Life’s trials and tribulations are inescapable. As stated by Nichiren, a 13th-century Buddhist reformer in Japan: “no one can avoid problems, neither saints or sages.” This universal truth connects deeply to the themes explored in The Last Shaman by William Whitecloud, where traditional hunters exemplify a profound approach to problem-solving—tracking a beast for days in the wild through surrender and alignment with a higher energy field, often referred to as “spirit.” By examining these two seemingly disparate ideas, we uncover a shared wisdom: the necessity of surrendering to something greater than the strategic mind as a guiding force for overcoming existential difficulties.
The Universality of Problems
Nichiren’s assertion underscores the inevitability of challenges in life. Problems are not indicators of failure or inadequacy but inherent to the human condition. Saints and sages, revered for their spiritual attainments, still face difficulties because life itself is a dynamic interplay of conditions and consequences. From Nichiren’s perspective, the question is not how to avoid problems but how to transform them into opportunities for growth.
Similarly, in The Last Shaman, traditional hunters embody a profound understanding of life’s uncertainties. Tracking a beast in the wilderness requires patience, intuition, and resilience. Their journey is fraught with physical exhaustion, environmental challenges, and the unpredictable behavior of the animal. Yet, they do not resist these obstacles. Instead, they surrender to the process, trusting the spirit—the invisible yet omnipresent energy field that connects all living things.
Here’s where the comparison becomes striking: the stakes for these hunters are life and death. Missing the target or losing the trail could mean starving to death or being exposed to predators. Yet, even in these dire circumstances, they rely on these principles of surrender and alignment. If such methods can guide someone in a life-or-death scenario, they are surely safe—and effective—in the less perilous challenges of modern life, where failure rarely carries such drastic consequences.
Surrendering to Spirit: A Common Bridge
“Spirit” in this context is not limited to religious connotations. It can be understood as the energy field that underlies existence—the flow of life itself, with its interconnected rhythms and patterns. Surrendering to spirit does not imply passivity or defeat; rather, it signifies a deep alignment with the forces at play. This principle serves as a bridge between Nichiren’s teachings and the hunters’ practices in The Last Shaman.
Nichiren emphasized the power of chanting the mantra Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to align oneself with the fundamental rhythm of life. This practice fosters resilience and clarity, enabling individuals to navigate challenges with wisdom and courage. Similarly, the hunters in The Last Shaman trust their intuition and the signs from the natural world, allowing them to enter a state of flow where their actions are guided by something greater than their individual will.
The key lesson is that surrendering to spirit is not about relinquishing agency but about transcending the ego’s limited perspective. By letting go of resistance and aligning with the larger energy field, both Nichiren’s followers and the hunters find solutions that emerge organically and often surprisingly.
If these approaches can bring success in scenarios where every misstep could spell disaster, how much more effective might they be in our everyday lives, where the consequences of failure are far less severe? In a world where a mistake often means embarrassment or inconvenience rather than starvation or injury, these principles are not only safe but profoundly liberating.
Applying the Teaching to Existential Difficulties
How can this teaching be applied to modern existential difficulties? In a world filled with uncertainties, from personal crises to global challenges, the idea of surrendering to spirit offers a profound shift in perspective.
– Acknowledging the Inevitability of Problems
Recognize that challenges are not punishments but integral to the human experience. This mindset shift removes the stigma of struggle and fosters a sense of shared humanity.
– Cultivating a Practice of Alignment
Whether through meditation, prayer, chanting, or spending time in nature, develop practices that quiet the mind and open the heart to the flow of life. These practices help attune you to the energy field that underlies all existence, making it easier to discern the next step forward.
– Trusting the Process
Like the hunters tracking a beast, trust that solutions will emerge even when the path is unclear. Surrendering does not mean giving up; it means remaining present and receptive to guidance from the energy field, whether it comes through intuition, synchronicity, or unexpected opportunities. – Transforming Challenges into Growth
Following Nichiren’s teaching, see each problem as a chance to strengthen your character and deepen your understanding of life. Challenges become the raw material for personal and spiritual growth when approached with an open and surrendered heart.
Conclusion
Nichiren’s timeless assertion and the wisdom of The Last Shaman converge on a powerful truth: life’s challenges are inescapable, but they are also transformative. By surrendering to spirit—aligning with the energy field that connects all things—we can navigate even the most daunting difficulties with grace and resilience.
This approach does not eliminate problems but transforms our relationship with them, empowering us to live with greater authenticity, purpose, and peace. If principles of surrender and alignment can lead to survival in the wilderness, where the stakes are as high as life and death, how much more can they empower us in modern challenges that, in comparison, are far less threatening?
In a world that often prioritizes control and certainty, the art of surrendering to spirit reminds us that true power lies in trust and alignment. Whether chanting a mantra, following the signs of the natural world, or simply listening to the quiet voice within, we can find our way, step by step, through the wilderness of life.