We are all hypocrites. This concerns most religions, but I will talk about my religion. In Tenrikyo, God specifically tells us that illness comes from the mind. The following is from the Ofudesaki and the Mikagura-uta.
Whatever happens, what is called illness furthermore is unacceptable.
Mistaken minds’ path exists. 3-95 Ofudesaki
Until this time, everyone,
the origin of illness you did not know.
This time it has been revealed.
The origin of illness is from your mind. Song 10 Mikagura-uta
God is telling us that illness originates from our minds. In the Ofudesaki, God tells us that dusts or evil thoughts in our minds lead to illness and sufferings to the body. These dusts are regret (oshii), covetousness (hoshii), self-love (kawai), greed (yoku), and arrogance (koman).
If we take the Ofudesaki and the Mikagura-uta as the truth, then we have the cure for cancer, and we have the cure for the recent Covid pandemic. We need to eliminate these dusts from our minds. Why as believers are we putting on masks, shutting down our churches, and receiving the controversial Covid vaccines? God tells us to purify our minds of the evil thoughts or dusts that are in our minds. God even gives us instructions on how to purify our minds in the Ofudesaki and Mikagura-uta.
I can give you many reasons why we are not following what are written in our sacred scriptures. We do not understand our scriptures or have not read them ourselves. We do not have complete faith in our teachings. We are afraid of what people will do or say if we do not follow masking or vaccinations. We are afraid that we have not purified our minds sufficiently to fight off the virus. I like many may fall into the last category.
In conclusion, these pandemics give us the opportunity to reveal our religion. There is a quote in one of the sacred scriptures that tell us “from knots, buds will sprout”. From this horrible tragedy that has taken millions of lives, there was an opportunity to tell the world about our teachings. We could of brought attention to our religion by not complying with what officials were telling us to do. This probably would of resulted in threats and condemnations from the world against our religion; but definitely this would of brought attention to our religion. Remember from knots or difficulties, there are buds that will sprout, if we follow the teachings. I believe we missed another opportunity to save the world!
Heaven's Truths, in Healing the Body 