Sunset in New York City

Pedro Dos Santos

The Five Realms of Human Destiny

“We are governed by a far greater force than we can ever imagine – one we can control & use to our advantage, yet very rarely tap into.” – Pedro Dos Santos, Face Book/12/29/16

In enlightenment the eye of wisdom is opened to an intuition of the heart being, a perfected vision transcending all dualities, the self-realization of our real selves. – from teachings of Hui-neng, Zen master, 7^th Century China.

New Moon

December 28, 2016 (Pacific Time 10:54 pm)

What is Possible in committing to

The Five Realms of Human Destiny*

From Dane Rudhyar’s Astrological Mandala

Original Intent – the Moon – 8° Capricorn

in a sunlit home domesticated birds sing joyously  . . . suggests how we can enjoy our life condition by allowing the spiritual values it embodies to fill our consciousness. In every condition provided by a healthy culture—which hardly refers to our present [1970s] chaotic world!—human beings can find enjoyment in the roles they are born to play.

Continuing – 20° Pisces

a table set for an evening meal – an indication that in the end and at the appointed time the individual’s needs will be met among those to whom he is linked by a spiritual (or biological) web of energies.

Recognizing – 2° Gemini

santa claus furtively filling stockings hanging in front of the fireplace – A rewarded faith in spiritual blessings. . . In this symbol, Santa Claus acts “furtively.” The gifts from an imagined and intensely believed-in spiritual world must not be examined too closely or at length by the reasoning intellect. . . the reception of new blessings from the spiritual realm above (the super-conscious) requires mostly faith and purity of heart, and a common type of understanding (stockings)—thus a state of innocence.

Participating – 14° Leo

a human soul seeking opportunities for outward manifestation – yearning for self-actualization. . . a transcendental clue to the technique of living. Let the soul speak out! Allow the power of the true tone of your being to manifest itself smoothly, easily, unobstructed—or expect a variety of consequences. let the soul manifest! [for those following teachings of the Buddha, this would mean allowing the enlightened nature to express itself; for enlightened Christians, “Let go, let God.”]

Constructing – 26° Libra

an eagle and a large white dove change into each other – interaction of spiritual will and compassion when critical needs arise. . . Consciousness operates beyond duality because the polarized energies of soul, will and compassion, though ever distinct, work for a single purpose.

Discovering the Five Realms of Human Destiny

*The Five Realms of Human Destiny were discovered December 5, 1977, after an intense morning of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, title of the Lotus Sutra, or “Sutra of the Mysterious Law of the Lotus.”  Myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo itself, five characters, and also the “Five Roots” of Buddhist practice: Faith (Original Intent), Zealous Progress (continuing with Original Intent), memory (recognizing Original Intent), meditation (participating with Original Intent), and wisdom (constructing Original Intent).

  Chanting took place as always facing the Mandala and during these early hours of that day, an open window facing east with Venus seen as a morning star – the same morning star the Buddha saw under the Bodhi tree seeking enlightenment.

  5 resonates especially with the human being (five fingers, five toes, etc.) and in the “Ten World” system, the Fifth World is the world of the human being before progressing toward enlightenment.

Dividing the Zodiac by 5 gives the “quintile” or 72° an abstract aspect suggesting special human abilities. Thus using the starting point of a particular moment – today, the New Moon – as original intent, the other realms are revealed in each of the succeeding 72° segments.

  That morning in 1977 after chanting, on impulse I looked back at my birth moment and remembered that a Full Moon followed the moment by only 22 hours, suggesting a fulfillment of what is suggested in the birth moment. (In traditional astrology, this would be the “First progressed full moon”). The full moon moment chart, was named “Promises Made in Past Lives.” Constructing a chart for the “Promises” moment, designating the cusp of the 4^th house as Original Intent, selected not arbitrarily, but that’s another story. “Original Intent” was at 10° Capricorn.

  I recall vividly as I read the symbol for 10° Capricorn for the first time, thrilled to realize, and crying aloud, “This is something I’ve always wanted in my life!”

“An albatross feeding from hand of a sailor – overcoming fear and its rewards – persons who radiate perfect harmlessness can call the wildest creatures to themselves and establish a partnership with them based on mutual respect and understanding. Every living entity plays a role in the worlds ritual of existence; beyond these specific roles, which too often separate one entity from another, the communion of love and compassion can bring together the most disparate lives . . . a picture extending the ideal of peace and happiness through culture so it now includes all living organisms on this planet. The power of such a culture of harmlessness and compassion generates TRUST everywhere.

  (Didn’t dare call this discovery an “enlightenment” – hardly what one would call an exemplary life of “enlightenment” followed the moment. Yet there it remains – the Original Intent of “Promises made in past lives.”)

  The morning of December 5, 1977 and discoveries made, strengthened the resolve to continue with practice now defined as celebration of the Lotus Sutra, celebration of life, and the teachings of the Buddha, and the continuation to this day, evolving to include each week meditation on the complete Lotus Sutra.

  Through succeeding years, this was not the first of such “discoveries.” Reading quantum physics and innumerable teachings resonating with Buddhism, as well as inspiration contemplating other schools of Buddhism, and most significantly The Threefold Lotus Sutra itself, published in a splendid English translation by Weatherhill-Kosei, and Nikkyo Niwano’s Buddhism for Today: A Modern Interpretation of The Threefold Lotus Sutra and his other writings.

  The remarkable thing is the universality of the Buddha’s teachings. Paradoxically, this is realized as one comes in touch with a diversity of beliefs, practices, incites, from persons who follow other spiritual paths and often are either only subliminally familiar with the Buddha’s teachings, or not at all. And yet they speak his words, happily in today’s world.

And so it was, another thrilling moment, to see and read Pedro Dos Santos post and resulting comments.

“We are governed by a far greater force than we can ever imagine – one we can control & use to our advantage, yet very rarely tap into.”