Hiroshi Motoyama
Encyclopedia
Hiroshi Motoyama is a Japan
ese parapsychologist, scientist, spiritual instructor and author whose primary topic is spiritual self-cultivation and the relationship between the mind and body therein. In doing so, he emphasizes the meditative
practices of Samkhya
/Yoga
, karma
, reincarnation
and Hindu theories of the chakras
. Dr. Motoyama is also the founder of the California Institute for Human Science. He holds Ph.D. degrees in Philosophy and Physiological psychology
from the Tokyo University of Literature and Science.
. Because of the attention to detail found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
, Dr. Motoyama emphasizes the eight steps of yogic training. However, he broadens the scope of samkhya here, extending the ultimate (the isolated Purusha
) beyond the limitations of being. Borrowing from Nishida, Dr. Motoyama uses the term "basho to define the field that sustains being itself. This basho is beyond the categories of being/non-being and birth/death. One who abandons individuality itself becomes a basho-being by completely annihilating themselves. This is very much in line with the Buddhist Jhānas and the Mahayana
notion of Śūnyatā. Thus, basho-being is roughly synonomoys with "buddha." The basho is the limit of and that which sustains our universe, beyond which, Dr. Motoyama states, is God. In brief, Dr. Motoyama's system is a synthesis of Samkhya (atheistic), Buddhism (non-theistic) and Shinto (theism) that incorporates yogic cultivation, the energy systems of the body-mind as well as faith in God.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese parapsychologist, scientist, spiritual instructor and author whose primary topic is spiritual self-cultivation and the relationship between the mind and body therein. In doing so, he emphasizes the meditative
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
practices of Samkhya
Samkhya
Samkhya, also Sankhya, Sāṃkhya, or Sāṅkhya is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy and classical Indian philosophy. Sage Kapila is traditionally considered as the founder of the Samkhya school, although no historical verification is possible...
/Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
, reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
and Hindu theories of the chakras
Chakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
. Dr. Motoyama is also the founder of the California Institute for Human Science. He holds Ph.D. degrees in Philosophy and Physiological psychology
Physiological psychology
Physiological psychology is a subdivision of behavioral neuroscience that studies the neural mechanisms of perception and behavior through direct manipulation of the brains of nonhuman animal subjects in controlled experiments...
from the Tokyo University of Literature and Science.
Theory and Method
Dr. Motoyama's philosophical system is based directly upon his experiences of meditation and feels that no individual philosophical system is without its faults. Because of this, his philosophy appears to be an eclectic blend of seemingly disparate philosophies, but this is far from the case. His system is centralized upon Samkhya philosophy due to its explanatory efficacy, but primarily because of its utilization by PatañjaliPatañjali
Patañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice. According to tradition, the same Patañjali was also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a commentary on Kātyāyana's vārttikas on Pāṇini's Aṣṭādhyāyī as well as an unspecified work of medicine .In...
. Because of the attention to detail found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali are 194 Indian sūtras that constitute the foundational text of Rāja Yoga. Yoga is one of the six orthodox āstika schools of Hindu philosophy, and Rāja Yoga is the highest practice....
, Dr. Motoyama emphasizes the eight steps of yogic training. However, he broadens the scope of samkhya here, extending the ultimate (the isolated Purusha
Purusha
In some lineages of Hinduism, Purusha is the "Self" which pervades the universe. The Vedic divinities are interpretations of the many facets of Purusha...
) beyond the limitations of being. Borrowing from Nishida, Dr. Motoyama uses the term "basho to define the field that sustains being itself. This basho is beyond the categories of being/non-being and birth/death. One who abandons individuality itself becomes a basho-being by completely annihilating themselves. This is very much in line with the Buddhist Jhānas and the Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
notion of Śūnyatā. Thus, basho-being is roughly synonomoys with "buddha." The basho is the limit of and that which sustains our universe, beyond which, Dr. Motoyama states, is God. In brief, Dr. Motoyama's system is a synthesis of Samkhya (atheistic), Buddhism (non-theistic) and Shinto (theism) that incorporates yogic cultivation, the energy systems of the body-mind as well as faith in God.
Selected English Publications
- Science and the Evolution of Religion: The Way to World Religion. Translated by Arthur H. Thornhill III. (2009)
- Karma and Reincarnation: The key to Spiritual Evolution & Enlightenment. Translated by Rande Brown Ouch. (2009)
- Being and the Logic of Interactive Function. Translated by Shigenori Nagatomo & John W. M. Krummel. (2009)
- Motoyama Meridian Exercises for Ki Practice with Kiyomi Kuratani. (2009)
- Varieties of Mystical Experience I: Path to Self-Realization (Volume 1). (2006)
- What Is Religion?; Religion for a Global Society. Translated by Lee Seaman. (2006)
- Awakening of the Chakras and Emancipation. (2003)
- Religion and Humanity for a Global Society. Translated by Shigenori Nagatomo & David E. Shaner. (2001)
- Comparisons of Diagnostic Methods in Western & Eastern Medicine: A Correlation Between KI Energy And Environmental Conditions. Translated by? (1999)
- Measurements of Ki Energy Diagnoses & Treatments: Treatment principles of Oriental Medicine from an Electrophysiological Viewpoint. (1997)
- A Study of Yoga from Eastern & Western Medical Viewpoints. (1993)
- Toward a Superconsciousness: Meditational Theory and Practice. Translated by Shigenori Nagatomo & Cliffor R. Ames. (1990)
- Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness. (1988)
- Science and the evolution of consciousness: Chakras, ki, and psi. Translated by Rande Brown. (1978)
- Hypnosis and Religious Super-Consciousness. (1971)
- The Correlation Between Psi Energy and Ki: Unification of Religion and Science. (1971)
External links
- California Institute of Human Science Website - Biography
- Science & Medicine: Volume 6 Number 4: Page 48 (August 1999). Article on application of AMI.
- A short interview with Dr. Motoyama from Spiritual.com
- Mysticism and Science, by Dr. Motoyama from Science and the Evolution of Consciousness - Chakras, Ki, and Psi (1978)