Dick Dusek's Dosage
Tuesday, November 10, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Many place their trust in Kami, but Kami places trust in only a few. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #30] It's said, "The lord and his men for three generations." However, I feel that with loyal affection for the lord and his compassion for his men the words will for the first time take on meaning. By how you receive blessings, you come to find Kami and begin to trust in Kami for the first time. The more you recognize divine benevolence, the more you raise in your heart the recompense for such divine love. Those who are trusted by Kami are people who have resolved to respond continuously to that divine love. 7/13/76 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] It's how one receives divine blessings. At first the blessings are as you expected. Then as our master's example shows, the reverse phase and then the 4-and-a-half-year experimental stage. Our first master said that without that first stage of expected blessings, the following stages would not have been possible to receive. As you develop, you build the feeling to recontribute. to reimburse Kami for what you receive. The weakness of man is where one feels, "I got it" or "I did it." I renewed and thus such blessings have been received. This blocks out Kami. Instead, feeling you have really received divine blessings, Kami's great benevolence, you are awed. It's beyond understanding. This morning I have a weak stomach and feel at anytime I may have to stand up and go to the toilet. I started my 4AM prayers with a request for my tummy. Kami has provided such blessings I haven't needed to leave. My body is being given free rein, full of blessings. You feel the benevolence of heavenly blessings being provided you. And feel it is quite beyond any amount of understanding you may have. Without Kami's blessings I am really nothing, I can do nothing. It's Kami's work I should place believe. My faith refreshed, Kami feels free to work blessings. So precious, even undeserving, but ever so thankful with awe. It's Kami. It's divinity at work.
Monday, November 9, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Upon practicing true faith, clear away all doubt from your heart. [How To Develop Faith #2] You cannot depend on possessions or money. In just the same way, you sometimes cannot count on your parents or your children or even your spouse. Eternal immortality is not of this world. We know that we cannot rely upon each and every thing of this world. And so, at last we put trust in ourselves. But we find that we cannot even rely on ourselves when we're sick or something. With faith that originates from there, you cannot stop seeking after true faith, and you also will experience having nothing but to place faith in Kami. Then, no matter what, you'll be able to see there's no room for doubting Kami. 7/26/73 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] A heart of doubt is not the spirit leading to truth faith. A very simplified division of faith would be either you're on the way to truth, or the way for receiving blessings. Proof of approaching the true way would be not depending on possessions or money. Your doubts are reduced. And you see the process as divinity at work. What is the passport (?) to true faith?? To remove more and more of your selfishness. A recent discovery was that the first minister of Amagi Church spent 20 years or more getting deeper into making the teaching to fight against one's feeling of righteousness. There were 5 stages starting in Showa 2, then S. 7, S. 9, and S. 12 before the finally getting to Showa 21. All of these teachings started with feelings of righteousness. Another example was the singer who sang the same song for 30 years and finally felt able to say he had made something of it. 20 years or 30 years to finally reach the point of something solid. However, we try so easily to reach for quick and simple understanding. It's not really making it. We try and renew, but it's for blessings we so stubbornly set our heart on. To really get ourselves set for seeking the true way we first must shift directions toward taking away selfish instincts to the point of really believing in the process as the work of divinity. It's just one step toward approaching the true way of faith.
Sunday, November 8, 1998 I was away all day. First driving people to the airport to attend a 100th anniversary ceremony in Osaka where Rev Eishiro was giving the main sermon. Then stopping in at Nakabaru Church to pick up the whole family to attend the grand ceremony at Hakozaki Church. I was asked to serve in the ceremony and to read the Divine Call and give the introductory lecture. The residence for the Hakozaki Church family is under construction. The same hiromae with only one adjoining room is being used until next spring when the construction is expected to be completed. The lumber all comes from Canada and flooring, windows and doors are American-made. The 89-year-old headminister and his 83-year-old wife are living at Nakabaru Church. Rev. Hideki Sata is living alone maintaining the church day and night. His family is in quarters near the church. This makes it easy for the kids to go to their schools. Before leaving I opened to this teaching for my 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] From even a popular samisen song there's, "The look of the pine needle is so appealing/ The two even wither and fall together." By being this engrossed even your faith will be the real thing. However in a latter verse it's, "The look of the maple leaf is without appeal/ The changing colors of the leaves announce the fall." This will not do. Understanding a little more of faith you get closer to a climax. Something is there and you are trembling. It is because the sash of faith is not securely tied. Faith is to enter the world where Kami watches over you and listens to you. 7/9/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
Saturday, November 7, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Pastor If people prayed before taking medicine, blessings would be quick. Instead, however, they take medicine before praying, so there are no divine blessings. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #47] It's not just for illness. The Divine Will is such that everything is done focusing on Kami. This morning Mr. Ryu of Fukuoka came to worship and offer his gratitude. The other day he received word from his daughter-in-law in Miyazaki that his grandchild had suddenly become sick and was asked to come as soon as possible. First of all he came here for mediation to request prayers. Therefore I told him that by going to Miyazaki the illness would not be cured. Suggesting he leave matters over there to Kami and single-heartedly come to worship here, he made his decision, was able to come worship everyday, and today was able to receive the blessings of offering his gratitude to Kami. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/30/76 So much of what we expect to be true is illusion. We can't see the real thing. It's as if what we feel as true, is not real. I had thought, while our late master was healthy, that I was practicing faith. Since 5AM prayers began in 1968 I've missed only one time. I also have sat in mediation since I was 11 years old. However, when the master took sick and I began to take his place I realized quite soon I had not practiced real faith. It seems real, but upon close examination it's only illusion. That's right. To all appearances the position of pray-medicate and that of medicate-pray are the same. There's no difference in what you do; the physical eye can make no distinction. Yesterday after the grand ceremony for the Miyazaki branch, a believer in greeting me mentioned that the process was not working in her life. Another believer hasn't any idea where their should renew. They can't see it's themself that needs renewal. The whole thing, your life in entirety, is the process. But one can't see it. In the founder's memoirs there are notes on shopping and not buying this or that, to weave cloth in the home but not sale it. It seems so meaningless. It's daily life itself. And that's the point. Kami works in everything all around us in our everyday activities. Yoshiro Akinaga has spoken of practicing faith by seeing his wife as a kami. Isn't this just what the founder shows us. Meiji 1st year, his wife and children are given divine names. It's the faith of the founder grading up to where he must see more and more things around him as Kami's work facing him. Your daily life takes on a completely new meaning. It's not just you who is driving the car, riding in the car, going to worship. It's not just you doing the shopping, preparing the food, cooking the meal, or even eating it. Seen through the eyes of the process, life takes on a totally different dimension. The view of things around you all changes when your heart goes into gear. From the world of illusion, really practice seeing Kami working around you. Are you really centered on the process of divine work?? If not, where will the illusions stop? Shift to putting the process of things into action.
Friday, November 6, 1998 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo [the pastor had to leave early for a branch ceremony in Miyazaki Prefecture] Nothing ever stays the same. Unless each person practices faith, it will not last very long. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #67] Just as the earth seems to stand still but actually continues its appalling rotation, seemingly nothing has changed but actually it never stays the same. Therefore, it is certain that blessings of even heaven becoming earth and also miracles of white becoming red can be brought about. What we seek is the faith that proceeds to develop more and more gratitude. Consequently, the faith of each individual needs to attain full and vigorous growth. Without looking at others, proceed to keep looking only at yourself. Enter the world of just you and Kami. 7/18/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] While listening to the mini-teaching Rev. Dick felt the tremendous revolution toward expressing truer gratitude. The teachings of Konko Daijin all fit naturally into the way of the universe. They all fit into the great natural process. When one isn't feeling anything, you should realize that your faith is lacking, your spirit is not in motion. The pastor is getting deeper into the faith of the founder lately. I am tracing the faith path of our late master, trying to see how his spirit developed. With this type of thinking, I started wondering about today's teaching. For example, when did the founder receive the content of this teaching? To last long means to continue over generations, from parent to child to grandchild. As a flower starts with the roots and grows the stem, leaves, seed and flower, so too, should we realize the importance of our roots. So so many of us have understanding which is groundless; it is not rooted well enough. We study the faith taking the pastor's lessons, but only our intellect is enlightened. It's like only taking the surface of the teachings. We need to raise and develop faith. "What we seek is the faith that proceeds to develop more and more gratitude. Consequently, the faith of each individual needs to attain full and vigorous growth. Without looking at others, proceed to keep looking only at yourself. Enter the world of just you and Kami." Realize for all things that it is I that must renew. When renewal goes into action tremendous blessings are born. This is how faith is established.
Thursday, November 5, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, pastor Practicing a faith which is forced on you by others is a faith which is not genuine. A faith that is not your own is easily lost. Practice true faith with devotion. People speak of practicing faith together. A stone that cannot be lifted by one person can be lifted by the combined strength of many calling out in unison. Therefore, let all the members of a family join together in practicing faith. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #24] When you practice faith for a long time, you gradually turn to mannerisms. It's because it's not devoted faith. Even of those seemingly devout, most of them are devoted to divine blessings. By devoting yourself to true faith, mannerisms are not formed and superficial borrowings are not made, others will definitely follow and unexpectedly you are also able to practice faith together. If all the members of a family don't join together in practicing faith, there will not be real blessings. When the family members are all joined together as one, the mediation of their prayer is easily done. Kami is relieved and is able to provide blessings. 7/6/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] This teaching is about gaining independence and continuity. Such faith is really necessary; it's essential for true faith. Be devoted to your faith, make it your own. But how? Where do you place the emphasis? How can true faith be developed? It comes from a genuine desire to be saved, to awaken and gain true blessings. You really wish to do away with the miserable mood you're carrying around. You want to change. The infamous story of an elderly woman who started going to morning worship: She gets up early and is very noisy moving around in the house. This bothers her family and when they mention it, she replies in an angry tone, "I'm not going 'cause I want to." She is not genuine in seeking faith; she wants blessings. She is only concerned about changing her family, she can't see herself. She hasn't any thought of needing to be saved herself. Comments from last night's Matsue Men's Meeting: A banker tired after a days work comes home and without cleaning up the kitchen goes to bed. The next morning is not a pleasant feeling. He starts to wash the dishes at night and the thankfulness keeps him doing it. In contrast, our late master once lined up the geta slippers at the home entrance and Kami got angry with him for doing that. Here the master was learning the difference between an husband and a headminister. The founder in his faith-notes even writes of weaving white material for kimonos, of Kami advising not to buy from door-to-door salesmen; he even wrote down notes of heavy rain and the prices of various grain produce. What does it mean? That Kami is related to us in such everyday matters of daily life. More examples from last night's meeting: A husband and wife driving to church and get slowed down at a very busy intersection. So he decides to take the long way around and still arrives in time at the church. Or working for a boss who may have some mental problems, a believer accepts his every activities as the very workings of Kami (or Konjin, the evil diety). Recently this boss has raised his salary. The founder was told to put on a light kimono in the cold of night and to dance the summer festival style outside. Kami was testing the founder's faith. A devout worshipper who is attending many faith gatherings all the time is very, very tired out. He complainingly speaks of be tired and his wife encourages him to go to the gathering and he'll receive divine virtue. He then comes to the church 15 minutes earlier than usual and everything blossoms with more blessings than ever. True faith is not the practice of mannerisms. You really seek to save yourself. Here are points that need to be considered. We should carefully consider where each of us places the key point (pivot) for our faith. * It's said that humans are born from dirt and return to dirt. Thus the time inbetween should also be devoted to the spirit of the soil. * Respect the process and cherish it. Since the process itself is the natural work of the universe (Diety), we should believe in it without a doubt. * If you experience the way of living your life in absolute truth that is free of problems, you will be able to receive ever widening blessings and vital divine virtues. 7/15/81 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] In Okayama prefecture, in the founder's days and even today, signs are placed outside of shrines with the words, "KONGETSU KONNICHI (this month, this day)." It means that it is the day of a celebration, a festival. The founder in his Divine Reminder used this very phrase with the meaning that every single day should be celebrated. Our late master spoke of his first early morning prayer as going to see his lover -- it was that type of feeling. That one would forgot their faith, forgot to worship, forgot to celebrate is unthinkable. We really seek to devote ourselves to daily faith celebration and make it our own, our original. With genuine faith, mannerisms don't begin.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> < 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 TRUE HUMAN HAPPINESS AWAKENED IN THE HEART OF EVERYDAY WORK *** *** *** *** *** Wednesday, November 4, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, pastor When your child is sick, do not become too emotional. Leave the child alone as you would a disobedient child. Practice faith, without a care to what might happen. Your child will be able to receive divine blessings. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #48] The teaching "don't become emotional when your child is sick" means this is a situation where you must set aside your own feelings and trust the Principle Parent's perfect design for your child's essential healthiness, which allows plenty of room to receive the blessings. Moreover, when you practice faith without worrying about "what might happen" your faith grows. I feel the number 48 says that there is always a chance for blessings. If you always live with this feeling, you'll receive the divine virtue of the Principle Parent without obstruction. 7/31/76 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] This teaching comes right from the life experience of the founder. His children's sickness, and even his eldest son's financial difficulties. "Leave the child alone as you would a disobedient child and practice faith without a care". However, we can't really decipher what faith to practice. In the memoir notes of the first year of Meiji this message was received from Kami: "During the ten years from 1868 to 1877, look at yourself. It is for the future." Then receiving the divine name of Ikigami Konko Daijin, the founder was instructed to make a banner with the message: "May there be peace throughout the world, prosperity in all countries, and safety for all people." Yesterday visting the persimmon farm of Mr. Nagase I remember 16 years ago when I first started to fill the position of pastor. I had my head shaved bald and tryed to follow what the first master had done. I actually didn't know anything about what I was to do. But over these past years changes have been realized. "Even if you have practiced faith from three to five years, you can still become easily confused. If you continually practice faith for ten years, then you can celebrate with gratitude in your heart." We all practice faith with each problem that comes up. We aim for a peaceful, joyful spirit. Speaking of the devout buddhist brother-in-law in the Ikijiri family (visiting his gravesite yesterday) and also of an earnest and faithful minister friend who hasn't been able to develop believers leads into the teaching: "There is a difference between a good, honest person who does not do wrong and a person who has received divine blessings through faith." For example, Rev. Eishiro in his youth practiced in the church band for an entire year before performing anything. Now the band members do that in a month's time. What might have taken 10 years before can be done quicker now. We are being given 2 years to get into the next century. Faith should be easy to practice. Look at yourself, your way of practicing faith. Shift and change so you receive the divine blessings of true faith. Continue to practice till you really can celebrate your faith with real gratitude. There is always a chance for faith to advance. Try it and see for yourself. It may not take you two years, but one must get into action.
November 3, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, the pastor Rev. Dick Dusek, the minister of the day BOTH RECEIVED THE SAME TEACHING FOR TODAY Carrying a heavy load on your shoulders or back may be burden-some, but practicing faith is not. It is easy. Practice faith while you do your daily work. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #40] Even saying "it is easy" doesn't mean there are no difficulties. By perceiving that the difficulties, just as they are, train you in faith, then all of your daily work is training. Since this is what you feel as so thankful and precious, faith is easy. Mrs. Kuboyama of Ohashi-machi stated in grateful mediation, "Everyday while pulling grass in the fields and wrestling with the weeds -- picking and pulling but still they come back -- I came to think that I have something like these weeds even in my heart, so without feeling the heat all day I could do the job." I felt this is what faith is. 7/22/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] It's the spirit of doing your work that mades all the difference. There are so very many who work devoutly. But to apply faith in Kami for the spirit you do your work in mades for a totally different picture. Just as pulling weeds mentioned above, or how about a prayer to begin the household dusting, in these ways you will develop faith in Kami. The key is to renew your faith and polish your spirit through the very activity underhand. Taking a bath, even. Before entering the bath pray and then you will want to hang up the towel neatly, replace the soap in the soap dish. Your feeling of thanks develops. Such faith reaching to always be in touch with Kami. You wish to know what it is that Kami requests. We are practicing conscientious faith in Kami. It's daily devotion that's important. The founder uses the wording "SASHIMUKU" 16 times in the short Oboecho. It's meaning was explained today as Kami's divine process. And it was added that the process is the greatest divine revelation. Is your conscientious faith reaching the divine process in your everyday work? That is where faith is made so easy.
November 2, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, the pastor If people prayed before taking medicine, blessings would be quick. Instead, however, they take medicine before praying, so there are no divine blessings. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #47] When ill, the doctor; at death, the priest. Is a doctor or priest really alright? In times of need all people, even those without faith, cannot help but depend on something. How much weight you give to this need for dependence is whether you are praying before taking medicine or taking medicine before praying. That there are no divine blessings by taking medicine before praying doesn't mean that sickness will not be cured. We can reach an understanding of this through the words of Reverend Hiroshi Takahashi: "Seek mediation and then the good and bad things that happen will all be good. Without seeking mediation, the good and bad that happen will be all bad." The subtle effect of how mediation works is being taught. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/29/70 The lifestyle of those with faith is different from those without. It's a life centered on prayer. For example, when you drive back home today, first pray, then drive. In the kitchen preparing the meal, pray and then fix the food for the meal. Awake early and begin the morning with prayer. When you sit down to eat, pray before and after eating. Entering a vehicle, pray; and when exiting give a prayer of thanksgiving. Drinking, also, when received in prayerful thanks should not lead to such a drunken state you cannot attend morning worship. The aim is to be conscientiously faithful in Kami. At Airaku we first learn to have faith in Kami, then practice becoming conscientious and precise. The major point is the pray-before-medicating style of life. Realizing we haven't any strength, we just must pray. At first, even in form only is a good start. The process of divine work will then guide you once you get into the prayer mode. Since last night the pastor has been talking about the revelations received in the 6th year of Meiji by the founder, as written in the Oboecho. Particularly, the very first one of that year speaks of the world changing. It finishes with advise to call even one's family members using polite forms of expression.
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. _____________________________________ T W O M I N I - T E A C H I N G S [ NOT two too many ] '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 Saying it's sincere, even single hearted, but if it doesn't communicate with Kami, it cannot be called single-hearted sincerity. Wagakokoro is the spirit-heart which inter- connects with Kami. Blessings are not received; they are what are brought into being. It's the joyous intercourse between the believer and Kami. This joyous intercourse is the spirit which even climbs to heaven. 7/2/78 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
November 1, 1998 Wagakokoro Day Services at 10 a.m. Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, the pastor Though people call me (Konko Daijin) "kami," I am not the only one. All people who come here are the children of Kami. To be a living-kami is to have Kami born within you. I was the first to receive such divine blessings. You can all receive divine blessings in the same way. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #18] In the heart is a flower garden. Ocassionally flowers of the seasons bloom profusely. The way it comes about is training in faith. The founder teaches, "to be an ikigami is to have Kami born within you." The way you are joyous under the blazing sun or in the cold of winter is by the blooming of the flower of joy. Plant the seeds of joy so you're joyful at any time and any place. When the buds of joy sprout, apply the joy you nurture without bending or breaking it. Selfish desires will cruelly trample down the buds of joy. 7/1/76 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] This same teaching was received last month on the first; also, this past grand ceremony was finally upgraded and titled, "Ikagami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony." Can't you feel something here?? Lately, I really feel that our faith in Konko Daijin is withered. Can't you feel anything in what is happening?? I have been reading and rereading the memoir notes of the founder in the large collection of Konko Teachings. The more I read it,the more I feel the absolute need for our late master's teachings so as to interprete the founder's wonderful faith. "The founder teaches, 'to be an ikigami is to have Kami born within you.' The way you are joyous under the blazing sun or in the cold of winter is by the blooming of the flower of joy." So why did the founder feel compelled to write down notes on his children's difficulties and his bodily ills?? It's to make the point that even the godlike, Ikigami Konko Daijin was an ordinary person. Anybody. anyplace, at anytime of any era on this earth can develop a joy so absolute that they are godlike, an ikigami. All of the happenings in the founder's life and in our late master's life, too, were for mading that very point. It is training the human spirit so that the whole world and all the people on it can open their hearts for the blessings of a godlike spirit. It's to help reach our parental diety's request, the divine will, that all peoples realize the true joy and ease of every single thing in their lives.(Back) < Back to the HomePage > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek