The stained mirror

Posted on July 12, 2014 by heaventruth

What is the best way to mature spiritually? Once a recluse asked the foundress why she continued to be depressed. Since her voluntary segregation, she recollected no animosity, greed, or arrogance on her part. The foundress made a comparison of the person who is a recluse to a mirror that is in an abandoned house. She said that even a mirror that is not used has accumulates dust. This dust, once it is ingrained in the mirror is difficult to remove. What does this mean?

In our religion, dust represents the evils of greed, arrogance, and self-love in our minds. We believe that these dusts eventually come back to us as suffering and inconveniences in our lives. What we sow, we reap. These suffering and inconveniences are the tools that test our faith; and give us an opportunity to plant new seeds that will blossom into joy or suffering. Our responses to our sufferings determine our future. By being segregated, one essentially closes the door to the purification of the mind and we become depressed.

It is easy path to isolate and live with people you agree with, but it may not be the path to spiritual maturity. It is said that the world reflects our minds. When we shut ourselves from the world, we cannot see our spiritual maturation and we become depressed.

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How to change people

Posted on July 12, 2014 by heaventruth

I once saw my friend running to the aide of a child when he saw a mother hitting her child. This was a commendable act on my friend’s part, but what affect would my friend’s response have afterward for the child and mother. The mom would probably continue the abuse at home. We see and we can prevent some of the injustices that go on in the world. But how many injustices occur that are out of our view. We cannot control the actions and thoughts of others.

We have the prison system whose purpose is to temporally separate the bad from society. Its purpose is not to convert the bad to good. Most people will agree that most criminals are incorrigible. Many commit crimes shortly after being released from the prisons. We cannot change the bad by force. We can only keep them away from us.

We also see this failure in coercion in the countries we attempt to change that are ruled by dictators and religious zealots. History will tell us that military action and billions of dollars of aide do not reverse the course of their ruthless actions. Initially it would appear that our actions were working, but in the long run anarchy and suffering would reappear after our efforts and resources were depleted. We cannot change bad behavior by force.

How do we change the bad to the good? Obviously it is not by force. Force often results in the resistance of change. Many will often die as martyrs than to capitulate to force. It the Tip of the Writing Brush, it is said that we must purify our own minds before God brings others for conversion from bad to good. What does this mean? It means that we must set an example for others to follow. When we purify our minds of greed, arrogance and self love, we light the path for others to follow.

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How to Save the World

Posted on July 11, 2014 by heaventruth

I once saw my friend running to the aide of a child when he saw a parent hitting her child. This was a commendable act, but what affect would my friend’s response have afterward for the child and mother. The mom would probably continue the abuse at home. We see, and we could prevent some of the injustices that go on in the world. But how many injustices occur that are out of our view. We cannot control the actions and thoughts of others.

We have the prison system not to convert the bad to good. We have a prison system to temporarily prevent the bad from hurting the good. Most people will agree that most criminals are incorrigible. Many commit crimes shortly after being released from the prisons. We cannot change the bad by force.

We also see this failure in coercion in countries that we attempt to change that are ruled by dictators. History will tell us that military and billions of dollars of aide do not reverse the course of their ruthless actions. Initially it would appear that our aide was helping, but in the long run anarchy and suffering would reappear after our efforts and aide are depleted. We cannot change bad behavior by force.

How do we change the bad to the good? Obviously it is not by force. Force often results in the resistance of change. Many will often die as martyrs then to capitulate to force. Some say it is by setting an example of how to be good that the bad will become good. When the bad see the joy brought upon by being good, they may see the light.

To change the bad to good, we must first purify our hearts. We must first become good. Lets light the fire within us; then like a spark, we can light the hearts of the world. Relating this to the conflicts and sufferings that are occurring in the world. Let us concentrate and use our resources on making this country prosper, and the other countries will eventually follow our example. Let us be the beacon that others can see. This relates to religion as well. We must purify our minds first; then others will follow.

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God does exist

Posted on July 10, 2014 by heaventruth

Why do the innocent suffer? Why do children suffer? Why does an innocent baby suffer? The first question to ask is, are these children innocent? This may appear to be a ridiculous and cruel question. But sometimes don’t these innocent babies become bad adults? Could God be judging their future potential? Or these children have lived before in a previous life, and are suffering the consequences of their previous sins.

Causality and reincarnation explains why there is suffering and joy in this world. It also distinguishes what causes these events. We see hatred, greed, and selfishness; but we are oblivious to what they lead to. We know the effects of pollution on our bodies, but we do not know what evil in our minds lead to.

If God is compassionate and loving, causality and reincarnation must exist. We reap what we sow. If causality and reincarnation does not exist, either God does not exist or God does not care. I elect to believe that God does care for his children. By reincarnation and causality, God has given us the ability to purify our minds; thus leading to a joyous life.

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Why do bad things happen to good people?

Posted on July 8, 2014 by heaventruth

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does suffering still occur after committing to God? In the Heaven’s Truth religion, it is said that the path to salvation is a difficult path. Let us examine this issue.

How many of us have had days that everything is going smoothly, and we exude positive energy? But how difficult is it to generate this positive energy when obstacles and suffering occurs. It is a sincere and faithful person who can still exude this optimism when faced with adversity.

Why is this positive energy, or spiritedness important? Some believe that this positive energy created by the mind comes back to us as joy. On the other extreme, negative energy comes back to us as suffering and inconveniences. This is why suffering occurs even if we commit ourselves to God; we reap what we have sowed. This process has the ability to purify our minds if we respond to our suffering with spiritedness; or it may continue to test our faith if we respond negatively when suffering or inconveniences occur.

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We see our reflections, but we do not understand.

Posted on July 6, 2014 by heaventruth

If I say causality, you probably do not understand it. The entire world is a mirror. Although all human beings go through births and rebirths, each way you have used your mind is accurately reflected in your body. Understand this well. Osashizu February 15, 1888

What should we do with what is reflected to us? As difficult as it is, we must accept our reflections with gratitude, and eliminate greed, arrogance, and self-love. This will guarantee the erasure of the causality, but also plant good seeds that will sprout as joy in the future.

But many of use, when confronted with our reflections, we tend to have negative thoughts that will continue to sprout as suffering in the future. The expression don’t kill the messenger is appropriate. The messengers only carry our reflections, often times over a span of different life times.

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Happy 4th of July

Posted on July 4, 2014 by heaventruth

Sometimes we participate in ceremonies and services without understanding why we have these functions. The ceremonies itself becomes the purpose. It is like the Planet of Ape series where the astronauts finally found out what the remaining humans were uttering. They were saying the Pledge of Allegiance without understanding the meaning.

It is with this warning that I write a blog on the 4th of July. With the political conflicts, and a President that appears to be over using his authority, we must remind ourselves what the 4th of July means. For the majority of people, it is a day of firecrackers and fireworks. It is the same with religion; we forget why we are members of a particular religion. We become a Christian, Buddhist, Tenrikyo or Muslim without understanding what it represents. It becomes a club; it becomes our identity.

It is this danger of time, that meanings get lost, and the ceremonies and services become important. This is why in the Tip of the Writing Brush (Ofudesaki) God continually reminds us that we do not understand.

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The Prayer to Save All Mankind

Posted on July 4, 2014 by heaventruth

In our religion everyone is a child of God. We are all brothers and sisters. There is no high or low among God’s children. Male and female are equal in the eyes of God. The rich and the poor are at the same level. Yet in this world, some believe that they are superior to others because of who they are or what they possess. There are people who take advantage of others. There are people who cause others to suffer, only thinking about themselves.

How do we level the ground, and make people realize that we are all God’s children? In the Heaven’s Truth religion, we have a unique prayer asking God to bring people to us so that we can teach them that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. But for this prayer to be effective, we must eliminate greed, arrogance, and self-love from our own minds. The following directions were given to the early followers of the church concerning how to level the ground, or make people realize that we are all equal in the eyes of God.

Do you want to open the portal to level the ground, or do you want to close the portal to level the ground? (Osashizu)

Interpretation:

Do you want God to help make people understand that we are brothers and sisters or do you want God not to help? Of course the latter path will take a long time for people to realize God’s intention of a joyous world and will prolong the unnecessary sufferings in the world.

With this special prayer, God has given us the ability to bring others to understand God’s intention for a joyous life for everyone. When these people understand God’s intentions, they will then pray sincerely for others. This process will continue to bring new people until the whole world will be praying for the joyous life among all mankind. We need to spread the prayer that will save all mankind.

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The Prayer to Save Mankind

Posted on July 3, 2014 by heaventruth

In our religion everyone is a child of God. We are all brothers and sisters. There is no high or low among God’s children. Male and female are equal in the eyes of God. Yet in this world, some believe that they are superior to others. There are people who take advantage of others. There are dictators that ruthlessly control and abuse their people.

How do we level the ground, and make people realize that we are all God’s children? In the Heaven’s Truth religion, we have a unique prayer that brings people to us so that we can teach them that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. But for this prayer to be effective, we must eliminate greed, arrogance, and self-love from our own minds. The following directions were given to the early followers of the church concerning how to make people realize that we are all brothers and sisters created to live the joyous life.

Do you want to open the portal to level the ground, or do you want to close the portal to level the ground?

Interpretation:

Do you want use this special prayer to make people understand that we are brothers and sisters, or do you want to discard this prayer to make people understand that we are all God’s children? Of course the latter path will take a long time for people to realize God’s intention of a joyous world and will prolong the sufferings in the world.

With this special prayer, God has given us the ability to bring others to understand God’s intention for a joyous life for everyone. When these people understand God’s intentions, they will then pray sincerely for others. This process will continue to bring new people until the whole world will be praying for the joyous life among all mankind.

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Reincarnation and Causality

Posted on June 29, 2014 by heaventruth

Looking at history, many of minds have believed in reincarnation. These include, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Henry Ford, General George Patton, etc.… All these men had different beliefs why reincarnation existed. Thomas Edison felt that reincarnation gave mankind endless time to figure out an idea or invention. Patton and Napoleon thought that they were great leaders because they had experience of battle from previous lives. Benjamin Franklin thought dying was a waste of time and energy, and that the soul was eternal.

What is the purpose of reincarnation? What is the reason for these partitions that hide our past lives? It is the belief that knowledge is more assimilated when we learn by ourselves, than when it is forced upon us. How easy would it be for God to punish someone after a crime? But would the person learn from this immediate punishment? It would be fear that would prevent him from acting again. Like the incorrigible prisoner, when an opportunity arises and when no one is looking, the temptation will arise. Fear prevents our minds from acting. Like the countries that are ruled by ruthless dictators, the bodies are imprisoned, and the minds are hindered to mature.

Causality is the missing piece to why reincarnation occurs. We reap what we sow. Good thoughts and behavior results in joy, and evil (greed, arrogance, and self-love) thoughts and actions result in sufferings and inconveniences. But what we reap may not occur until our next lives (partitions). God wants us to learn by ourselves.

Causality gives us an opportunity to have a joyous future. Whatever fate comes upon ourselves (suffering or joy), we can control our future. If we have good thoughts and eliminate greed, arrogance, and self-love, we will have joy and happiness in the future. As we see the conflicts in the world, this learning process will take time. Let us make the world aware of the partitions, so the world can understand causality.

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