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     Previously I wrote about the modern French philosopher Henri Bergson and again I feel compelled to make some remarks about him. The reason being that I am often asked about various subjects, and when I speak, there are few people who easily understand what I say. The content of what I discuss indeed would seem to be very simple, but it does appear that the number who do understand is quite few. Even though the interlocutor is an individual of learning, as there is no nod of acknowledgment, I verbosely enumerate various examples and finally comes understanding. It is at these times that I recall Bergson’s philosophy of intuition.
     When what should be simple things are found to be difficult to understand, the following is a reason. People cannot become an “I” of the moment, which of course is probably because they are not conscious of the “I” of the moment. According to Bergson’s theory, from the time individuals begin to perceive the world around them, because they hear various things and until the stage they become independent human beings, their heads are crammed with traditions and current learning, what they have ingested, taken in, becomes in their consciousness something like a bar. So, when they hear something outside that bar, the bar interferes and what is outside the bar does not enter their thought. If their thought, their mind, is a blank, the idea will go into their thought without any trouble at all and they will soon understand. The expression“make your mind a blank slate” is often heard and this is exactly what it means. Even so, it appears almost no one perceives this bar, so for those of you who are reading this text, you should from this instant become the “I” of the moment. “’I’ of the moment” refers to the impression you receive immediately upon seeing or hearing something. When impressions are received like a child there is absolutely no room for the bar to interfere. It often happens that adults are quite impressed by how children answer their questions, and that is because children do not have the interfering bar.
     Bergson also introduced the philosophy of intuition. This theory also means to look at things directly and not warp them, that that is the true way to look at matters, and that such a perspective goes hand in hand with the moment of “I.” Also in his philosophy is the concept “all is in a state of flux.” This too, I think is very interesting. It means that every thing in creation moves without a moment’s rest. For example, between last year and this year every thing is different. The same goes for the world and society. Likewise for one’s self, one’s thought, one’s environment. Nay, one’s self even differs absolutely from five minutes ago. A phrase heard since antiquity, “the future is a closed book” refers to this phenomenon. In this way, one and every thing flows without stopping, without one second’s stop.
     Therefore, when this principle is applied to human beings, it could be thought of in this way. That is, when people run across something, what was thought last year and what is thought this year must differ. From a wide perspective, is not Japan completely different now compared to before the war? The short period of time is astonishing. For most people, however, continues to obstruct the bar of the way of doing things that has continued from hundreds of years ago, the way of thinking of decades ago, handed down from their ancestors for many generations, so they are not able to competently grasp the present. This is probably what is meant when someone is called feudal or old-fashioned. In other words, even though all is flowing, the self stands still as if stuck in the mud. It is these people who are left behind and who meet unfortunate fates.
     That existing religions are not thriving can be understood when the above conditions are pondered. Seen in this way, without the slightest slip in all-in-motion, endlessly changing is also the activity of Regarder of All Cries of the World. That Regarder of the Cries of the World also has the name Flexible Maitreya is for this meaning. The ideograms for the word “flexible” mean “respond using the body.” To wit: to all matters and affairs in the external world, responding in freedom without hindrance. There is no other meaning to the divine name Tathagata of Unhindered Light. In simple terms, it means to fit your language to old people so they understand; to explain matters gently to women; to intellectuals, in academic terms; and to ordinary people, plainly with common sense. With whatever individual you are dealing with, it is sufficient that you understand that person, have interest in that person, and listen readily to that person. When we encourage others in faith with this policy, matters and affairs go surprisingly well.

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“Futatabi Beruguson ni Tsuite,” published originally on the front page of Eikō, Issue 113, July 19, 1951, and reprinted, while Meishu-sama still alive, in the essays anthology for ministers Goshinsho: Shūkyō-hen (Divine Writings: Volume on Religion), page 102, March 25, 1954, has appeared in translation. Citation is given below for reference.

“Further Thoughts on Bergson,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 320.

“Pay Attention to Intuition,” Reaching for Faith, 2012, page 58.

“Henri Bergson,” A Hundred Teachings of Meishusama, no date, page 190.