Numerous books have been published on the essential negotiation skills for business success.
Techniques, such as adopting active listening, timing in initiating conversations, probing questions to unearth latent needs, and presenting flexible options are presented as ways to enhance negotiation skills. While the abundance of knowledge is also crucial in addition to these techniques, ultimately, negotiation reveals one's human "comprehensive power."
In particular, the ability to seize the essence of matters and understand the counterpart's emotions deeply, known as "insight," is a human strength that AI cannot replace.
Source of Insight
Many people have experienced intuitively reading the emotions of others. This does not occur through one's logical thinking, rather, through reading other's inner thoughts revealed by their gestures and facial expressions. In this sense, humans inherently intuitive, possessing a certain degree of psychic ability.
Continuously honing this intuitive ability gradually enables us to "see others and matters with the eyes of the mind," which allow us to understand the essence of matters more deeply and instantly grasping the counterpart's true intentions in negotiations.
This ability is cultivated through daily self-reflection and the exploring Right mind because intuition and insight rely on each individual's "spirituality." Although living in a physical body on Earth, humans are fundamentally spiritual beings. The core of this spiritual existence, shaped like a ball around 30 centimeters in diameter, contains the "mind," as described by Master Okawa ("The Ten Principles from El Cantare VOLUME I").
Purification of the Heart
The mind within each person is originally an "energy-filled entity of light," resembling an orb overflowing with the light of Buddha or God.
"However, during life in this world, different matters adhere to the mind like dust and grime and cloud it. So, in order to return your marred mind to its original round shape, it must be polished and made bright through the practice of self-reflection." The Laws of Future
Negativity and impurities obstruct the divine light permeating the mind, hindering the individual's ability to perceive the feelings of others.Removing such impurities and restoring the heart to its original luminous spherical form is achieved through practices like self-reflection, meditation, and prayer.
This serves as the wellspring of insight.
The Self as a Part of the Whole Universe
However, why does intuition sharpen through filling the mind with light?
This is related to the mystery of human existence.
Understanding why polishing the mind with light enhances intuition involves grasping the interconnected nature of human existence. Master Okawa illustrates this interconnectedness with the metaphor of "Indra's net," where everyone is a part of a vast interwoven net that spans the entire universe.
"The world is like a fishing net that is comprised of vertical and horizontal lines, which have been knotted together. Each of the knots where the lines cross represents a person's individuality, with its own name and character."
"This net of interwoven lines stretches out to encompass the entire universe and is known as Indra's net. Everyone is a part of this vast net, independent in one aspect and at the same time connected to everyone else. This net is formed by the Truth of the great universe, by the Will of Buddha of the great universe. People are part of a whole; they are a part, as well as a whole. They are alone but not alone; they are a huge multitude and yet individuals. This is the truth of life."
The Laws of Great Enlightenment
As individuals living within the net, dominated by animal instincts and increasing selfishness, people may start perceiving others as entirely separate entities, leading to a lack of understanding of their emotions and conflicts fueled by hatred.
Conversely, by constantly polishing the heart while residing in the physical body and keeping it filled with the light of Buddha or God, individuals strengthen the sense of being "independent in one aspect and at the same time connected to everyone else." This heightened awareness allows the emotions of others to naturally transmit.
Reflective Meditation for Modern Individuals
To cultivate insight, returning to one's original self as a "child of God" is the path. Master Okawa provides various methods for achieving this, such as the detailed sequence from reflection to meditation outlined in "The Challenge of the Mind" for busy modern individuals.
Starting with relaxation and regulated breathing in a quiet environment, individuals flatten the waves of their minds stirred up by the three-dimensional world. Reflecting on one's thoughts and actions, tears may flow involuntarily, representing a deep emotional experience stemming from the soul. This emotional release purifies the heart.
"Shedding tears is not a function of the brain, nor is it a function of the eyes; it is a result of the strong emotions coming up from the soul. The reason you are so moved is that you have caught a glimpse of your true self. You should first attune your mind and body to relaxing, then go into reflection and examine your past. By the time you shed tears, your heart is purer."
Continuing the practice gradually leads into meditation, where the mind becomes more detached from the three-dimensional world, tapping into the subconscious treasure trove. This journey involves returning to the original self, stepping into the world of meditation.
"As you reflect on yourself and enter a meditative state, your mind will become more distinctly separate from this three-dimensional world and you will gradually tap into the treasure house of the subconscious. Your real self is now stepping into the Real World, the world you originally came from. This is the world of meditation."
The Challenge of the Mind
Eliminating Preconceptions and Seeing with an Unbiased Eye
Detailed methods for reflection are further explained in "The Essence of Buddha." Master Okawa emphasizes the importance of "Right View" in the Eightfold Path, stating that desires often arise through the eyes. Therefore, critically assessing information received through sight is crucial.
”It is important to know how to sort out the visual data that comes to you every day, because it often stirs human emotion. To be able to sort through this, it is necessary to reflect calmly on yourself at the end of a day, breathing deeply and regularly, to find harmony within. When you have reached a state where you can feel one with Buddha and a powerful light is flowing into you through the golden channel that connects you to heaven, you should examine objectively what you saw during the day, looking at yourself as if looking at a total stranger.”
In this context, he points out, "Seeing in Right View eventually comes down to decisions about how to perceive what you have seen." This is because, even for the same event, individuals may interpret it differently. So, were your own perceptions valid? Reflecting on this in a blank state of mind, and if they were incorrect, finding the cause and eliminating it are all part of the introspection of Right View.
Integration of "Intellect" and "Enlightenment"
For contemporary individuals, balancing the preservation of their spirituality with the development of practical intelligence for societal usefulness is essential.
Master Okawa himself reveals the secret of living a life that integrates "intellect" and "enlightenment," as demonstrated by his own example. In the book 'ROJIN,Buddha's mystic Power ' detailed practices are explained to deepen spiritual insight while serving as an exemplary way of life for people in this world.
Despite understanding that the three-dimensional world is a temporary existence, one strives to become a person who can contribute more love to the earthly realm. This way of living, bridging both this world and the next, serves as the foundation for insight.