Who would have Jesus voted for?

Posted on November 7, 2012 by heaventruth

Who would have Jesus voted for?

Our country has been blessed by God in the past. Why have we been so blessed? Our country is a fertile ground for the development of the individual. For the most part government has kept their control of our citizens to a minimum. Economically, any individual  has the potential for success.

Because we have democracy (republic) and capitalistic society, we also have  more opportunities to behave good or bad. You can say that it is easier for  God to judge us in America. In other countries where government suppresses the individual, individual choice to behave is also suppressed.  The individual growth economically as well as spiritually is stunted.

Lets take an example, of a child that we love. As parents we would like to take care of them forever. But we realize that we must let them go for them to grow as individuals. The child will usually be content to receive support from the parent, but does not realize the loss of individual potential. On a larger scale, this is what some governments do to their people. Socialism and communism reduce the potential of its citizens to grow economically. But you will see as noted below that it will also limit them spiritually.

In our religion, God tells us to get rid of greed, arrogance and self love from our minds. Because of our freedom and opportunities available in this country,  these evils are more available to us. But from these evils that fill our hearts, God is able to monitor the progress of our growth spiritually. God is then able to help us sweep these dusts from our hearts.

In summary, countries that control their people try to substitute government for God. Instead of God, the people depend on government. The individual loses growth spiritually. Getting back to the question who Jesus would vote for.  I believe that   Jesus would have voted for a candidate that believes in less government.

“Evil Sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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God will help you, but are you ready?

Posted on November 6, 2012 by heaventruth

God will help you, but are you ready?

In the Tip of the Writing Brush, God wants to save people,  but notices that there are no places that teaches the truth.

Though I desire to go forth into the open quickly                  II-13

I cannot do so because there is no path 

What do you think this talk is about?                                     II-16

I am hastening for the places where God’s truth is conveyed.

God’s truth is:

1. Man was created to live a joyous life (the origin).

2. Greed, arrogance and self love have emerged in our minds, delaying this plan.

3. God will begin working to help sweep these evils from our hearts.

4. God grants us a special prayer (joyous service) to request this assistance.

5. God wants us to spread this prayer to the world.

God desires  churches that spread the truth to the world.

When these truth reach the people and  is understood and acted on, the salvation of the world will occur.

God grants us a special prayer (joyous service) to open the path to salvation; but in verse IV-75, God notices that weeds have grown thick and the path of salvation is blocked. What are these weeds?

I believe these weeds refer to us forgetting one of God’s truth. We are forgetting the origin that mankind was created to live a joyous life. When we forget this, our prayers are misdirected. Some of us pray for our own interests, like getting ahead in our jobs, getting accepted to college, or material wealth. These goals are applauded and praised by most churches and society if accomplished in a hardworking and honest manner; but our  prayers should generally not be directed toward these self interest goals. Some in our church place emphasis in the act and perfection of the prayer, as if offering a sacrifice to a demanding God.

We must gain control of our prayers. It is not just to perform the service, but it is the meaning that we must understand for our prayers to be effective. We pray to God  to guide us, sweeping away evils (greed, arrogance, and self love), so our behavior will be good. Good behavior brings forth a better future (causality). It is not only ourselves that this prayer will effect, but it is others that God brings to us. We must spread this truth to the world, so that God can begin  working to help  sweep evil from  everyone in the world. We must tell people what God’s intentions are. They will not know, if we do not tell them.

Know the origin for your prayers to be effective, and spread this prayer to the world.

“Evil sweeping save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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How do we make our prayers effective?

Posted on November 5, 2012 by heaventruth

How do we make our prayers effective?

In the Tip of the Writing Brush,  God tells us to know the origin for our prayers to be effective. God assures to take control of everything if we know the origin.  But what is this origin?

The origin represents the creation of  mankind. It is not the creation, but the cause of the creation that is the most important (root). God created mankind to live a joyous life.  It is this fact that we must truly believe for our prayers to be effective.

From our perspective, if we believe that all mankind will be saved, how can we discriminate against other people? How can we hate, or take advantage of others for our own benefits?  We must understand, that we may not always agree with the behavior of others; but if we know this origin, we will not have animosity or anger.

This origin represents the purity of the first instruments of creation, where evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) did not exist.  This is the state of mind we must have before our prayers are accepted by God.

“Evil Sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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What are the qualities of a good person?

Posted on November 4, 2012 by heaventruth

What are the qualities of a good person?

Let us eliminate some factors

Education, genetics, political affiliation, and financial status do not determine the good qualities of a person

Possible factors influencing the quality of a good person:

Anger, arrogance, greed, laziness, self love, close mind, and religion.

Let us look at each factor individually.

Anger is definitely not a quality of a good person. Anger may be placed under arrogance.  Without arrogance, there cannot be anger.

Arrogance is a belief that one is better than another. This is not a quality of a good person.

Greed includes miserliness, covetousness. It is a state of mind that desires wealth or power without concern about others.  Greed is not a quality of a good person.

Laziness is not a quality of a good person. Laziness can be placed under the category of self-love.  The lazy person only thinks about himself or herself.

Self-love is not a quality of a good person.

Close minded is not a quality of a good person. One must have understanding.

Religion  can be a quality of a good person. See below. is a quality of a good person. One must be able to understand what is happening.

Does religion play a part in the quality of a good person? There are many people in this world that have all the qualities of a good person that are void of any religion.  There are also people who are religious but lack most of the qualities of a good person. But there are people that are religious and have qualities of a good person also.  Religion is not a prerequisite for a good person; but it may be a path to obtain the good qualities.

In summary, a good person must not have anger, greed, and self love. He or she must have an open mind.

Let us study the religions that support these good qualities, and find out what they teach. From my perspective, I can only tell you about our religion. We believe that suffering exist in the world because of the path of the mistaken mind. These paths are greed, arrogance, and self-love.   These are all the qualities that a good person should not have.

It is difficult for the average person to eliminate these bad qualities from our minds. Sometimes we are not even aware that we have these bad qualities. This is why we have our special prayer asking God to help us eliminate these evils from our minds.

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

With the acceptance of God’s guidance, we will be able to attain the good qualities and live a joyous life.

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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Coming out of the closet

Posted on November 2, 2012 by heaventruth

Coming out of the closet

This blog is for Tenrikyo members.

There are many people in this world who are proud of their religion. Some go door to door propagating their religions, while others wear distinctive apparel which reveals their religion. They appear proud of their religion, and are happy to share with others. Some believe that their religion is the true religion, and are fervent in their desire to propagate their views. There are many of us  in the Tenrikyo religion who are silent in our own churches and are content.  There are a few who are vociferous about our religion when in the comforts of their church, but are well camouflaged when in public. Why is our church so hidden from public view?

Are we embarrassed about our religion?  Can we convey our teachings without people thinking that we are evil or foreign? Do we have the resources to spread the truth in America, or to the world? Where can we find this information?

I believe that the answer and solution to many of these questions  is in the Tip of the Writing Brush.  We must read this sacred book with an open mind, translating the original verses as  accurate as possible. In the last chapter of the Sacred book, God quotes in verse 17-24

What do you think this talk is about?

If only the Tip of the Writing Brush begins to be seen.

To the administration of Tenrikyo, please read the Ofudesaki with an open mind, and help spread the truth that will settle the world.

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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To save oneself, you must save others

Posted on November 2, 2012 by heaventruth

To save oneself, you must save others.

In the Tip of the Writing Brush, it says that one must save others to be saved. In other words, one must not be selfish. There is a good feeling when one donates to a worthy cause, and there is also a warm feeling when one receives. These exchanges without any commitments brings out the joy from our hearts.

For instance, During Halloween, I wanted my grandson (3years) to give out candy. I was doubtful that he would participate since kids this age are very possessive. At first his facial expression was perplexed at giving out candy that he loves to eat. But as the night went on, I could see the joy in his face as he grasped each candy from the bowl to each of the moving bags of the participants. He also experienced the many thank you  he received in giving out the treats.

Halloween now a days is given a bad reputation due to some of the bad events that have occurred in the past. Yet, I believe that it can also be a learning experience for our children. In our religion, hinokishin is any work or effort that helps others. I believe that this experience of giving and receiving fits into this definition of hinokishin. Giving out candy  may not be equated to  saving other; but it is an unselfish act that may ignite one’s passion to share with others.  Joy is brought to the hearts of both the recipient and the donor. This fits into the category  of  ” in saving others, one saves oneself”.

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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God warns us before taking action

Posted on November 1, 2012 by heaventruth

God warns us before taking action

In the Tip of the Writing Brush, God tells us that we have been given notices many times, but we still do not understand the truth.

At this time, I am giving you notice again,                                         XII-27                         

on top of my previous notice and appeals.                                        

Alas, no matter how many notices I give and appeals I make,          XII-28

there is no one who understands.                                                      

But where are these notices and warnings? God’s notices are also in the Tip of the Writing Brush

In all situations, It is well if you do not error.                                     I-23

But should you mind be in error, I will inform you by verse. 

Because we do not understand the warning given by the Tip of the Writing Brush, God began to enhance the process of sweeping the evils (greed, arrogance, and self love) from our minds. This is explained in the sacred book.

What do  you think this talk is about?                                                XVII-24

If only the Tip of the Writing Brush begins to be seen.                      

God wants us to understand what work he is going to undertake. In the sacred book, God warns us to change our bad behaviors.  God tells us what actions will be taken if these notices are ignored. God  works by placing illness and disorders on our bodies. Upon reflection of our misuse of our minds and subsequent good behaviors, God will remove these disorders from our bodies. This will eventually lead to a joyous future.

But as written in the Tip of the Writing Brush,  God does not force his work on anyone. We must ask or pray for God’s guidance. This is why our prayer is so important!

“Evil Sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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What is evil?

Posted on October 31, 2012 by heaventruth

What is evil? 

Since today is Halloween, this may be a good subject to talk about.  In our religion, we do not believe in the devil, or Satan. We can not blame all the bad things that happen to us on them.

We believe that evils are greed, arrogance and self love. These are paths of the mistaken mind that causes us to behave selfishly.  These evils can be considered like household dusts. If we are not vigilant, they accumulate and are difficult to remove by ourselves.

God grants us a special prayer to help us remove these evils from our minds. With the acceptance of our sincere prayer, God helps us sweep these evils from our minds. With this process, our behavior becomes exemplary, and our future becomes bright.

Please give this  prayer for world salvation  a try,

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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Why does God make people suffer?

Posted on October 30, 2012 by heaventruth

Why does God make people suffer?

Why do we  suffer? Why are their millions of homeless? Why are there deadly diseases like HIV? Why are there famines that cause so much suffering in third world countries. Why does God make us suffer?

God does not inflict these sufferings on us. Then what causes all these suffering in the world? We believe that it is greed, arrogance and self love in our minds that cause us to behave contrary to God’s intention of a joyous life.  These behaviors directly and indirectly cause sufferings in the world. It causes suffering directly by the effects on the subjects that the behavior inflicts. Indirectly, it  eventually causes suffering to the individual who elicits the bad behavior,  which some call causality or innen.

In the Tip of the Writing Brush, God says that he can only look on to what we have done to ourselves. God can only help us improve our future. God  grants us a prayer to sweep away  evils (greed, arrogance, and self love) from our minds. With the elimination of these evils, our behaviors becomes exemplary, causing a joyous future (causality).

Pray with sincerity,

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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What are God’s blessings?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by heaventruth

What are God’s blessings?

We think of God’s blessing as good health,  happiness,  and prosperity.  But in the Tip of the Writing Brush, God’s blessings are also illness and disorders of the body.  How could this be?

Illness and disorders of the body are God’s guidance to us. God distinguishes how we are using our minds today (greed, arrogance and self love).  We can ponder over these illnesses and change our bad behavior to good behavior.

So in the future, if disorder or illness appears on your body, do not disregard these events as incidental events in our lives. It may be God’s blessings,  guiding you to a brighter future!

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo

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