Dick Dusek's Dosage

Wednesday, August 19, 1998 Do not treat believers unequally. Even if some bring many offerings, do not treat them with any special attention. Those with devoted faith are the true believers. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #94] We would like our faith to be such that it is received by Kami with particular care. To do this, we should reach a relationship in which we can relate to Kami as our true selves. As faith becomes fervent, one will be able to sense deeper into the Heart of Kami. Today for the coming youth members training camp I received the theme, "manifest the joy." 7/23/83 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Treat all portions of the process of life with sincerity and care. The large happenings the Airaku believers are pretty good at receiving and manifesting the joy of that process. However, how are we at the tiny, small portions of life's divine process. Just the few words between husband and wife, for example, we aren't shining in faith here, are we? The small and the large portions of Kami's divine work in the process of our everyday lives, both are equal in leading us to divine enrichment. Aim to build your faith through each and every type of Kami's Heartful process. Request to fulfill each and every mission necessary for the task. Pray for every single thing. Put Kami into each portion of life. Manifest the divine & human joy of fulfilling the mission of the process of life, which is the very heart of Kami. I pray sincerely for the depth of faith to persevere into the heart of Kami's great, medium and small portions of the divine work of our lives' process. May I! become the greatest joyous manifestor of the process of this universe of life. Rev. Dick Dusek
Tuesday, August 18, 1998 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo People will receive divine blessings if they pray to the earth while picking their vegetables. Also, if those vegetables are boiled and eaten with a grateful heart, there will be no illness. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #32] It's the ABC's for faith practiced by experimenting and proving. Putting you hands together in prayer you are moved to worship the earth and partake of everything. Up until now what has prevented me from realizing blessings has become perceived within the various things around me. You will realize that faith is to worship every single thing. You can say it's to accept every single thing. 7/23/81 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Rev. Dick Dusek as duty minister of the day If someone calls you a thief, you should not get angry as long as you are not a thief. If someone calls you a beggar, you are not one if you do not go and beg. Kami sees all. Wear a sash of faith. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #58] There's a bundle of split firewood. It's loose. By adding more to it, it becomes quite tight. To wear a sash of faith means to add such content into it. 7/18/82 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] ** Wood stands for spirit or feeling. They both are "ki" in Japanese. In other words, it's the spiritual heart being discussed. I felt strongly this mini-teaching given by our headminister last month. Just as without an obi it's difficult to walk in a kimono, just continuing to drag out one's faith will be inadaquate. The band of faith is the standards for faith. I wish to get rid of any nonproductive ways that I have in my everyday life. Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo 7/5/98
Monday, August 17, 1998 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo People living between heaven and earth are the children of The Principle Parent. If your body is in pain or ill, it is difficult to work. Pray for physical well-being, diligence in your work, rich grain harvests, and for your horses and cows. Pray with sincerity for everything. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #51] It's indicating the position for prayer. It states to "pray with sincerity for everything." To seek for sincerity is important. Why must we pray? It is because "people living between heaven and earth are Kami's children." In order to perform your work as children of Kami you just have to "pray for physical well-being, diligence in your work, rich grain harvests, and for your horses and cows." It's not merely for personal comfort. It is teaching the essence of prayer in the Konko religion. 7/2/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Airaku now needs to pray and request Kami for everything. Now we are ready to pray in detail for everything necessary. The basic prayer, the fundamental way is The Five Requests. Now in motion with this much development in Wagakokoro life, even if the prayer isn't answered to our expectations our WAGA spirit doesn't break down. Three big sections from the 13th chapter of the Wagakokoro Gaku, first volume, was read. Rev. Soichiro Otsubo speaks of the need for true prayer, the wink of Kami, and developing this prayer for twenty years to a evermore beautiful, evermore enriched spirit of ease, joy, and happiness in these sections. The prayer for health, wealth, success, and continued prosperity is necessary for reaching true fulfillment, rich and beautiful. It's all for maintaining true happiness, and for obtaining the divine wish of the peaceful and joyful spirit (Wagakokoro).
Sunday, August 16, 1998 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo The Grand Ceremony is at 10:30, so early morning worship was held, instead of Wagakokoro Day services You can not help but received divine blessings even after death. Pray even at the moment of death. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #43] That world; this world. The human world; the divine world. People are born into the world of man. Realize the uncertainty of the human world. When you desire to reside in the world of Kami There's no other way than to actually follow the teachings. This world is here for that world. 7/3/82 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The singular spirit is where everything is built. May Kami truly be set at ease. May the great request of Kami come to fulfillment in the Wagakokoro spirit. The world opens where all is divine love. Our first headminister and master has always stated, "I know no suffering." Divine ease is through respecting the very process of the universe, the process of life, the process of the spirit. May the spirit take up the process singularly and open the world of Wagakokoro peace, joy and ease.
SaturdayAAugust 15, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo It is said that the woman's womb is borrowed, but it is not. It is an everlasting treasure. During pregnancy, a woman should think she bears the child of Kami and should take good care of it. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #87] Before adopting Kami for divine ways, one should adopt the heart for spiritual ways. Since every human being has an everlasting treasure (the heart) they should be the master of living things. However, it seems everyone is still loitering around. If you use it, progress is made; by not using it, retrogression. Even though we have Aladdin's magic lamp, we discard it and shoulder a heavy central pillar with both hands. Isn't this just the figure of the person with no faith? 7/16/83 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] During the first master's training period in Fukuoka (when he was undergoing various kami-possession) he received: Divine virtue is even something that is borrowed. Therefore I have thought that everything the human being has is borrowed. However, in today's teaching it clearly states that the womb is NOT borrowed; in other words, the human spirit-heart is not something borrowed. And it adds that it should be treated with care. Today's discovery is that one's heart, one's spirit is not borrowed, you need to treat it special and develop it. Who's more important, oneself or another person? Both are people. Thus we should not lose our temper. Getting angry is causing ourself pain. But unless one develops oneself it won't lead to faith. So aiming to not cause self-inflicted pain is most important. The spirit of one's heart needs to be enlarged and more enriched so anger or worries won't upset its development. The founder even worshiped his own spirit, his own Wagakokoro spirit. Other religions look outward beyond the self, but Konko faith teaches to look within and develop one's spirit-heart. Your heart, its spirit, it NOT anything borrowed. It's yours to keep for eternity. Develop it specially. Treat it with great care. For example, you wouldn't want it to be upset, to be in pain. Only you can develop what's yours. It's so important to realize this. Develop the spirit as it bears greater treasures than ever imagined. It's left to your discression, this spirit for containing treasures both divine and human. The spirit, it is yours.
Friday, August 14, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Through Konko Daijin, Tenchi Kane No Kami's blessings can now be received. Through Konko Daijin, Kami has been revealed to the world. Konko Daijin works for the benefit of Kami and people. Follow the words of Konko Daijin carefully and practice faith. In an emergency, you need not say, "Tenchi Kane No Kami!" Just say, "Konko Daijin, please help me" and you will receive divine blessings. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #4] From Konko Daijin's own life experience we need to find out how he recognized the essential quality of mankind. That is where endless energy was drawn for maintaining man's life; it is also what came to be the teachings and proceeded to create the basic form of true faith. As one part of that, he was prudent when indulging in worldly pleasures, and realized at the same time that harsh ascetic training didn't have much merit for the salvation of mankind, so through spiritual training he developed the way of divine arrangement. Teaching this he devoted himself to putting it into practice. Along with the most important part of this teaching to "follow the words of Konko Daijin carefully," in our lives we should manifest divine mastery of Konko Daijin's way of living. 7/16/75 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] It's both the way of life and the teachings of Konko Daijin: the way of life following the ideal called, together-in-ease and the teachings of Konko faith. Only taking the ideal way is too soft, one easily gets lazy. Only taking the teachings is rather hard; it's difficult to maintain a life of faith. Both are needed. Respect the process; take up life's process with importance. This is the key to reaching the ideal, for living faith together-in-ease. But only to take up the process can cause one to lose balance, or a clear view (I can't get the right word). Are we -- Am I worshiping the same Kami as our first headminister did? As the founder did? Not yet. There's still more to grasp. The faith, a way of life, the ideal of Airaku; and the teachings for opening the spirit to follow the nature of the universe. Take a teaching and follow the process; both together build faith to fulfill the divine request in one human life, in the human soul.
Thursday, August 13, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo If you carelessly forget what you have learned, your teacher will gain nothing. If you succeed in life and say that your success is owned to your teacher, the teacher will be happy. Kami will not be happy if your lose your divine blessings. When you receive divine blessings, Kami is happy, Konko Daijin is happy, and you are happy. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #59] Your own home-style blessings are such that it's easy to lose your faith and the blessings too. Kami will not be happy by you losing them. It is because this is faith for your life. When you come to realize that everything in your life is for your faith, such faith indeed is absolute faith. Just such a faith is said to be faith whereby "Kami is happy, Konko Daijin is happy and you are happy." 7/10/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Today, the 13th, is the day we devote ourselves to helping fulfill Kami's requests. The request of divinity is deeper inside. Working to fulfill it it seems the human requests are not being fulfilled. For example, the start of The Thirteenth's Meeting. On April 15, 1955 the image of spinach was received which completed the training period called the four-and-a-half year training. Monthly worship to Hombu began in 1957 and continued into 1959; it was preparation for the 100th anniversary of the Divine Call. However, around April of 1959 the visits to hombu were stopped; there were divine guided events which stopped such group worship-visits to Hombu. This is when the idea of The Thirteenth's Meeting came about. And thus a church has developed for bringing the divine request to fulfillment. The unexpected lead to developments greater than ever dreamed of. Yes, such worship-visits were abruptly halted -- the human request was blocked and couldn't be continued. It feels as if it is unfulfillment of something important, but actually it opens the way to greater development and further maturity. Kami's prayer is fulfilled; Kami is happy, Konko Daijin is happy, and people are happy, too. It was the same for when the founder was closed down and couldn't preach or administer to people. His church was stored away for a month, but it lead to his receiving the Divine Reminder. Kami really wants something deep down, further down inside. Have we actually got faith for fulfilling this deep truth of divinity?
Wednesday, August 12, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo In a marriage proposal, instead of inquring into the social status or family lineage, ask about the personal character of the concerned. [How to Develop Faith #37] When you receive Kami's blessings, you notice that you must first acquire permission for happiness or unhappiness. Since to be given permission depends on the heart, social status and family lineage have no connection with reaching happiness or unhappiness. Nevertheless people talk of status and lineage as they're concerned only with human appearance or vanity. It's silly. At the same time it also does not meet with Kami's heart. No one can tell just how much tragedy has been caused by social status and family lineage from so long ago. After dropping our pride a beautiful character is born. 7/4/69 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] All of Konko Daijin's teachings, I feel, start from within the spirit.It's along the same lines as the Copernican theory of the earth's evolution around the sun, and spinning on its axis. It comes from within. What appears as outer wear and tear is actually dependent on what comes from within. Looking at the holes in a neighbor's sliding paper-doors, we wonder why they don't cover the holes, or repaper. But when all is said the holes in our own papered doors is discovered. By repairing our own paper-doors we won't notice the neighbor's. Take care of your own; it's coming from within your own spirit. Our spirit would seem to be made of paper. It needs regular checking. If torn, it needs repairing or repapering. May my faith truly start from within my spirit; may it renew daily the torn and worn paper to hold the divine blessings; daily check for places needing repapering. The paper (kami) of the spirit is made of Kami's materials (the universe). Pride is the same as self-respect (jisonshin). By really respecting life's process, self-pride is naturally controlled. If the skin of a drum is torn it will not resound through the universe. The surface paper of our spirit needs constant care to be able to hold the honor and glory of the Principle Parent of the Universe in this world and into the next world, too. It all starts from within, within the spirit of your beliefs.
TuesdayAAugust 11, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Your lifetime is a training period of faith. It is like the scholar who growing old will wear glasses to pursue his studies. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #37] The life of a flower is short and full of hardship. Without faith, this world is full of suffering, it is a world filled with pain. Even with faith, if prayer is pursued only for selfish reasons, then the training will certainly be painful. In the pursuit of faith, when there are difficulties, if you realize it is possible to acquire strength and divine virtue from them, then the hardship has a benefit -- it is possible to find joy in it. This is genuine training. When you try to take the easy way, it's not easy, but when we pursue faith without easing up, there is paradise. Trying to live perfectly is difficult. However, Kami is there to meet you in the struggle, just as you are. In other words, this is the way of faith to join Kami as a living spirit, in this life, not the next. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/20/76 The advertisement was read on the theme of those people who are kind of crazy are the very ones who open the world to new avenues, invent new ways -- they have the courage to pray and wish for something, and that something can be brought about. The company provides equipment for such crazy people. Kind of crazy yourself? I am. I have the courageous feeling to believe in changing the world through wagakokoro faith, the spirit-heart which holds the everlasting future for true happiness. I believe that this faith is what holds the way to evermore new openings for this world and the next. The pain is real. And the faith developed through it is real. The joyous celebration is for genuine living in the spirit of true joy, joy for both the divine and the human worlds together. It's truly a joy together in ease, though not the easy way, but a totally new way -- yes, a crazy way.
Monday. August 10, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo It is said that death occurs without respect to time. In this faith, death respects time. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #16] The enlightened world is where you're able to perceive heartlessness as, namely, sentiment. You change from trying to accomplish something to wanting to accept it. Today, to be held this afternoon, is the special thirty-year ceremony for my younger brother who died in action, as it were. Even with that, I am so awed-inspired by the depth of Kami's divine will. However, with human feelings, being the year the war ended, moreover, as it was July thirtieth, if he had the blessing of surviving fifteen more days, he could have returned alive and safe. Up to this point it's a senseless death. From when my brother died, the faith of my family changed totally into being thankful. Thinking now of the divine favors of Airaku, I cannot but feel that heartless is, namely, sentiment. 7/30/75 The huge workings of the universe are directed to opening the spirit. It's a great jump in faith deep and strong and everlasting. The seemingly mindless chaos of the world is namely sentimental cosmos. It's speaking of the mindless happenings which cannot be taken in any orderly fashion. However, these very mindless chaotic actions can actually be understood in the bigger, huge order of the cosmos. There is a mind and reason to them. They are the very thing which direct the heart-spirit to open ever wider, stronger, and deeper. Open your faith to a huge sensational world of cosmic love, divine love.
Sunday, August 9, 1998 Drove Rev. Hata to Fukuoka for the tenth day service of Mitama Matsuoka Hajime in Kuromon, near Ohori Park.
Friday, Aug. 7 AND Saturday, Aug. 8, 1998 Drove Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo and Rev. Hata to the seminar in Miyazaki Prefecture. Rev. Mikisaburo was driving into the city and interestingly enough found the Kuroki's home going in the back way. The eighth was the home service for the Goto's in Takanobe, so we stayed over and returned after enjoying various delicacies.
ThursdayAAugust 6, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo People living between heaven and earth are the children of The Principle Parent. If your body is in pain or ill, it is difficult to work. Pray for physical well-being, diligence in your work, rich grain harvests, and for your horses and cows. Pray with sincerity for everything. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #51] It's indicating the position for prayer. It states to "pray with sincerity for everything." To seek for sincerity is important. Why must we pray? It is because "people living between heaven and earth are Kami's children." In order to perform your work as children of Kami you just have to "pray for physical well-being, diligence in your work, rich grain harvests, and for your horses and cows." It's not merely for personal comfort. It is teaching the essence of prayer in the Konko religion. 7/2/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Substantial content and manifesting the Airaku world is how to fulfill the request position. The divine request will come to fulfillment.
Wednesday, August 5, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo While you are young, you will be asked to do work which pays wages, but when you get older, you will not be asked. In practicing faith, the older you get, the more virtuous you become. If you practice faith, your gratitude will increase with each passing year. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #55] Faith for blessings and more blessings does not raise a grateful heart. Practicing faith upon realizing that faith is to polish the gem in the heart, you naturally become grateful and gain more of faith's virtues. 7/15/82 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] It's the youth of the heart alive and vivid with the spirit shining polished and full of gracious virtue. The body ages, but the spirit grows greater in natural graces. Place your objective on polishing that spirit, the very heart of Kami. Each passing event, day, week, or month evolving with more and more of the Heart of the universe, the nature of the heavens, the earth, the cosmic order. How? It takes place inside the single heart of doing your daily work; the spirit to take up the process of everyday life, knowing it is the very work of divinity in our midst. When receiving the process of this ordinary life with divine respect, your life will enter an extraordinary world. Blessings never even imagined will come you way, without asking or praying for them. Rev. Dick Dusek 8/5/98
Tuesday, August 4, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo The religious training of this faith does not involve traditional physical austerities. Doing your everyday work is religious training. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #39] When you do your daily work as a form of faith training, it becomes a way to receive divine virtue through your everyday job. Of course, this means that it is important to do our tasks in a way that fulfills Kami's will. It has been seven years since we've received the blessing at Airaku of abolishing all physical austerities. Since then, as we have focused on spiritual training, by trying to keep Kami in mind all day long, offering prayers on a regular daily schedule, and trying to do Kami's will during everyday work, our church has doubled. By the way, trying to receive blessings through physical austerity is just like trying to raise money at a pawn shop. By keeping Kami's will for us in mind all day long, at work as well as at home and in between, everything is arranged for us through natural blessings. 7/30/81 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] How are you doing your daily work? What is your heart doing when you work? Aim for the nature of the universe; the Wagakokoro is good, too.
Monday, August 3,1998 The Pastor, Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo Konko Church of Airaku, Kurume, Japan People are too self-centered. At birth, even the intelligent and virtuous have no concern about lucky or unlucky days. They die without concern for lucky or unlucky days. They are concerned about such days only after birth and before death. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #66] We are like the flowing waters, flowing in and flowing out. The human reality of being born into this world and dying and perishing is the same for everyone, the intelligent, the virtuous and the mediocre. It is even a set rule of the universe. Consequently, even by just cleverly trying to live one's life, it will be in vain. It is necessary to perceive the importance of this life and while in this world make the way of the universe a part of you and lead a life of faith which is in tune with The Way. This is where one's true purpose for living will come into being. 7/17/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] It's probably easier to understand this teaching this way: People are too self-centered. At birth, even the intelligent and virtuous are born naked. Only between birth and death do they concern themselves with possessions and wealth. When they die they take none of it. Thus what is the purpose of true life, this life you are given? How is happiness to be lived? WHAT'S THE MEANING OF LIFE? Born into this world for fifty years or eighty years; Working so hard just for food and clothing; Unable to accomplish a single thing passing through this world --- when feeling this, that is, when thinking this life has passed like a dream, like a vision, one must be seized more and more by thoughts of loneliness, sadness. Clearly see Kami's will; Awaken and live Kami's everlasting will. When we know for certain that we are born into this world Now listen to the opening of the universe and be awakened. for making clear this very point, A feeling of leaping-for-joy wells up in us.
Wagakokoro Day Pastor of Airaku Church Sunday, August 2, 1998 Reverend Katsuhiko Otsubo People have often wondered why a man who is honest and like a kami or buddha is often afflicted with many misfortunes. There is a difference between a good, honest person who does not do wrong and a person who has received divine blessings through faith. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #27] Just because a person studies religion or lives a very moral life does not mean that they understand or experience the blessings given by Kami. The divine blessings we are talking about are characterized by a feeling of gratitude which underlies the sense of "ease" we experience. In other words, it is possible to live with a sense of heavenly paradise in both your body and your soul. Believers who achieve this state, taste life without poverty, strife or sickness and live in a world of truth, goodness, and beauty. An excellent plot of Japanese ginger Has butterburs sprouting with it. (Exquisite joyfulness / Sprouts with riches.) 7/10/76 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
Saturday, August 1, 1998 Oyasensei, Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo You do not need anyone else to practice faith. You should practice faith on your own. If you need someone else to practice faith, you will also need someone to die with you. However, no one is willing to die with you. To practice faith is to live day to day. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #26] I received this message from Kami: "The craving for life." This means an active search for life itself. I wish to raise faith to the point where I can honestly say that faith _is_ my life. To do this it is necessary to grow constantly in understanding the real meaning of the truths our founder mastered. "To practice faith is to live day to day." [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/17/81 Airaku faith is not resigned to be just a concept. The display room in the mountains, in the middle of nowhere, was a surprise. It shouldn't be here. That such a place would put the real thing out and actually encourage people to touch them. A cat was even laying right near a true piece of art. Scratch them. Really! It was like meeting the world of Airaku. People from afar are taking it up and preparing to carry it into their countries. How is it passed on? Through the emotional level of true appreciation. The basis of realizing the great value of this true way? You are just like the king in his newest clothes, but you need to realize it's your birthday suit -- you have absolutely nothing. The true joy comes from beyond that point. Make this great treasure not just one of Airaku's, but a real treasure of the world. The minister of the day People have often wondered why a man who is honest and like a kami or buddha is often afflicted with many misfortunes. There is a difference between a good, honest person who does not do wrong and a person who has received divine blessings through faith. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #27] Just because a person studies religion or lives a very moral life does not mean that they understand or experience the blessings given by Kami. The divine blessings we are talking about are characterized by a feeling of gratitude which underlies the sense of "ease" we experience. In other words, it is possible to live with a sense of heavenly paradise in both your body and your soul. Believers who achieve this state, taste life without poverty, strife or sickness and live in a world of truth, goodness, and beauty. An excellent plot of Japanese ginger Has butterburs sprouting with it. (Exquisite joyfulness / Sprouts with riches.) 7/10/76 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The taste of truth in this joy reaches the emotions and passes on and on. Yes, underneath the sense of ease is true gracious celebrative joy. Together in ease is a gratitude beyond human limitations.
Friday, July 31, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo People who practice faith should not become upset. Do not be afraid regardless of how bad things become. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #52] The lyrics of a song are "the waves on the open sea go 'boom' from current to current -- each one testing your courage." The same goes for faith. You must obtain faith that's courageous. Regardless of how things become it is indispensable to have your faith developed so as not to be at all afraid. As that comes about your blessings begin to change. Also you gain a promotion in faith. This is a highlight of your posture of faith toward Kami. I'd like to get such a refreshing blessing that you hear shouts from the gallery, "You're number one!" 7/3/71 [Mini-teaching of Soichiro Otsubo] Minister-of-the-day Few have a heart that Kami can accept. Those whose hearts can be accepted by Kami will be blessed with good health, wealth, and wisdom for three generations, resulting in a strong family lineage. Those whose hearts are not accepted by Kami may have wealth as well as wisdom, but will get sick. Those who have wisdom and good health will lose their wealth. If they do not lose their wealth, their beloved children will die, leaving no heirs. Since these people are not aware of Kami's blessings, they are always lacking one thing or another. If you practice faith and understand Kami's blessings, you will live a peaceful and stable life. You will have descen- dants and gain wealth. You will receive divine blessings from year to year, and then from generation to generation. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #78] Since Konko Daijin teaches that by being aware of Kami's blessings and by understanding Kami's blessings you will have descendants and gain wealth and receive divine blessings from year to year, it's important to cultivate faith so as to understand Kami's and Kami's graces deeply and broadly through the heart. First you must be taken as one whose heart is accepted by Kami. The key to that is to really know, and renew yourself. While concerned about other things or other people you become utterly empty concerning yourself. In order to understand Kami's blessings, this is the area to cultivate. Please concentrate on this. 7/29/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] I wish not to become empty as concerns myself. Today I place my personal objective on cultivating this individual relation with Kami. Yesterday's mini-teaching spoke of a 4:6 relation between devoted effort to build one's faith and being careful to maintain the supporting elements. Concentrating on this spiritual training provides the basics for a courageous stance for viewing the actions and events around one's faith-life. You become able to see all things through the divine viewpoint. Thus whatever may happen does not upset this cultivated spirit. Rev. Dick Dusek 7/31/98
Thursday, July 30, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo Instead of thinking about the pain you feel, be thankful now for the blessings that are coming. [How To Develop Faith #47] "There are no blessings while asking, 'why ?' Blessings come when saying, 'This is how!'" This is how to be nurtured. This is how to be polished. This is how to be renewed. This is how fate is turned. After accepting those points, you come to "be thankful now for the blessings that are coming." That is the difference between those with faith and those without. 7/14/69 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Seeing the real thing through the lens of a professional: art with Ms. Kitao, faith with the late master. You get the feelings second- hand through their sensations. It's not the actual thing for you, but an approximation, a mirrorred image. For real blessings apply the lens of the ideal in faith, being together in ease. Doing it yourself is where your truth reaches for the truth. Real joy is the sensation.
Wednesday, July 29, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo Now hear the sound of the universe opening and be awakened. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #1] Even reciting, "Blessings are in the peaceful, joyful heart," of the Divine Reminder a thousand times will not bring actual blessings. We wish for what is unbreakable, not a fragmentary thing; even if you try to tear it apart, you won't break it -- the indestructable peaceful, joyful heart. When you hear the sound of the universe opening and are awakened is when you have realized that everything is divine love. There is no object of gratitude, nor object of joy that can compare with what is there. The suffering and difficulty in this place is the manifestation of divine love wanting to be understood. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/23/80 Received the title of the final song, "Wind and Form." It is sung by the late Rev. Soichiro Otsubo. This is from a dream. Also today is his monthly memorial date, too.
Tuesday, July 28, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo An old saying tells us, "Let others do as well as you, but excel more than others." Therefore, when you practice faith in Kami, you should receive the divine blessings provided for you. Then, you can help others. Practicing faith is the same as learning. It progresses step by step. You cannot become a teacher immediately. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #62] Throw away your views up until now on religions of the past, moral training, and common sense. It is from that point you'll acquire the true salvation of the Konko religion. What it is "to receive the blessings provided for you and then help others" is first to raise the teachings of the founder to where you insist they are the greatest ideals for human salvation. The ideal of Airaku (together-at-ease) explains the key points for this. 7/22/82 [Mini-teachjng of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Not feeling the spirit in his prayer this morning, the mediator seeks to develop the Wagakokoro. In days past the church band practice was reduced and lessons in aiming and developing the spirit toward a Wagakokoro begun. The result? No child was sick; the music quality inceased three-fold; and there was so much food brought for them that a lot was passed to the families in the church.
Monday, July 27, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo With the completion of this sacred staff, I (Kami) will end your farming career. Please understand. When you are out farming, the person at home has to go out and call you whenever someone comes to give a request. And after you relay the request, you have to go back out again. You have to keep going in and out of the field. This gives you little time for farming, and the worshipper must also wait for you. Both you and the worshipper are being inconvenienced. Won't you stop farming? When you were gravely ill at forty-two, the doctor gave up hope. Everyone worried about you. You prayed to kamis and buddhas and were blessed with complete recovery. Regard this event as your death. Dispel all desires and assist Tenchi Kane No Kami. Also, your wife should consider herself a widow. This is better than being a real widow, as she can still talk to you and discuss matters. She should take the children with her to do the farm work. There are many people like yourself, who have sincere faith in kamis, but still have many problems. Help these people by performing toritsugi-mediation. This will help Kami and save people. Man exists because of Kami, and Kami exists because of man. Thus, Kami supports man as Kami's child, and man supports Kami as his parent. There will be eternal prosperity through this mutual interdependency. [The Divine Call of Konko Daijin - November 15, 1859] What we must not overlook is the faith the founder had up until receiving the call from Kami, that is, the finest unparalleled intimate relationship with Tenchi Kane No Kami. That is why he was able to quit his occupation and give assistance to Tenchi Kane No Kami. The saving of man is the saving of Kami. Both Kami and man will be fulfilled. "Everyone will become forever prosperous. As a parent cares for a child and a child cares for their parents, people will be saved by this mutual relationship of Kami and man." That this is the will of Kami is what we have to have engraved in our hearts. We believers must not forget the spirit of the founder at the time he staked his life to accept the divine call. "When people forget their difficulties they tend to become more like nobility. Religiously speaking that is the most horrible thing. What it is to succeed one's parents is not the inheritance of house or estate. It's to inherit the way one's parents took difficulties." An excerpt from the words of Rev. Kanshiroh Nagai [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/22/72 T H E D I V I N E R E M I N D E R _____________________________________ I k i g a m i K o n k o D a i j i n T E N C H I K A N E N O K A M I Pray with a single heart. Blessings come through one's peaceful, joyful heart. Now pray on this very day. _____________________________________ 'WA-GA KOKORO' [one's peaceful, joyful heart] is the essential foundation for human happiness. Seeking the mild heart of WA (harmony) and the joyous heart of GA (celebration) is the desire of life. However, not one of us has found the way. The founder is the person who has taught and expounded on the way so that everyone can understand it. A world of brilliance is there which is never obstructed and furthermore will open endlessly. What gets in the way of WA-GA KOKORO includes being proud, being indecent. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/23/72
Sunday, July 26, 1998 Rev. Dick Dusek Above all, you should enrich your faith. Practicing faith in everyday life is important. Rich soil will be productive without fertilization, and so it is with faith. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #50] Though people say there is no such thing as a money tree, this way of faith provides not only a tree of money, but the way to virtue which fulfills every condition for human happiness. It is because, as is taught, "rich soil will be productive without fertilization." In everyday life is where the roots must be enriched. These roots are the roots of the heart, the roots of the home, and the roots of the universe. Restoration of the universe is important. 7/1/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] * The roots of the home mean parents and ancestors. It's truly most important to return with gratitude the great favors, graces, virtues, and blessings received from this huge and benevolent universe. Yes, restore to the universe naturally the fruits of this life of faith.
Saturday, July 25, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo Do not strain yourself by rushing things, but wait for the right time. [Toward True Faith #10] What it means to have faith and await the right time is to receive the greatest blessing. There is the teaching: "If your receptacle is bad, blessings will be lost." Kami will give you the time to complete your receiving vessel. In this way you need to cherish the process of life more. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 6/25/68 There is a way in the universe; there's a melodious rhythm in the universe. One should know the way and master how to live riding the rhythm. While wishing to travel to Tokyo, boarding the line for Kagoshima will put you in the opposite direction. It is because you don't know the way. By rushing things, getting confused and impatient you won't be able to hear the rhythm of the universe. To live according to the divine will is a way of living where you get rid of your own way and act as you ride the rhythm. The founder has taught the way to live joyfully, thankfully and faithfully while following the way of the universe and tuning your ear to listen for the rhythm of the universe. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/2/73 Asking a child picking violets the way to go home, The flowers point the way for me to go. The rhythm which the natural universe performs is the spon- taneous rhythm which indicates the true way for regular human happiness. Faith is the experience of living in tune with that rhythm. I want to nurture the sense of the physical and spiritual feeling of my relation to the universe, to really feel the process itself as essential. 7/12/78 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Just as by being prepared with rain gear, you don't need to rush around when it starts to rain, one should develop the posture for faith, too. While aiming for joy and ease, the right time will surely arrive. Before and after this point, things will happen with amazing timing. 7/10/84 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The petals of the flower falling -- a lonely and sad occasion. However, realizing that new seeds are dropping you can look to the future with bright anticipation. Keep the inner eye on the process of life. Follow the rhythm of this great universe. That is how to wait. R E S P E C T T H E P R O C E S S O F L I F E It is the divine work of the rhythm of the universe ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rev. Richard Lee Dusek Konko Church of Airaku TEL: (011-81) 942-47-0148 Oohashi, Airaku 526-1 FAX: (011-81) 942-47-2904 Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan E-mail: airaku@kurume.ktarn.or.jp 839-0832 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ You are invited to receive divine blessings. A grand prayer service is being held on June 30 for safe driving and a home safe from pestilence. Automobiles will be blessed in the ceremony and prayers sought for the spirit of each home. Anyone can come, but EVEN IF ONE CANNOT BE THERE Prayers and Blessings CAN BE SOUGHT. Just drop me a message. No details. That your spirit is facing deity is all that need be. Blessings enter through your peaceful, joyful heart. ===== ***** ===== ***** ===== ***** ===== When you try your best to do the real thing B l e s s i n g s F o l l o w **** **** **** ****
The Teaching For The Day June 5, 1998 Faith begins with a fortunate encounter and a twist of fate. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #49] It's unbelievable the people who quit midway through an encounter without any feeling of exquisiteness (the joy of faith). They would even be able to get blessings that would sprout into prospering riches. It's pitiful. It's sad. An excellent plot of Japanese ginger Has butterburs sprouting with it. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/9/82 ===== ***** ===== ***** ===== ***** ===== M A Y T H E D I V I N E P R A Y E R C O M E T O L I F E ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An excellent plot of Japanese ginger Has butterburs sprouting with it == == === == == Exquisite joyfulness Sprouts with r i c h e s <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> < PUT THE HEART INTO PRAYERFUL WORK > < > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ M A Y T H E R E B E P E A C E I N E V E R Y L A N D I N E A C H H U M A N H E A R T P E A C E A N D E A S E A N D M A Y T R U E H U M A N H A P P I N E S S B E A W A K E N E D I N T H E H E A R T O F E V E R Y D A Y W O R K ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rev. Richard Lee Dusek Konko Church of Airaku TEL: (011-81) 942-47-0148 Oohashi, Airaku 526-1 FAX: (011-81) 942-47-2904 Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan E-mail: airaku@kurume.ktarn.or.jp 839-0832 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ T H E P R O C E S S O F L I F E Is The Divine Work Of The Rhythm Of The Universe R E S P E C T I T
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Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek