Dick Dusek's Dosage
Saturday, February 20, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo Nothing ever stays the same. Unless each person practices faith, nothing will last very long. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #67] Faith is to seek beyond the truth to greater truths. It's an endless inquiry of endless diligence, but it will open into the world of endless blessings. Where faith furthers the truth it is evident that there are blessings beyond the truth. You add and check by substracting; you substract and check by adding. Thus you are sure of your answer. It's certain that faith never stands still. 7/27/82 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The universe is in constant movement. It would die if it were stopped. We should never try to hold it down. Our faith, too, should ever be seeking an even more truthful way of belief. However, people tie it down, try to nail it to something permanent and unchanging. For example, explanations such as fate, sin, spirits of the dead, even the mediator or pastor being held as the absolute. These are attempts to tie things down, but the universe cannot to held to any one fixed point. To save one person, then a million or more can be saved. Use the ideal. Not any attempt at approximation. Continually seek to meet the process of life itself. That the process is alive is so very blessed. Thus we are alive, too. Seek a spirit that is alive in the same manner, a faith which shifts matching the rhythm of the process, the rhythm of the universe. Nothing ever stays the same. Just as in another mini-teaching: Just as the earth seems to stand still but actually continues an appalling rotation, seemingly nothing has changed but actually it never stays the same. Respect the process of life. It's the very workings of the universe. It's Kami at work. It's divine work. I wish to seek greater truths beyond the truths I've found up until now. I wish for a faith which matches the rhythm of the universe, endlessly developing truer faith.
Friday, February 19, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo Just listening to teachings is not enough. You should develop faith from within yourself. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #41] It's said that working teaches one how to work. Also practicing faith until it teaches you to have faith is to persevere in faith. It's not too much to say that the teachings are the hint to a certain extent. Faith teaches sincerity. A sincere heart is what guides you to the heart of Kami. 7/23/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Just knowledge doesn't lead to the joy of life. You have to live it. Try it. Scientific discoveries have continued to evolve; our lives have been made more comfortable. However, the heart-spirit (soul) has barely moved at all. Until we get inside ourselves and apply the ideal theory that all _is_ divinity at work, the human spirit will not evolve at all. Constant surprises, discoveries and joys should be the very root of our lives. Embracing the workings of Kami is how we enrich and develop our faith. All the workings are provided for meeting the divine request. Until we can embrace everything with sincerity the true joy of life will forever be beyond our reach. Quietly manifest acceptance for the gifts (workings) of the universe (Kami). Embrace the divine process to bring about the evolution of the human faith-heart.
Thursday, February 18, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo Nothing ever stays the same. Unless each person practices faith, nothing will not last very long. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #67] Faith is to seek beyond the truth to greater truths. It's an endless inquiry of endless diligence, but it will open into the world of endless blessings. Where faith furthers the truth it is evident that there are blessings beyond the truth. You add and check by substraction; you substract and check by addition. Thus you are sure of your answer. It's certain that faith never stands still. 7/27/82 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Without everyone practicing faith, nothing lasts for very long. Even practicing faith just because you are told is the same as not really wanting to practice. Without interest in what you do, nothing will last for long. Each one, whether parent or child makes little difference, needs to put themself into their practice of faith. Just knowing that all is divine love isn't enough certification for it to be recorded in historical fact. We all need to put it into operation. Start with the problem you have now. As your faith pierces it, you are able to reach farther and wider, step by step enlarging the sphere into ideal faith. Rev. Dick has recently thought out for himself the formula for human happiness: LIFE + BELIEF = THE SPIRIT of A PERSON. Take the energy of your life and, according to the beliefs you apply it to, the spirit of one's life is born. What we want is a spirit to enrich one's life, beautify it and enlarge the sphere of happiness we feel. It all depends on the faith you practice; belief makes the world of our life. Feeling everything as the very work of divinity signals our heart to open wider and see more meaning in the details of the process happening around us. When we can realize all things are but divine love is when our spirit becomes the peaceful, joyful heart. You then will celebrate each day as the heart's rebirth, or birthday. Imagine a birthday celebration each and every day. That's great, isn't it?
Wednesday, February 17, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo The Principle Parent of the universe is a kami that has existed since the beginning of time, not anytime in between. The universe is not a passing fad. Something which is not a fad will not end. It is essential to have a heart like that of the universe. Even those without faith receive The Principle Parent's blessings. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #7] Even though the universe is not a fad and will not end, to give the universe life or to destroy it is up to the faith of the person. Whatever the era or the society, for the happiness of mankind we must persist to comply with the true intent of Konko Daijin's way of mediation and not let up our efforts to receive the works of the living universe. For that purpose it is essential to have a heart like that of the universe. The nature of the universe is giving silently, just accepting silently, and living each day with sincerity. 7/24/69 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Divinity is not a treasure house, but "workings." All is in process. Mr. Kanetaka has died at 3:45 this morning. He returns back into the eternity of divine works. Our life is in the great life of this universe. Feel the mysterious sense of the workings of the universe. Awakened each day, do you sense the mystery and wonder of this great working you are invited to be a part of? It's kind of like scuba diving in the depths of the sea. An eternity of numerous workings all around for our faith to enjoy. Today I am born again. Rejoice! This very day rejoice in the workings that give you birth, give you life, give you faith. Enter into the source of healthy faithful life. The workings of this universe is definitely not any type of fad. The universe knows no end. It's speaking of the very essence of regular daily faith put into practice. Silent -- not a fad. Silent -- never ending. Accept and manifest the essence of the universe each and every day.
Tuesday, February 16, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo Until now, Kami has never spoken words for people to hear. Wherever people worshiped, their prayers were only one-sided. People can receive divine blessings if they pray single-heartedly, because Kami lives in their hearts. Practice faith in a living kami. Since the beginning of time, neither heaven nor earth has stopped its constant activities. The Kami that Konko Daijin prays to is Tenchi Kane No Kami. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #5] In the living universe with a living heart and living teachings, in other words, through the living education (the Way of the universe), the founder, Ikigami Konko Daijin, has established the way to become single-hearted with Tenchi Kane No Kami. Yesterday man imprinted its first step on the surface of the moon. It certainly is a victory for science. It's quite courageous. This courage is the result of belief in science, and efforts to the limits of human capability. Through daily practice we reach an immovable conviction by experiencing the unmistakable workings of Kami. And at the same time, if we take divine virtue scientifically and faith studiously, we can do the same thing as reaching the moon. The founder has taught the way to acquire the strength of faith through studying. The founder can be said to be a great distinquished figure in the study of faith and also an unparalleled person who has undergone unceasing training and practice concerning faith and acquired the great virtues of the universe. 7/22/69 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] To become single hearted with the Principle Parent of the Universe means to maintain a discourse. The living universe and the living human heart are in union, are in communion. It's the world which leads to divine virtue, just like reaching the moon (above). You reach a world beyond your wildest dreams. The opposite is being disconnected from the virtues of the universe. One loses blessings and dies. Severed from divine virtues you cannot see nor feel the true nature of things. White appears as red; blessings cannot be attained. It's pathetic and sad. Practice faith in the process living all around you. Maintain a continuous discourse with this divine work. You receive more blessings than you can imagine A world opens great and wide when you take the dream of the founder and carry it along with the living diety of the universe.
Monday, February 15, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo Practicing faith and gaining divine virtue will let you live a long life. [How To Develop Faith #5] A willow in the wind will not break. Since a weak person is particularly careful about his body, he'll probably live a long life; because with faith in Kami you take care of your attitudes, it's perfectly natural to be able to live long. Another way of saying it is if you'd like to be a multimil- lionaire, you need to have faith which will get the virtue of the rich. Just like with a good stomach you can eat anything without getting ill, with faith you become better (meaning the heart becomes beautiful) so that whatever it is, you will not be ill-affected. Thus you don't get angry, you get by without worrying, and can even live a long life, and accumulate riches, too. 7/22/68 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] A long life does not mean just the number of years extended a long time. Yesterday was the 50th anniversary ceremony for the father of Mr. Michinori Takeuchi. The sake offered to Kami's altar was called, Yusui (boiled up water). The illustration was the water boiling for making sake in a huge vat, with a pond of water below. A turtle and crane were drinking the water. It was such a fantastic blessing, after the ceremony I had the Takeuchi's take it home with them. Taking the water that is fetched is like blessings; to get the water that's been brought to a boil, requires patient faith. This is because such water has become sacred sake -- the three sacred 'nesses': thankfulness, preciousness, and awesomeness. To be able to take in such divine virtue takes a heart of fine faithful patience. Yesterday the first pastor's wife, and mother to us all, talked thankfully about her brother at the breakfast table. This brother of hers was quite a troublemaker and caused his whole family to move residences from Korea to Japan and then she visits her sister's in Peking, China. However, because of these moves she met our first pastor and married. This is how the virtuous life of the ideal was able to come to life here in the form of Airaku -- the church, the extended family, the life full of thankfulness, preciousness, and awesomeness. Yes, yesterday she was filled with much thanks for having such a brother to help fulfill such a dream-like ideal of true faith. Also yesterday morning after the 10 o'clock service there were a total three private ceremonies for departed relatives, one after the other. And each one of these three were celebrated with an offering of a boxed bottle of sake. Just as one ceremony was finished the next was requested. This one after the other for three times straight. The minister, Rev. Dick, attending to each ceremony must have felt something really special in such a feat of timing and repeated use of sake offerings alone. The process was speaking loud and clear of the heart which enjoys the pleasure of the sacred taste of sake's three 'nesses'. Patient practice of faith boils up the virtuous three 'nesses'. Such virtue will lead to a long life, and an peaceful joyful heart to receive divine blessings for an eternity.
Sunday, February 14, 1999 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo WAGAKOKORO DAY SERVICES at 10am Have faith and do your work in good health. It serves you and the world. [How To Develop Faith #31] Yesterday I heard on the news that the emperor and empress were on a trip in the Fukushima area for their 60th weddding anniversary. I was filled with emotional joy when offering a prayer of gratitude. Presently in Africa a crisis is reported for a hundred-fifty million people. Even now the Iran and Iraq war still rages on. It's so sad. I really wish to offer powerful prayers for world peace and the prosperity of humanity. 7/1/86 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] There's a difference between knowing where you are and what you're doing, instead of just doing what is said. Understanding makes it a completely different story. You can take the steps one by one as you stack each progression of faith. There are 20 million people who have died in North Korea cold and hungry -- the suicide rate in Japan is around 50 thousand last year -- even my own dark alonely day on January 29th, my birthday -- There are so very many who can't see a reason to live, who only continue to move on in lonely dark clouds of confusing sadness. They can't seem to live with a thankful heart. I was just telling someone this morning of the thankfulness of being awakened for this day today. Is there anyone here today who hasn't received the blessing of being awakened this morning? Have you all eaten breakfast this morning? You see, there ARE so many things to be thankful for. You can find any number of things to be thankful about. Practicing thankfulness can be done all the time, at any time. Yesterday the elderly Masaki Hisatomi passed out at The 13th Meeting and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Just a moment ago he came here to offer his thanks and now has returned home. Yesterday when he fell I received the dance for Kami -- he received the blessings of dancing with Kami, instead of ending this life. Also the attendant in the ambulance was named Otsubo. There is so much to be thankful for. There is always a way to practice the thankful heart. At the end of each day, our first pastor closed his final prayer with thanks from the Otsubo's, from the ministers-in-training, and from Airaku Church. Recently I have the deep feeling to add thanks from the people of the world. Take up the divine request. Anyone can. Everyone can practice a thanks which is genuine and true. All of us can offer thanks for the great universe of Kami.
Saturday, February 13, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Tenchi Kane No Kami does not look down upon other religions. Those who practice faith should not be narrow-minded. Have an open heart. Be broad-minded about the world. The world is in your heart. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #9] By realizing that both Buddha and Christ are children of Tenchi Kane No Kami, it's necessary for you to have the attitude to practice your faith with a broad mind and the spirit of "the world is in your heart." The primary aim is to 'fulfill the divine request,' to bring about the request of Tenchi Kane No Kami on earth. To have the expectations fulfilled that Kami has for us is to bring about the divine request. This is how you first manifest the blessing that both Kami is saved and man is fulfilled. 7/26/69 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Today, being the 13th, we especially wish to help fulfill the divine request. Kami has but one request: Have faith and receive blessings. It's the same as any parent who only prays for their child's happiness. Without understanding the heart of the parent, we cannot show filial piety -- we cannot realize our parental diety's request. The problem is our own heart. These past few days I have sat waiting to enter the worship hall for the silent morning prayers which begin at 4am. Just outside in the garden is flowing water. It wasn't until this morning that I finally heard the sound of the running water. Such a calming sound. The other days I couldn't hear it. The problem? Not the water. It's constantly running. The problem is my heart. It's the same for understanding Kami's utmost wish for us. Going to the dentist and have the dentist work on my teeth. However, it's not the dentist who cures the problems, he helps. The cure comes from me alone, like in how I care for my teeth each day. It's me alone, self-done. On the mediation tray is a request envelop from a Hayashi -- written with two trees (interpreted as two hearts). He's asking for blessings for surgery. Thus the operation concerns the heart of Kami and the heart of the person. Kami has only a single request in the divine parental heart. Do we have only a single request? Have we got to the point of the single prayer-request? ... to fufill the divine request?
Friday, February 12, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Konko Daijin tells how he has received blessings from Tenchi Kane No Kami. For those who doubt and do not listen to what Konko Daijin says, let them be. They are so darling. They will receive divine blessings when the time comes. You will understand this when you have children. Children who do not listen to their parents are most distressing. Parents can do nothing for children who do not listen to them. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #20] This is why we call Tenchi Kane No Kami 'The Parent Kami.'* It's not that "a lost soul is beyond redemption," but that the divine request is for the depths of parental care. In the teaching there is "they are so darling."* It does not mean 'pitiful.'* It expresses the very depths of The Divine Heart. Therefore Kami and humans can announce themselves as 'parent and child.'* From that point, when you apologize you are forgiven, and when you cling to Kami you are blessed. You should understand well the parts with an asterisk (*). 7/2/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Attendance this morning is quite low. The need is great to advance in your faith, to shift deeper into greater faith. One wonders what is happening, what's this rhythm for? The parental heart should be enlarged for a greater feeling of comforting ease that will enrich our heart-faith when touching this Parental heart of diety. As taught the parent can do nothing for those children of his which will not listen. We must take up a practice of following the process of life, practicing to stay in beat with the rhythm of the universe. We need to jump ahead; progress is necessary. We can't always be under the care of the parent's benevolence. We should take up the nature of the universe: manifesting generously like the heavens (2 parts), accepting more growing nourishment as the earth (8 parts), and following a rhythmic order like that of night and day.
Thursday, February 11, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Practicing faith is easy. It is people who make it difficult. 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. Each day is the beginning of all the days to come. Therefore, receive divine blessings each and every day so everything will go well. You should practice your faith easily. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #69] Faith is difficult for someone who regrets the time for coming to worship and the need to offer money. By understanding that Kami allows you to go for worship, that Kami allows you to make offerings, then not only does faith become easy, it becomes something grateful. Continuing such faith for ten years, without any problem, you will be able to celebrate worshiping your heart. By achieving this type of faith-life you will be able to attain a daily living which is bigger and more precious than anything imitatable. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/21/77 We make faith difficult by being centered on our self. We strive for blessings, but such a faith just makes it more difficult. By striving for faith, we center ourselves on divinity, and take up the process of life as the divine work it is. What we see as a tough task of '9', is actually the blessings of Diety's '6'. When you take up the divine dimension, you will see things from the standpoint of divinity. The training task becomes illuminated in blessings; a '9' is seen as a '6'. It's an interesting point of fact: Ten years is what it took for the major keywords for faith's ideal to come in being -- Respect the process; take the process of life as sacred. Also from the time the request started it took ten years for the first pastor to become certified as a Konko minister. We should develop the point of being given this day, this life. This process is given to us -- it's a gift. Take it with respect. Each and every day is filled with blessings for us to practice celebrating faith's precious value. Practice the faith of "being given". It's truly simple. Don't make it difficult. Faith IS easy! Practice FAITH, not anything else.(Back) < Back to the HomePage > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek