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Editor of this issue Kanon KuboseEditor-In-ChiefRev. Koyo S. KuboseManaging EditorAdrienne KubosePlease send:v Poems v ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]8334 Harding AvenueSkokie, Illinois 60076Phone(847) 677-8211Fax(847) 677-80538brightdawn@brightdawn.orgwww.brightdawn.orgby Rev. Koyo S. KuboseWhen I was studying in Japanduring the 1970’s I learned aphrase, “kuruma kotoba.” Theword “kotoba” means words;“kuruma” currently means auto-mobile but its original meaninghad to do with wheel, roundness,or the quality of “turning.” In aspiritual context, “kuruma kotoba”refers to “turning words;” i.e. aphrase that could turn one’s lifearound. The phrase summarizedor triggered a powerful spiritualexperience.The past few months I madeseveral out-of-town trips to giveDharma talks and/or representconsider myself as going on myown spiritual retreat. I prime my-self to be open for new experi-ences. Through a kind of height-ened mental readiness or expect-ancy, I usually receive some kindof teaching, and it’s often from anunexpected source. I call thisreadiness as a turning on of anintrospection and awareness inone’s present surroundings. Thelonger it stays on by itself— andwith continued usage, it developsgreater power or sensitivity.I practiced turning on my switchwhile on trips during July to theSteveston Buddhist Temple inBritish Columbia, Canada; andto the Florin, Fowler, Palo Alto,and Sacramento BuddhistTemples in California. Over theLabor Day week-end I was at theEastern Buddhist League Con-vention in Washington, D.C. InSeptember I also joined in cel-ebrating New York BuddhistTemple’s 60th Anniversary inNew York City. During October Iattended a Buddhist-CatholicDialogue Retreat at Serra Cen-ter in Malibu, California; andgave a Oneness Seminar at theTacoma Buddhist Temple inTacoma, Washington. I attendedEkoji Buddhist Temple’s Dedica-tion Service in Fairfax Station,Virginia in early November.What a lot of traveling around!Yet, it is always a joy to sharethe Dharma teachings with oth-ers— and I always feel I receivemore than whatever I might beable to give. On each of thesetrips I received/discovered “turn-ing words,” which name and de-scribe teachings that I experi-enced. The experiences caughtmy attention and “turned myhead.” I hope to write aboutthese experiences in future is-However, it should be empha-sized that “kuruma kotoba” or“turning words” arise only out ofdirect personal experience; theirfull impact is reserved for the ex-periencing individual. Better thanvicariously enjoying someoneelse’s turning words, you shouldturn on your own awarenessswitch. You should ask yourselfdo this, every day is a spiritual re-treat and any given moment canpresent a glimpse of the Dharmateachings. Such Dharma glimpseswill become longer glances, whichin turn can lead to turn-your-headstares at unexpected insights.You should label or describeyour “Dharma Glimpse” with aexperience. This phrase will helpcrystallize your insight and makeit easier to integrate that experi-ence with later ones. The phrasecan be like a code or handle thatof what you experienced, For ex-ample, “Dead Squirrel” could bethe code phrase for the “DharmaGlimpse” written by AdrienneKubose in this issue (see p. 5).So, turn your switch on, andshare your Dharma Glimpses andTurning Words with us.

Universal Teachings For Everyday Living Page 2

Oneness Newsletter Winter 1998

Dharma Glimpses

Spring issue deadline: January 31

the Legacy. On such trips I always

inner “switch.” A person can “find”

his or her switch by practicing self-

more the switch is “turned on,” the

sues of this Oneness newsletter.

every day, “Is my switch on?” If you

short phrase that summarizes your

makes it easy to access or get hold