What truly is Jiko?

[Hōshin]

While reading Uchiyama Roshi's book Opening the Hand of Thought, upon Jundo Roshi's recommendation, I came across the following lines:

"The whole or universal self is the force that functions to make the heart continue beating and the lungs continue breathing, and it is also source of what is referred to as the subconscious.

This inclusive self is at heart the creative power of life. It is related to what the Judeo-Christian tradition calls the creative power of God. That power - what is immediately alive and also what is created - that is self too. If you want to use God as your referent, it is crucial to receive God as pure creative power, as being fresh and alive and working in and through yourself: no matter what I do or think, God is in all things and is working through me.

Whatever is alive - that is Jiko, or universal self."

I really can't understand! This Jiko is very similatr to Brahman of the Hindus, the omnipresent Allah of the Sufis, the omnipresent Wakan Tanka of the Native Americans or Huang Po's manifesting Mind. This question has haunted me ever since I became a Buddhist. Could you please explain to me, my dear friends, what these statements by Uchiyama Roshi mean? Do we believe in God or not?

Gassho
Fâtih
Sat/lah

[Jundo]

Hi Fatih,

I believe that Dogen, Uchiyama and most Mahayana Buddhists feel that there is a certain Wholeness, vitality, "force," interidentical interpenetrating unity ... that is who we, all things, beings and moments of time are. There is some Dao, some Principle, some process or intelligence to the world, the fertile and creative aspect of the universe, the "beauty in the math" that many scientists know, complete with some universal sense of Karma and justice. One might call it Buddha (Big B), Dharmakaya, Buddha Nature ... but better to call this by no name at all. Uchiyama Roshi was very interested in finding common ground with Christianity, so here he reached for the word God ... but it is just another word. So this is our greater Self, our True self, which is another face of this little self we call Jundo or Fatih.

Buddha never said that there was no "God" in Judeo-Christian meaning, because as an ancient Indian, he never knew about such a God. Nor is it clear that he said there is no Brahma, but rather, simply refused to say yes or no. Brahma actually appears in many old Buddhist Suttas, although as a rather reduced and mortal character.

Nishijima Roshi said this ...
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So, I do not know. I believe (in fact, I am writing a book write now) and find some kind of natural intelligence and process in the universe. Names do not matter, and it is not good to think it an idea to hold in the stupid box between our ears.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Hōshin]

Thank you so much, Jundo Roshi. I'm eagerly awaiting your upcoming book. And thank you for the warning about the stupid box.

Gassho
Fâtih
Sat/lah