Believe in Jesus to be saved

Posted on October 26, 2012 by heaventruth

Believe in Jesus to be saved.

Some Christian churches believe that one must accept Jesus to enter the kingdom of  heaven.  This becomes the mission of the followers to spread this message. But what is our mission as followers and religious leaders?

In the Tip of the Writing Brush verse,  verse XIV-65 states:

Today you must explain my talks to others,                           XIV-65

in detail step by step. The time has at last come.

God wants us to tell people what God is going to do

Perhaps you do not know what my workings are.                 XIV-68

I shall make  all the minds in the world be revealed.

God is going to start to guide us by distinguishing the way we are using our minds (good verses bad). God is going to place disorders or illness on our bodies to guide us. God encourages the followers to tell people what God’s plan is.

There will be no understanding about anything                     XIV-66

unless you tell them. Tell them everything in detail.

Our mission as followers and leaders of the religion is to tell the world what God is going to do to save the world. But are we getting this message 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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Distorted mirror

Posted on October 25, 2012 by heaventruth

Distorted Mirror

What does a distorted mirror have to do with religion?  In the Tip of the Writing Brush, God throughout the sacred book, tells us that we do not understand the teaching.  For example, verse III-50

Though I have gathered many and varied trees (followers),              III-50

those that cannot understand reasoning (distorted mirror) will not do.

In this world, there are many people that cannot understand or refuse to understand new information that is given to them. In politics, some refuse undisputable facts and continue to support their candidates. In religion,  it is very difficult to change the mindset of a follower, even when faced with factual data.

A distorted mirror, will not  reveal the true reflection of what we look like;  as a mind that attaches to old  beliefs may not be able to see what is true.  God  warns us to understand whatever occurs.

Though I wish to have you know this path quickly.                           IV-46

It is difficult because there is no understanding.

To the followers of any church or political organization, I deplore you to understand from your innermost heart. And to  members of the Tenrikyo church, please read and understand the Tip of the Ofudesaki.

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

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

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

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

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The law of gravity

Posted on October 24, 2012 by heaventruth

Law of Gravity

Why are we talking about the law of gravity on this blog?  In this world, there are some rules that are absolute. When you throw something up, it comes down due to gravity. It is the same with causality (innen).  What you plant now, you reap in the future.  This is also absolute. For example, good deeds will result in a joyous future, while bad deeds will result in future sufferings

There are many references in Tenrikyo literature where God is helpless to relieve the sufferings caused by our actions. But by God’s special prayer, God helps us sweep  evils (greed, arrogance, and self love) from our minds.  This results in  positive behaviors which produces a joyous future (causality).

In summary what can we do?

Accept the consequences of your past actions in a positive way, while planting good seeds that will produce joy in the future.

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

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

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Why can’t we just forgive someone?

Posted on October 23, 2012 by heaventruth

Why can’t we just forgive someone?

Sometimes it’s difficult for one to forgive someone for what they have done. We tend to judge them from our perspective for their actions. Sometimes we are justified in our feelings, and sometimes we are not. Many times  we sense their anger, or their grudge bearing against us.  With time, these feelings cause a separation between the two parties that become permanent.

But what can we do?  I believe that we cannot change someone’s attitude or behavior. We will always experience people or situations that we are not agreeable with. Some will say this is caused by causality (innen), and others will say it is random. If we cannot change other’s behavior, what can we do?

We can change our reaction to their behavior. I believe that our religion gives us this opportunity to calm our minds when we are faced with a disagreeable situation.

If we truly believe that all mankind will be saved, how can we hate or have ill feelings toward our fellow man?  When we see people who appear to behave unruly, we must realize that it will take some people more time to be saved.  This does not mean that we ignore what others say, or not respond to things we disagree with. We must calm our minds and not have animosity toward the situation.

In our religion, we must truly believe that mankind was created by God to live a joyous life, and all mankind will be saved. If we believe this, our minds will be calm during any situations that may occur. It is also this mind that we must attain for our prayers to be answered, so that all mankind can lead a joyous life.

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

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

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Why is it so difficult for some to accept this religion?

Posted on October 22, 2012 by heaventruth

Why is it so difficult for some people to accept our religion?

People want immediate gratification. They want to see results fast. In our religion we “plant the seeds”  for our future now.  We may not see the results of our efforts immediately. With our prayer, God helps sweep our evils away (greed, arrogance and self love). With the sweeping of these evils, our actions become positive.  This is what we call planting the good seeds for the future.  Our good behavior will result in future happiness.  But this effect may not occur for some time.

People get discouraged because they pray to God, but suffering still occurs. This suffering is a result of their past actions that are now sprouting.  God encourages us to accept these sufferings in a positive manner, and continue to plant the good seeds.  By doing this,  the good seeds will sprout in the future, and our future will only become joyous.

Don’t be disappointed by the negative events that occur daily. They are the effects of what you have done before.  Distinguish the difference between God’s guidance and the sufferings from one’s past actions due to causality.  What sprouts from your past actions, you can only accept it in a positive manner; but the guidance from God’s love,  turn it into behaviors that sprout a joyous future.

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

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

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Heaven’s Truth for dummies

Posted on October 21, 2012 by heaventruth

Heaven’s Truth for dummies

Why is this religion difficult to understand? I would like to attempt to simplify the main themes of the Tip of the Writing Brush.

God created mankind to live the joyous life

God created the law of cause and effect.  Some religions would call this causality. We call it innen in our religion.  God has no control over the effect of our actions.

Evils like greed, arrogance and self-love have become wide spread causing behaviors that hurt others. This results in our future sufferings (cause and effect).

God saw the suffering of human beings caused by these selfish acts, but could only look on.

God decided to help mankind by showing us our  future by distinguishing the way we are using our minds today.

God places disorders and illness on the body, appropriate to how we are using our minds. God is guiding us so we can eliminate the greed, arrogance, and self-love from our minds.   With the eliminations of these evils, our behaviors will be exemplary and our future will become joyous. This will be a positive result of the law of cause and effect.

But God does not place disorders or illnesses on our bodies without our permission.  God grants us a special prayer to ask God’s guidance in removing our paths of the mistaken mind.

With the acceptance of our sincere prayer, God guides us and also brings others into our lives to share God’s benevolence.  God heals us from our disorders, as we ponder over God’s guidance. As our behavior becomes exemplary, our relationship with God will become positive, and our future will become joyous.  We will be closer to all mankind living a joyous life.

Let us share this special prayer with others!

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

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

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Why do we pray toward Jiba?

Posted on October 20, 2012 by heaventruth

Where do we pray to in our religion?                                           

In many religion, followers pray toward a location, or an object. But where do we pray toward?

Verse VI-6  may give you some instructions:

The distinction between good and bad will be made here (Jiba),                    VI-6

by the performance of the joyous service.

Jiba in our religion is where the first instruments of creation of mankind was assembled. This location is where we address our prayers toward.

Remember the distinction between good or bad refers to God’s guidance. God is distinguishing our minds at the Jiba, and then  places  disorders or illness on our bodies  dependent on how we are using our minds.

Pray toward the  Jiba (the future Kanrodai) if you want your sincere prayers to be answered.

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

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

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Why do we use our hands to pray?

Posted on October 17, 2012 by heaventruth

Why do we use our hands to pray?

Each part of the prayer has a hand movement that has meaning, even without the words we speak. For example when we speak the word evil, our hands in the prayer position go downward. When we say sweep away, our hands make a sweeping motion toward our hearts. When we are asking God to Save us, our hand our placed palms up in the asking position, and finally when we mention God, our hands are also in the asking position with the palms up.

There is a verse in the Tip of the Writing Brush that makes reference to how even a person who is not able to talk is able to pray.

This service is the path for salvation of the world                  IV-91

Even a mute, will be able to pray.

Personally,  when I use to pray, I use to lose focus, and my mind would wander to extraneous subjects. But  by looking at my hands while I pray,  it reinforces what comes out of my mouth. It gives me focus, to sincerely pray for God’s blessings.

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

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

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Interpretation of the Tip of the Writing Brush

Posted on October 16, 2012 by heaventruth

Interpretation of the Tip of the Writing Brush

In the Tip of the Writing Brush  illness, or yamai in Japanese is often preceded by naru. Naru refers to an event that has not occurred yet. For example:

Dono yona mutsukashiku naru yamai demo                  XII-51

Kore naoran to yu de zo ya.

translated as:

However serious your illness may become,                   

never say that it will not be cured.

Why did God place naru in the verse?

I believe this naru refers to illness brought upon by God’s guidance. It does not refer to suffering brought upon by our own actions (causality).

Why is it important to distinguish the two? Illness brought upon by God’s guidance is curable by our prayers, but sufferings brought upon our past actions is usually not.

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

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

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Interpretation of the Tip of the Writing Brush

Posted on October 15, 2012 by heaventruth

Interpretation of the Writing Brush

Please wait awhile before giving away what you have prepared XVI-73
It is like throwing it into muddy water.
What does this mean?

My interpretation is:

When God is distinguishing how you are using your mind, do not ignore the disorders that are placed on your bodies. If you do, you are ignoring God’s guidance, and perpetuating your future sufferings.

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

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