A: The Ultimate Origin of Existence

The character for “A” is composed of the right semicircle representing the Latent World, a horizontal line symbolizing the Phenomenal World, and the small circle representing the numeral 1.

Although this character closely resembles “HI,” the core intention of “A” indicates an even earlier stage than “HI.” It represents the “Ultimate Origin” (shigen)—the very genesis of the source (HI) of all existence. This refers to the ultimate moment of beginning where “existence” emerges from “nothingness,” a point where neither time nor space yet existed, or perhaps it signifies that fundamental energy itself.

This is a concept not yet recognized by modern science, but Katakamuna teaches that at this “A” stage lies the most pure and undifferentiated source of energy, which serves as the fundamental basis for all phenomena in the universe.