Nature and Enlightenment

Nature and Enlightenment
by Cornelis van Dalen

Namboku Mizuno (1757-1825, Japanese) after due preparation, experienced Satori. His enlightenment was translated as food governs your destiny. Mizuno’s teachings are described in the book Food Governs Your Destiny by Michio & Aveline Kushi. From this illuminatory seed, Mizuno enlarged his understanding and helped people reach their potential and ideal.

Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008, Japanese) similarly, at an early age, reached a point of noetic experience, translated as ‘humanity knows nothing – farming is do nothing’. From this experience he set off and did no-farming farming and realised Nature and Her Forces and the potential in agriculture. He found the key and endeavoured to communicate it others, principally the scientists, but without success. Specialisation had destroyed their vision.

On Nature is a theme and topic so pervasive that it has been written about since writing was developed.

On the limits of the scientific method, Fukuoka says: ‘Before researchers become researchers they should become philosophers. They should consider what the human goal is, what it is that humanity should create. Doctors should first determine at the fundamental level what it is that human beings depend on for life.’

The use of chemicals in agriculture has a correlate to the use of drugs in medicine. Likewise the pruning of trees when commenced has to be continued. A child given antibiotics and vaccinations is likewise condemned for life unless remedial action is taken. ‘The more elaborate the countermeasures, the more complicated the problem becomes’. This is adequately illustrated by Fukuoka and holds true for the human being for man is Nature.

The work of Mizuno is echoed in Fukuoka: ‘To say that one eats is merely a matter of preference is deceiving, because an unnatural or exotic diet creates hardship for the farmer and the fisherman as well. It seems to be that the greater one’s desire, the more one has to work to satisfy them…Foods that are nearby are best for human beings, and things that he has to struggle to obtain turnout to be the least beneficial of all.’

Thus Mizuno says eat simply, saving one grain is saving one thousand in heaven. Save food, save labour is storing grace in heaven.

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References:
Masanobu Fukuoka, One Straw Revolution, Rodale Press 1978.
Michio & Aveline Kushi, Food Governs Your Destiny, Japan Publications Inc. 1991

© Cornelis van Dalen 2004. New Physis.