First of all, let me tell you about the structure of the universe,
because the contents of the lectures can be little difficult to
understand if you don't know this.
Not to mention, this universe which I am talking about is the
structure of the universe which is corresponds with both Buddhism
and Yoga. Though it seems that it is far away from the reality, in
fact this is the truth. Everyone can check it by oneself if his
spiritual stage goes up to certain level. What is more, if you
read the lectures in this book, questions and answers, or the
experiences of the attainers, you may clearly visualize that they
actually exists.
The structure of the universe is made outfo three worlds. In
Yogic terminology, these three worlds are; the phenomenal world,
the Astral world, and the Causal world. In Buddhist terminology,
they are; the six realms of desires, the realm of form, and the
realm of non-form.
The phenomenal realm which I first mentioned includes this world
where we live. Since this world is made out of the rough
materials, it is sometimes called the rough world. The phenomenal
world can be divided further more into six. From the bottom up,
they are; hell, the realm of hungry ghosts, animal realm, human
realm, the world of Asuras, and heaven.
The Astral world which comes after this is the world made out of
the sublte material. It can be divided into the high Astral world
and the low Astral world, and they both are also divided into 6
parts again. The six parts of the low Astral world overlaps with
hell, the realm of hungry ghosts, animal realm, human realm, the
world of Asuras, and heaven of the phenomenal world. To be
overlapped means that they are connected with each other.
In the end comes the Causal world where there is nothing but light
and thoughts. It can be divided into three parts in which each can
be divided into six parts. The lower Causal world is overlapped
with the phenomenal world and the low Astral world, and the middle
Causal world is overlapped wiht the high Astral world. The high
Causal world is not overlapped at all with any world. I sometimes
call this ginuine Causal world. The higher it can be, the stronger
the clear light is. And the lightt exist as information. Above
the Causal world there exists Mahayana (see chart).
Through all worlds, the density of the souls who exist in each
world is less as it goes higher.
We often speak about ghosts. They are looking through the lower
Astral world from the phenomenal world where we exist. Problems
with being haunted by spirits occurs because of being connected to
the lower world, especially the worlds which is lower than the
human world. This indicates the lack of merit and the low lovel of
mentality. So such thing would not occur if he goes into the high
Astral world with the help of spiritual practice.............
ABOUT NOTHINGNESS AND EMPTINESS
In Japanese Buddhism...... Nothingness is ........ Complete
darkness......
On the other hand, ........ The spiritual level is uncomparably
high......