The Silent Treatment

Posted on June 17, 2013 by heaventruth

There is a evangelist on television that advocated avoiding people that are always complaining and causing disruptions. He stated that when we cut off these people from our lives, that it will make our lives better. But does God want us to separate from these people? Does God place these people in front of us for a purpose?

Many years ago, it was accepted to talk to strangers in buses and airplanes. Today, it is not uncommon not to speak to the person sitting next to you for the duration of the flight. Many years ago, you could ask directions on a street corner to a child playing in the neighborhood, but today they run away from you. We have become a selfish and fearful society. Are we losing an opportunity for growth as a human being?

Is it ever right to ignore an individual because you feel that you do not like their behavior, beliefs or physical appearance? In one of the sacred books of my religion, Oyasama told one of the followers to go around dust because when we confront dust, sometimes dust gets on us.  Dust in this example, signifies evils like arrogance. So when we confront people that have much arrogance, we tend to become arrogant and become angry ourselves. When this happens we have accumulated dusts in our minds. In this case, it would be probably all right to leave these people alone, in order to prevent ourselves from becoming arrogant and angry. But this does not mean that you ignore their presence?

What is our course of action when we confront people that we think we cannot get along with?  Many of tend to ignore them as if they were not present. The act usually brings forth the silent treatment from the reciprocal party. But is this what God wants? Suppose each individual is placed in our lives for a purpose? Do we want to ignore and waste this opportunity for growth? Do we want to ignore any of God’s creation?  

Acknowledge their presence  but do not confront them is my best answer. What is your solution to this dilemma?

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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The law of “Cause and Effect”

Posted on June 16, 2013 by heaventruth

It is difficult to believe that most people in this country do not believe in the law of “cause and effect”. Good thoughts and actions result in joy, and bad thoughts (greed, arrogance, and self love) thoughts and actions result in suffering in the future. Yet most people believe in punishing criminals when caught. Some countries like Israel punish the assailants as soon as they find out. Is it difficult to believe that nature or God does not act in the same way?

But in nature, the effect usually occurs in the distant future making it difficult to make a relationship between cause and effect. This will also be the case if one believes in reincarnation. In reality if the effect occurs immediately after the cause, the relationship will be easier to understand. For example, when a child behaviors unruly, it is better for the parent to punish the child immediately. If the punishment is meted at a later time, the child will not understand why he is being punished.

But what would be God’s purpose in prolonging the duration between cause and effect?  God may have a different perspective of time, where a day to us may be a second for God?  If the effect occurred immediately after the cause, some may believe the effect as God’s punishment, and not realize the suffering as a result of their own evil. It will be the fear of God that will prevent the evil person from acting, not from the change in his or her thinking. 

In summary, most people in the world whether they admit to believing in cause and effect, believe to some degree in this process of justice. Some may say that they serve God in handing out this punishment to those who they believe are evil, while others let God or nature take care of those who are evil.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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The Beatles and Heaven’s Truth Church

Posted on June 14, 2013 by heaventruth

Last night I was listening to a collection of songs by the Beatles when a few of the lyrics caught my attention.  Usually I don’t pay attention to the words, and listen only to the music.  Does the following lyrics reveal the thinking of the Beatles? They reflect many of the beliefs of the Heaven’s Truth religion (Tenrikyo) of  helping others to live the joyous life.

Imagine there’s no heaven.

See it if you try.

No hell below us.

Above us only sky.

Imagine all the people living for the day.                        

Imagine there’s no country.

It isn’t hard to do.

Nothing to kill or die for

and no religion too.

Imagine all the people

living life in peace.

You may say I’m a dreamer

but I’m not the only one.

I hope that someday you join us

and the world will be one.

Imagine no possessions,

I wonder if you can.

No need for greed or hunger.

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

sharing all the world.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

I hope some day you join us, and the world will live as one

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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Finding Enlightenment

Posted on June 13, 2013 by heaventruth

Today I was surfing the web on religion when I came upon a religious sect called Soka Gakkai. It is derived from Buddhism. To my ignorance, I was not aware of some of the teachings of Buddhism, or the teachings of Buddha.

I was surprised to find out that many of it’s teachings are very similar to the teachings of  the Heaven’s Truth (Tenrikyo) Church, and other major religions. I believe that the major religions espouse that true joy is only experienced when everyone else is joyous, and not at the expense of the suffering of others. We need to help others, as seen by the relief efforts of some religions when sufferings occur in the world.

Many religions believe that every individual has good within him or herself. Some say that  the innermost heart of every individual is pure. It is religion that helps us find this purity. Some may call it enlightenment, salvation, or spirited (attain holy spirit) when we reach this stage. It is this stage when we understand true joy. Every  religion  proposes  techniques and prayers to reach this stage of spiritual growth. It is when people advocate God’s sole approval of their religious  technique or prayer that discord or animosity occurs between religions. Religion then becomes an distraction to finding our enlightenment.

It is only when all religions begin to concentrate on helping people find this stage of purity or spiritedness, instead of fighting and arguing over who or what religion God favors, will people find true joy. It is with this consensus of finding one’s pure heart, or attaining spiritedness can all the religions agree and  come together. When this occurs, more people will be able to find true joy with everyone helping each other.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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A tincture of time

Posted on June 12, 2013 by heaventruth

How do we explain the sufferings in the world? Suffering can be both physical and psychological; the emptiness in the heart caused by loss of  a love one, the broken heart from a separation or divorce, and the excruciating torment of illness. Sometimes the emotional sufferings are more difficult to deal with then the physical sufferings.

But how do we deal with these sufferings? In many religions, especially the eastern religions, suffering is suppose to be part of life. Some even say that suffering causes one to understand oneself, or to become a better person. Without experiencing suffering, one can not empathize with the suffering.

Faith appears to be one of the factors in reducing suffering. To believe in a higher being that will eventually embrace and protect you from suffering. Chants like the Buddhist Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, give followers hope and understanding  in reducing their sufferings. Believing in Jesus gives many Christians the ability to cope with the temporary sufferings on this earth for hopes of eternal joy in heaven.

Some believe that God created a self regulatory world of removing evil (greed and arrogance) from the world; the belief that we cause are own suffering. Good thoughts and actions causes joy, and evil thoughts and actions cause suffering. We must endure our present sufferings; but we can take solace in believing that we can plant seeds for a joyous future.

But no matter what we believe in, sometimes the pain of sufferings seems unbearable. But with time, the emptiness of the heart dissipates, the injury mends, and we suffer less. Sometimes I think that the tincture of time heals all wounds, physically and emotionally. Pray and give it time!

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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If you build it, they will come

Posted on June 9, 2013 by heaventruth

There are always going to be people who are so adamant that their beliefs are correct, that they eventually repulse others from their beliefs. They usually end up arguing with a person who has the same opposing beliefs. They not only end up wasting their efforts, but also end up accumulating less virtue in the eyes of God.

It is said that when there is a good product, people will come to you. I believe it is the same with religion. Like a product, a marketing program may be needed to introduce the item to the public. It is the same with religion, where missionaries or “timber” are needed to spread the message.  They eventually become a model for people to see.

Once, Oyasama told her disciples on the problems that they may encounter in spreading the teachings.  She told them that in spreading the teachings that they may encounter dust.  She advised them to avoid dust at all costs, because in confronting dust, dust may be placed on you.  What does this mean?

Dust relates to evils like arrogance, greed, and self love. When we confront people that oppose our beliefs, they become angry and confrontational. We also become arrogant and angry in trying to counteract their arguments.  In essence, we have not succeeded in spreading the teaching; but we have accumulated dust (arrogance) ourselves which is a vice.

In summary, spread the teachings and become a model for the world to see. Do not confront or force someone to accept your beliefs. When the time is right, people will be able to understand.  People will come to you!

*Miki Nakayama is Oyasama/ founded Tenrikyo

 Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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Might is not always right

Posted on June 9, 2013 by heaventruth

There are some people in the world that believe that the more members they have or the more they conquer, the more they are on the right side, or on God’s side. Examples include the Crusades, the Axis attempt of conquering the world in War World 2, and religious movements of today that suppress others, while forcing their beliefs on others.

Examples from history reveal that the majority, or the belief of the majority may not always be right.  I believe that the founders of the constitution were aware of this human fallacy, although the occurrence may be so minute.  Our system of government protects the views of the minority by utilizing the three branches of government, the executive, judicial, and legislature.

Ironically, it is because of our safeguard system, that these fanatic religious movements are able to expand their beliefs of conquering and subjugating their victims to their ways of life.

How do we deal with these religions movements that attempt to convert by force, fear and mob rule? How do we deal with religions that suppress one gender? How do we deal with people that believe that they are killing or suppressing others in behalf of God?

Because of our great system of government, we must protect the rights of those who oppose our views as long as they do break the laws of our country. But looking throughout history, the evil forces have always been defeated. Some may attribute this to God’s protection, and others may believe that God is an observer.

In summary, just because a religion has many members do not make the views of the religion correct, or has God’s approval. Remember the past where might was not always right. Religion should not be a clique or club; it should be a source of information that leads to sweeping the evils (greed, arrogance, and self love) from the minds of each individual. It should lead to a joyous life. It should unite and not divide the world. For those who believe that might is right, look at your own people. Are they happy?

 Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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Cause and Effect (karma)

Posted on June 9, 2013 by heaventruth

We would like to share the joys  of our religion to the world.  We believe in the most sacred book, the Tip of the Writing Brush (Ofudesaki), which contains God’s truth. This is the foundation of our faith. We believe in the law of “Cause and Effect”.  Good thoughts and actions result in joy, and evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) thoughts and actions result in future sufferings.

We  are foretold that God will help the world see this relationship. By our special prayer, we ask God to quickly show this relationship to the world, so that mankind would begin to sweep evil from their minds.

With the acceptance of our prayers, God will begin to shorten the time lapse between the cause and effect, making the relationship easier to understand. When this happens, the world will begin to ponder and sweep greed, arrogance, and self love from the minds. This will create a joyous world, with everyone helping each other.

 Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

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The Monthly Period is the Flower

Posted on June 8, 2013 by heaventruth

In today’s world, there are many that consider females to be second class citizens. Surprisingly there our religions that hold this view. The following is a previous blog written in March 2013

Since the beginning of time, females have been mistakenly considered second-class citizens. Even today, females are considered inferior to their male counterparts in many parts of the world.  In our country, it was not until the nineteen century, that females eventually got the right to vote. But what is the thinking that delegates females to a lower status?  Until the modern period, the bleeding that accompanied childbirth and menstruation was seen as unclean and thus abhorred as “defiled blood” and was a cause of discrimination against women throughout the world. Could it be this reproductive mechanism that causes society to think that women are inferior?

The following is a conversation between Oyasama (female) and a male follower who Oyasama thought was treating his wife as a second-class citizen. As they were both looking out into the fields, she stated:

“Did you notice those pumpkins and eggplants? They are big, aren’t they? The plants bear fruit because the flowers bloom. Not a single plant bears fruit without its flower. Now ponder deeply. The world says woman is unclean, but there is nothing unclean about woman. Man and woman are equally children of God and there is no discrimination. Woman has a duty, a duty to bear children. Her monthly period is the flower. Without the flower there is no fruit.   Understand this well. Take the pumpkin; if its big flower is gone, that is the end of it. In many things, there are flowers that bear no fruit. But to bear fruit without any flower is impossible. Ponder deeply. There is nothing unclean about it.”

There are definitely differences between males and females, especially physically. What was once thought as a negative attribute (menstruation), should now be thought as a positive attribute.  The blood is God’s preparation for the growth of the future generation of children that will inhabit the earth. Without this cleansing, both males and females will cease to exist. Because of this special reproductive process delegated to women, should we not view women as superior to men?

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Drugs and alcohol

Posted on June 8, 2013 by heaventruth

 

I just came back serving jury duty for three days. The case revolved around driving under the influence of alcohol.  But from the selection of the jury, and conversation with other people on the jury, I found out how extensive alcohol and illegal drugs are in this country.

Why is there such a demand for drugs and alcohol in this country? Without such demands, the criminals that sell and manufacture these drugs will have to find another revenue to gain profit. We know that their motives arise from greed at the expense of the people who are addicted to these drugs.

But who are these poor souls that are dependent on these drugs (including alcohol)? They appear to be from all of society, from the poor to the rich and from all races. Their dependency on these drugs cause suffering not only for themselves, but also other people like friends and family.

What do we find in common with all these dependent people?  We find the evil of self-love in their minds.  They want their own pleasure, even at the cost of hurting others. This type of joy is only temporary, and leads to more dependency to maintain the same level of pleasure. This path leads to suffering.

In the Tip of the Writing Brush and other sacred books, it is written that true joy results from helping others. It is not the mind that seeks joy for oneself that gains joy, but it is the mind that seeks joy for others that will eventually find everlasting happiness.  Seek to help and give joy to others, and you will find everlasting happiness that drug and alcohol will never be able to give.

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