Repentance in Action

Posted on September 9, 2013 by heaventruth

In the Osashizu is written:

Repentance in thought is not enough. To put it into action is truly to repent. March 26, 1896

What this means, is that just saying sorry for past indiscretions is not enough. One must  not make the same mistake in the future. Sometimes words are not enough. We must put our resolve into action.

There are many of us that continue to apologize for our past actions, but continue to make the same mistakes. It is only when we apologize for our past mistake and then proceed to avoid these indiscretions that may be called true repentance. This is repentance that God accepts and rewards.

 

 

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The Understanding of Causality

Posted on September 8, 2013 by heaventruth

It has been recently cited that one third of the families in America may incur abusive relationships.  In many parts of the world, females are still considered second-class citizen. Racial and religious tensions still exist in this country, and the world. People continue to cause others to suffer.

What is the solution to stop humans from hurting each other?  The Golden rule has existed since the beginning of mankind.  One should treat others, as one would like others to treat oneself. There is also the classic, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. These all try to justify remedy for wrong incurred upon mankind. But could these sayings have a legitimate source? Could they have originated from the heavens? Is there a process already in place by God to right the wrongs?

Is an eye for an eye already occurring in the world without our knowledge? How do we explain why some suffer, while others have joy?  Causality (karma, innen) may explain some of the sufferings in the world. Good thoughts and action bring forth joy, and evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) thoughts and actions bring forth suffering. Of course, one would have to believe in reincarnation, or the next life.

The occurrence of suffering, and the occurrence of mankind causing suffering to others are indisputable. Although it will be impossible to prove that suffering is the result of our own actions, many of the ancient writings insinuate toward this process of self-regulating retribution. The understanding of causality may be the impetus that will eliminate the evils in our hearts, and bring peace and joy to the world.

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Thought of the Day

Posted on September 8, 2013 by heaventruth

What I see in the world is a reflection of my mind.  The hopes that come true, the dreams that don’t, are all what I have done or thought.  The mysterious that happen today and tomorrow, are the results of thoughts and actions long ago. Some see the world as new events that occur, I see the world as a history of my mind. Fate some say is cruel and unjust. But joy is also fate that comes from the past.

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Our Sins

Posted on September 6, 2013 by heaventruth

Human beings do not like to hear that they are imperfect. We do not want to hear about our frailties, and shortcomings. Many of us will avoid at all cost an evaluation of ourselves whether it be at work, or at home. We sometime avoid the truth, even if the acknowledgement of our faults may make our situations better in the future. We will sometimes defend to the extreme when people question our past actions.

It is because of this avoidance of our faults that makes the understanding of causality extremely difficult for the average person. We do not want to believe that our sufferings may be the result of our past evil (greed, arrogance, and greed) actions. We refuse to blame ourselves. We rather blame others for what happens to us.

Understanding causality makes us understand that we have our frailties and shortcoming. We must realize that we may not know God’s heart. It gives us the opportunity to plant good seeds (cause) that will produce (effects) joy in the future. We have control of our destiny. We have the ability to remove greed, arrogance, and self love from our hearts. It is not only necessary to acknowledge that we have sinned, but we must eliminate the evils in our hearts. With the purification of our hearts, we will be able to understand that God created all mankind to live a joyous life with everyone helping each other.

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The Narrow and Broad Paths

Posted on September 5, 2013 by heaventruth

In most religion, there is a path or steps that is recommended to gain salvation. This may involve religious rituals, prayers, or declarations. In the Heaven’s Truth Church (Tenrikyo), it is recommended that we first understand causality in order to understand God’s teachings. The metaphors narrow and broad are used in describing two separate paths.

In the Osashizu, it is stated that the narrow path is difficult to follow, but there are less injuries. A Broad path (path of the world) is easy to follow but there are more injuries.

The narrow path is a path that is aware of causality. It is a difficult path because it requires patience and resolve in going through the consequences of causality. But because one is aware of the cause of causality, one is able to confront causality with reflection and true sincerity. One begins to remove greed and arrogance bringing forth less sufferings (injuries) in the future. This path guarantees joy in the future.

The worldly path is not aware of causality. It is an easy path because it does not require patience and resolve in dealing with the consequences of causality. When sufferings or inconveniences occur, one is at loss. In coping with the consequences of causality, one easily lets greed and arrogance take over the mind. This will bring forth more sufferings (injuries) in the future. This is the path of the world now.  When the narrow path becomes the path of the world, the world will experience everlasting joy.

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A World Constructed on Reason

Posted on September 5, 2013 by heaventruth

We human beings are blessed with the cognitive abilities of reasoning. The occurrences in the universe can be usually explained by this cognitive ability. For example we know that the sun rises and falls daily due to the rotation of our round earth. We know that if we cut ourselves, that we will usually bleed due to the physiology of our bodies. There are hardly any mysteries in life that our mind cannot solve. When an accident occurs, we look for the cause. When a life mysteriously ends, we try to find the causes (autopsy).  In summary, we are living in a universe that allows us to use our cognitive abilities in finding answers to any occurrences in life. In the Tip of the Writing Brush is written:

 

This is a world constructed on reason. So I shall press upon you everything with the reason in verse. 1-21

 

Even as we realize that this world is constructed on reason, when we talk of causality, there are many people who scoff or ridicule the idea. The law of cause and effect state that good thoughts and actions bring forth joy, and evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) thoughts bring forth sufferings in the future.  There is a cause for every effect. By this law, one can explain every occurrence in life.

 

It is also stated in the Tip of the Writing Brush that we must first understand causality to gain salvation and to have a joyous life. God gives us the ability (thinking), and the world constructed on reason, to understand the occurrences (whether joy or suffering) in every day life.

 

In summary, ponder over the daily occurrences; comprehending causality gives us the ability to understand our past thinking and actions, but it also allows us to plant the seeds for our future. Eliminate greed, arrogance, and self-love for a joyous future. Have faith, but have faith that is based on reasoning. This is a world constructed on reason.

 

 

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The World is the Body of God

Posted on September 4, 2013 by heaventruth

We human beings are arrogant to believe that we can do anything with our bodies, including the bodies and properties of others. In the Tip of the Writing Brush is the verse:

I shall teach you step by step that this world is the body of God. Ponder, and look at it. 3-40

What this verse means is that we are only borrowing our bodies and possessions from God. Everything in this world belongs to God. We are temporary custodians of God’s possessions.

What are you humans thinking of this talk? Your bodies are things lent by God and you are all children of mine. 13-79

Yet there are people who try to possess as much as possible (greed). There are people that believe that they can hurt others (arrogance). There are people who only care about themselves and their family (self love). These people do not realize that everything and everyone in this world is God’s possession. We must work hard with persistence and honesty; and have the humility to share our temporary possessions. We must treat everyone with respect, as we would respect God. When we cause suffering to others, we are causing God to suffer, since the world is the body of God.

In summary, the spiritedness of God is dependents on the minds of the world. Sharing and helping each other will bring forth a world of prosperity that the world has never known. The world is the body of God.

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The Universe is the Body of God

Posted on September 3, 2013 by heaventruth

In the Tip of the Writing Brush (Ofudesaki), it is said that we borrow our bodies from God. God lends us our bodies. It is said that we have autonomous control of the use of our minds. To a limited extent, since we have control of our minds, we have control of our bodies. That we do not have complete control of our bodies is emphasized when we get sick.  Our thoughts continue, but the body may not respond.  It is God who has the ultimate control of our bodies because the universe is the body of God.

Normally, when we borrow from someone, we try to take care of it and return it in good condition. It may be the same condition with our bodies; God may require us to take care of our bodies.

But what happen when we try to destroy what is being lent to us by God? What happens if we drink too much alcohol and drugs? What happens if we attempt suicide or homicide? What happens if we think evil?  We will be destroying what God has lent us. We will be destroying part of God since the universe is the body of God.

The suffering of our bodies is never good whether it be from causality or from the actions of man. If we are to believe that the universe is the body of God, then God suffers from the evils of mankind. Only when these evils (greed, arrogance, and self love) are removed, will God become healthy, spirited and whole.

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Evil People

Posted on September 2, 2013 by heaventruth

What kind of beliefs do people that cause sufferings in this world have? What religions are they affiliated with? The recent chemical annihilation of innocent children and the past history of genocide of the Nazi regime represent mankind at its lowest.

Do these people who inflict these atrocities believe in a God? If they believe in God, do they think that God is supporting their atrocities? Does their continue existence prove that God is on their side? Do they believe in heaven or hell? Do they think that they are doing God’s work? What would make them change their minds?

Some believe that immediate retaliation or punishment will change their minds. History reveals that this type of remedy usually does not work. Evil minds continue to arise from the ashes of retribution even after the annihilation of the perpetrators. What would make the evil people change their minds?

In the Tip of the Writing Brush, it is said that we must understand causality first if we are to understand the purpose of life. The law of cause and effect state that good thoughts bring forth joy, and evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) thoughts and actions bring forth suffering for oneself in the future. This law is absolute and applies to all of God’s children. If these people who inflict harm and evil on others realize that their actions will result in their own sufferings in the future (future lives also), then they may have second thoughts before they act.

But how easy would it be for these selfish people to understand causality? In the Tip of the Writing Brush, it is stated that the first step is our prayer. We must pray to God to help these people eliminate evil from their hearts.

In summary, it is not reasoning, retribution, and military might that changes the behavior of evil people; it is our continual prayers that will eventually change their minds. It is God that will eliminate their evils.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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Disorder

Posted on September 1, 2013 by heaventruth

The second law of thermodynamics states that everything leads to randomness and disorder (entropy). But we humans like to put things in order.  I remember growing up and living next to our neighbor Mr. Wilson. He was fastidious in his gardening. His grass was always green, and there was not a single weed on his premise. He always appeared happy when tending to his garden. To me gardening is like an endless task, going against the law of entropy. It is like King Sisyphus rolling his boulder up a steep hill. The massive stone would always roll back down, forcing him to start over again.   

Mr. Wilson had passed away many decades ago, but his house still stands. It now stands dilapidated, surrounded by patches of yellow grass. The weeds and insects have infected the yard. Without human efforts, the law of entropy always appears to triumph.

But what is our purpose in utilizing so much energy in a system that always takes you back to the beginning? Trees grow, dust always accumulates, money disappears, grocery disappears, work never goes away, etc.….  It is a constant uphill battle against an unstable world.

How can humans seek joy?  Imagine building a sand castle. We attain pleasure in building and admiring our masterpiece. But as evening approaches, the waves gradually wash away the remaining remnants of our sand castle.  The joy comes from being able to freely use our bodies and minds.

In summary, life’s accomplishments are secondary. It is how we use our minds that are of primary importance. Have goals in your lives, but also remove greed, arrogance and self love from your thoughts as you fulfill your dreams. Be like Mr. Wilson and enjoy your lives.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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