in the Western Middle Ages. Shakespeare uses it here." (p. 150)

The 10th tarot card is the symbol of the "Wheel of Fortune." It implies the arrival of an unavoidable destiny, an event, or a great opportunity. Once that wheel turns, no one, including oneself, knows what will happen, and it cannot be stopped. That may be frightening, but that is perhaps where the true beginning of life lies.

Destiny is one's own unique energy

"Destiny is, after all, the only unique energy of the self in the universe. No one knows what will happen." (p. 150-151)

Destiny not only does not stop once it begins to turn, but it is also unpredictable. Predicting something and doing it, having things happen as expected—people feel secure when this happens. But once one accepts one's own destiny and dives into it, such things disappear. That is why people fear destiny. However, the author asks if that is not what life is.

A person without courage degrades into an animal seeking security

"That is why the only way to make the most of destiny is to have courage. The German poet Hölderlin said, 'Destiny is to find no rest anywhere.' Once the rotation begins, it will not stop until death. One cannot find rest. One does not even know what will happen to oneself. Therefore, a person without courage has no choice but to live like an animal as a species. As a result, they suppress their individuality and want to flock together. And they try to obtain security." (p. 151)

A person who lives in destiny is a person who has courage. It is said that the presence or absence of courage is the dividing line between whether one is truly human or falls into being an animal. Here, it might be more accurate to describe "animal" as "beast."
What is it if not an animal that discards its individuality, wants to flock together, tries to crush those who do not conform with peer pressure, seeks to obtain its own security and safety, and is trained to beg for poison? I am sure I am not the only one or two who thought this after reading this passage.

Only those who have courage can taste destiny

“Destiny is something that can only be enjoyed by those with courage; animals have no destiny.” (p. 151)

Do you have courage? Are you enjoying your destiny? Unless you look up to something beyond your daily life, it is difficult to swim through the rough seas of this chaotic world.

The fact that we hear the word 'environment' so often is proof that humans are becoming animalized

“Animals only have an environment. Come to think of it, the word 'environment' has been used a lot lately. Isn't this proof that humans are becoming animalized? The environment has become more important than the soul.” (p. 151)

This is a sharp observation. The only reason the author can ask this is because he is trying to grasp the soul and is living through his soul. Since around the mid-1990s, the term 'environmental issues' began to be used, and now there is not a day that goes by without hearing or seeing it. This, too, is what David Icke calls 'PRS (Problem-Reaction-Solution),' and it seems to be a manipulation or deception that guides people's perceptions in a specific direction. We are made to think that it is 'correct' and 'common sense' to think about the 'problems' we are given. However, he is saying that by doing so, the soul is being neglected. Because we have lost our souls, aren't we focusing on safety and security (also words we hear often) and comfort, and becoming indifferent to those around us?

For the soul, the environment is a matter of no consequence

“For the soul, the environment is a matter of no consequence. The soul is oriented toward eternity.” (p. 151)

The reason he can assert this is precisely because the author lives that way. Even among those who are aware of the lies of the world and the deceptions of society, how many can truly say from the bottom of their hearts that 'the environment is a matter of no consequence'? However, if you can agree with the author's words, it means that the same kind of question exists within you. If you didn't think, 'They keep talking about the environment, but is it really that important?', you would feel a strong repulsion. I graduated from a university department that claimed to study environmental issues. There, I heard and saw 'environment' and 'environmental issues' on a daily basis. Everyone thought it was the most important issue. But the author dismisses it as 'of no consequence.' If I were a student, I would have been stunned or strongly repulsed. And while feeling repulsed, I must have felt something I couldn't ignore. In fact, repulsion is sometimes the door that brings you closest to something. I don't feel repulsion toward this passage now. But it's not a word I can easily swallow either. I still feel it like a fish bone stuck in my throat.

Destiny can also lead to the destruction of the environment

“By living out their destiny, humans can also end up destroying the environment. In Goethe's poem 'Prometheus,' Prometheus, who stole fire from Zeus, says to Zeus, 'Was it not all-powerful Time and eternal Fate that forged me into a man?' And Prometheus, who lived his destiny, becomes a god of destruction. It is better to recognize that such energy tending toward destruction lies at the root of destiny.” (p. 151)

At the root of destiny lies energy that tends toward destruction. If you live your destiny, and if you do not recognize that root power, you may end up destroying the environment. But there is also a possibility that this is not the case. In any case, to live an energy that no one can say for sure where it will take you—that is what it means. It is deeply unsettling, but that is precisely why courage is needed. Otherwise, you could never live longing for the soul and for eternity.

The environment is important. If so, will you stop being human?

“If we do not want to destroy the environment, or if we want to live in peace at any cost, we have no choice but to abandon our destiny—in other words, to stop being 'human' and become 'animals living in an environment'.” (p. 151)

A life that considers the environment—it's a phrase we hear often. But the author says that this means giving up being human. Is that so? Even if I don't feel repulsion, I feel there is an important issue here that cannot be ignored. If 'environment' and 'environmental issues' are 'problems' that have been given to us, and if the solutions are also included in advance and we are being guided to promote them, then perhaps we should doubt the very premise that 'the environment is important.' By focusing on that, what exactly am I being distracted from? Perhaps I need to think about what words or phenomena have stopped being heard or seen in place of the 'environment.' Perhaps the SDGs, when pushed to the limit, are a deception to strip humans of their humanity, degrade them to something lower than beasts, and control them—a form of violence that 'strangles you with silk.' Only beasts who think the environment is important are deceived by the sugar-coated surface. In fact, is it just a coincidence that many of the 17 items of the SDGs have their prototypes in the 'Communist Manifesto'?

The confusion between fatalism and environmentalism creates various deceptions

“In the first place, fatalism and environmentalism should not be discussed together. Originally, fatalism is a theory of humanity, and environmentalism is a theory of biology. I believe this confusion is taking place in the modern age. I think there is a lot of deception caused by this confusion, especially in the nuclear power issue.” (p. 151-152)

This confusion seems to be happening partly unconsciously and partly intentionally.

“Nuclear power is a bioethical issue concerning the destiny of human existence, not an environmental issue. They are downgrading it to an environmental issue, pretending as if it were safe, and trying to deceive people.” (p. 152)

The point that nuclear power is not an environmental issue also applies to pollution, including Minamata disease. If you do not understand this perspective, you will completely lose sight of the essence of Michiko Ishimure's 'Paradise in the Sea of Sorrow' (Kawade Shobo Shinsha) and Masato Ogata's 'Chisso Was Me' (Kawade Bunko). And I wonder if this kind of illusion—the confusion between fatalism and environmentalism—can be seen here and there.

Fate is the greatest problem for humanity

"Fate is unpredictable and very frightening, but since we were born as humans, it can be said to be the most fascinating thing. Furthermore, humans have the freedom to choose their own destruction. That is why resolve is required. You should look into what the greatest problems in religion, literature, philosophy, and art throughout history are. It is fate." (p. 152)

Nothing has fascinated all religions, literature, philosophy, and art across time and place as much as fate. It is no exaggeration to say that the great works, creations, and endeavors that have stood the test of time deal with fate. Whether it is a tragic romance between two people, the joys and sorrows of people in a revolution, or an important philosophical concept. It seems that the power of fate is depicted most strongly in tragedy, and it is there that a hymn to humanity, struggling to live despite being tossed about by it, is portrayed. In Hirohiko Araki's manga 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,' there are various characters, and it is difficult to discuss simple good and evil or right and wrong. The ensemble drama they weave depicts the unfathomable power and unpredictability of fate. Perhaps that is why this work is called a 'hymn to humanity.' The greatest appeal of this work seems to be this power of fate, rather than Ripple or Stands.

The previous quote article can be found here.