The selfish society

Posted on May 17, 2013 by heaventruth

The Selfish Society. As parents we tell our children to work hard in school so they could become lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs. We dream of our kids playing professional sports making millions of dollars. Television is inundated with shows that portray the rich and famous. Look at the millions of people who waste their money on the lottery. To become famous and rich becomes the ultimate goal of our children. It is not surprising that we have a society that does not believe in family values anymore. Even when we try to expound values to our children, they see the hypocrisy in our lives and in our wish for their future.

When did this selfishness take place? Did the baby boomers create this mentality?  The economic prosperity created by this generation has diminished our social values, and the importance of God in our lives. Money and fame have become the golden calf. We began to compete with the Jones next door, buying the most expensive cars, and luxury items. Business and work became a mode to make money, and not a means of earning a living.  Churches and charities became a mode of making us feel good, and not a means to finding God and compassion.  And finally the government became a mode of gaining power and dependency from the people, and not a means to protect and help the people.

We have definitely become a selfish society. How can we change the direction of this negative momentum of greed?

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

Posted in business, God, greed, Heaven's Truth, Religion, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On our long journey

Posted on May 17, 2013 by heaventruth

In our lives, we live through many experiences, some which are pleasant, and some that are not. Some would say this is due to the effects of causality. We must have faith in God, and open our minds to what is occurring in our lives.  From these occurrences in our daily lives, we must ponder if they are guidance from God; and sweep our evils (greed and arrogance) from our minds. It serves no  purpose to worry about what we cannot change (causality, karma). But we can influence our future by eliminating greed and arrogance from our minds today. This is a verse from the Osashizu:

On your long journey, you have sunny days and cloudy days, rainy days and windy days. You have all sorts of days. From this, understand. If you try to settle things by allowing the mind to have spaciousness and openness, then things will settle.

Summary: You cannot change what you have done in the past. But you can influence your future by what you think or act today.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

 

Posted in faith, innen, joyous life, karma, reincarnation, Religion, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Causality (karma, innen)

Posted on May 17, 2013 by heaventruth

The concept of causality or cause and effect is an interesting concept. Good thoughts and actions result in a joyous life, and evil thoughts and actions result in suffering in the future. But usually the effect of the cause is in the far away future. This makes it difficult for anyone to see this relationship of our thoughts and what occurs in the future.

But what would be God’s purpose in creating this scheme of placing the cause and effect so far apart. If the effect came immediately after the cause, it would be like God was punishing the individual. The individual would avoid evil action from fear of retribution, instead of from his or her free will. Evil thoughts will still be present in his or her mind.

It is this removal of evil thoughts that is paramount for the salvation of mankind. It is for this reason that the effect is not placed immediately.  Man would misinterpret this immediate effect as punishment. It is only when we understand that the cause of our sufferings may be our own doing, can we by our own volition eliminate the evils (greed, arrogance, and self love) from our minds. God does not force us to remove evil from our hearts; it is only possible by our own free will.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

 

Posted in causality, God, guidance, Heaven's Truth, sufferings, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Guidance

Posted on May 16, 2013 by heaventruth

The following is a verse from the Tip of the Writing Brush:

Day by day, disorders will come to your bodies.

Ponder over it! God is informing you of your mistaken minds. 4-42

What does this mean? The law of  “Cause and effect” states that evil thoughts and actions result in suffering for the individual in the future (karma).  But usually the effect is not seen immediately. The individual has no knowledge of the relationship between our thoughts and what will occur in the future.

The verse states that God is or will start to shorten the time lapse between our thoughts and their effects. The cause of our sufferings will be immediately recognized. This will make the individual realize the relationship between these two occurrences

What significance will this event have on everyone? There will be less crimes. Some will stop their evil actions because of fear; while others will realize God’s purpose for a joyous life, and eliminate greed  by free will.

When a relationship is realized between arrogance and future sufferings, there will be less anger, hate, and violence in this world. Again, some people will stop their evils out of fear, and others will do it out of free will and understand God’s heart.

In summary, when illness or disorders appears on  your body. God is not punishing you. God may be trying to guide you!

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

Posted in arrogance, causality, Christianity, God, Heaven's Truth, joyous life, karma, Religion, spiritual healing, sufferings, Tenrikyo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Signs from heaven

Posted on May 16, 2013 by heaventruth

Everyone sometimes wants a sign from the heavens if they are on the right path in their chosen religion. These signs could be appearances of religious figures on objects like buildings. It can be dreams that give you hope. It can be strangers or acquaintances that unexpectedly guide you. Some believe that good health and prosperity may also be seen as a sign from the heavens. Finally victory in war or battle may indicate God’s approval.

Does God use these signs to strengthen our faith?  Some say that the signs are present in the challenges that we face everyday.  Others say if there is a God, God is a spectator. Of course there are people that take the middle road, and say God shows his presence sometimes, especially when we ask in our prayers.

Dreams may not come true, the good do not always win, and good people also become ill. Where is God’s sign in these outcomes?  These outcomes may be God’s guidance. We may be waiting for a sign, when God may already be helping us.

Posted in Christianity, guidance, Heaven's Truth, Religion, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Breast Cancer

Posted on May 15, 2013 by heaventruth

Most people do not have complete faith in God. I guess this would be good because some people may get in harms way just to prove their faith. Unless one is a fanatic suicide bomber, the results may not be what is expected.

The recent news of an actress undergoing a preventive double mastectomy to prevent cancer is an interesting subject for those concerned with the subject of faith.  The women with her particular genes has almost 90% of a chance of developing breast cancer according to researchers.  With the surgery, she has reduced her risk to 5%.

For those who claim to have complete faith in God, would you have undergone this treatment, or would you have depended on God and waited? If you do go through the procedure, would your faith in God be lessened?

Her reasoning was that she has children, and wants to do everything possible to take care of them. This is an extreme giving gift to her children, and her husband, but where is the faith in God?  Where is the faith that God will help her beat the odds?

I believe that the majority of people will not accuse her of a lack of faith. She has the research to back her actions. Who would not afraid to go into combat. Who would not be in fear of an impending hurricane. The dangers of these events are known like the risks of the cancer gene. Maybe it is faith or belief  that God will give us the wisdom and guidance to make the right decision, is what is the most important.

Posted in Breast Cancer, God, Heaven's Truth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Signs from God.

Posted on May 15, 2013 by heaventruth

Everyone sometimes wants a sign from God if they are on the right path. What could these signs be? Like a rainbow, like a butterfly, like a figure formed from a  cloud, an unexpected pleasant surprise, a promotion or raise, a lucky penny discovered, or even a four leaf clover.

Of course there is the opposite of God’s disfavor. What could these ominous signs be? Thunder and lightning,  ominous clouds, natural disasters, eclipses, a black cat passing in front, a broken mirror, etc…

But does God Guide people? Some say God is always with us, even providing angels to guide us. Others say if there is a God, God is a spectator. Of course there are people that take the middle road, and say God helps us sometimes, especially when we ask in our prayers.

Some say God guides us by illness or disorders of the body. For instance, have you ever had your heart palpitate uncomfortably when you were stressed, or were angry at someone? Have you had knots or pain in your stomach from these incidents? Could they be signs from God to change your behavior or thoughts? I remember one time seeing flashes of light from the corner of my left eye after speaking ill of someone. It lasted a couple of days, but was it a disapproval from God?

Can we change our behavior or thoughts and recover from illness? Science can prove that having positive thoughts do affect the health of the body. If so, our thoughts reflect our health.  Positive thoughts bring upon a healthy future, and negative thoughts bring upon a unhealthy future. Sounds like the concept of holistic medicine.

Science tends to explain many of the occurrences in life. But again if we were to believe in God, God makes science possible.  God uses science and the laws of nature in working miracles.  That illness may be explained by science, but it may also be God’s personal guidance to help you!

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

Posted in Catholic, Christianity, God, guidance, Heaven's Truth, prayer, Religion, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Miracle

Posted on May 15, 2013 by heaventruth

Many people believe that God created a world, which is self sufficient, usually not interfering with human thoughts or actions. God is said to rely on the law of  “Cause and Effect.” Good thoughts create happiness, and evil thoughts and actions create suffering in the future. The sufferings are results of man’s evil actions and thoughts against each other.

But like a book that we have compared our lives to, the effect of our actions may not be on the same page or chapter, making the relationship between cause and effect difficult to understand. Suffering will continue to occur in the world.

But suppose the cause and effect are placed on the same page.  Our thoughts and actions immediately bring forth joy or sufferings, like good health of illness. The relationship between cause and effect will become obvious to the world.   This will not go contrary to God’s policy of noninterference with human thoughts or actions.

This shortening of the lapse between cause and effect will be God’s miracle to his children.  When the whole world sees this relationship, greed, arrogance, and self love will be eliminated from the minds of mankind. The world will become joyous with everyone helping each other.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

Posted in Christianity, God, Heaven's Truth, love, Religion, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Special Prayer

Posted on May 14, 2013 by heaventruth

Many religions have primary prayer. We also have a special prayer

Evil sweeping, save them please. Universal Saving God.

Evil refers to arrogance, greed, and self love

Them refers to the people that are not familiar with our teaching. The following verse from the Tip of the Writing Brush alludes to this:

This Service, from where do you think they will come from?

From the high places they will come spiritedly. 2-4

The service is directed to benefit people that do not know the teachings. We are praying not for ourselves to be saved, but for God to help eliminate greed, evil, and arrogance from the  minds of others. When this happens, they become spirited and happy. This unselfish prayer is appropriate to our religion where salvation comes from saving others.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

Posted in Christianity, God, prayer, Religion, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why do we suffer?

Posted on May 14, 2013 by heaventruth

Consider the books in God’s library.  In each book, the first and last pages are very similar. Each book represents who we are or our soul. Each separate page represents part of our lives.

Sometimes in life, we cannot understand what is happening to us. Why does God inflict pain on us? I am a good person, why do bad things happen to me? Even Job in the Bible asked God this question.  

Like a page in a book, we need to look at what has occurred before to understand what is happening now. This is the law of “Cause and Effect”. Good thoughts create happiness, and evil thoughts and actions create suffering in the future. But sometimes like in a book, the effect does not occur in the same chapter. This is why we cannot sometimes understand the sufferings.

The first page in all of the books are similar because we all start with a pure heart, void of evil (greed, arrogance, and self love). The last page of each book reflects God’s hope of all mankind living the joyous life, ending with the pure hearts of all mankind.  The pages in between represent our daily  thoughts and actions.  For those who believe in reincarnation, the chapters may  represent different lives.

Some may say that this is a ridiculous comparison, but it is something to ponder. Why does mankind suffer?

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church

Posted in causality, Christianity, God, Heaven's Truth, reincarnation, Religion, soul, Tenrikyo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment