Dick Dusek's Dosage
Sunday, February 28, 1999 Since I had a duties starting before the Wagakokoro Day service I opened the book of teachings myself. Have faith and do your work in good health. It serves you and the world. [How To Develop Faith #31] Since it's Kami's will for you to receive the blessings of health through faith and devote yourself sincerely to your work, the content of such must become service (serve Kami), employment (work at things), and work (put others at ease). In that way it will serve the world and will also serve for you yourself. Unless the prosperity of the country leads to the prosperity of all people throughout the world, it will not suffice to meet the divine will. The absolute ultimate way is to place divine will at the center, in other words, it's entrusting your way of life to Kami. 7/24/74 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] With this teaching I accompanied Rev. Tetsumi Nakamura to the neighboring town of Tanushimaru for the annual celebration of the whole Nagase family. There were more than 20 people in attandance. And the celebrations, including a birthday, overflowed with joy for a spirited second party. The service served many needs and provided blessings even unthought of. The greatest surprise was the reading of a letter written by our first pastor many years ago to the grandfather of the family. It is a family treasure specially set in a scroll rolled up and stored in a small wooden box. It records the point of time just before the present church was to be constructed, and mentions that our pastor today is to go to the Konko Religious seminary -- a very important peroid of history of Airaku Church.
Saturday, February 27, 1999 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo You need not consult the Days and Directions. When you build a house, you should build it to suit your needs. That is a house of good construction. An auspicious day is considered to be a day that has no clouds in the sky, is warm, and suits your convenience. Even when you check the calendar and it indicates an auspicious day, people will say that it is not a good day if it rains or there are strong winds. Know that there are no good or bad days under the sun. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #65] For those who take up the Konko faith there is neither the Days nor the Directions. It is like having a license to drive a car. Since you are driving without a license, you are anxious everyday and must live in fear. Actually the human heart/mind is what made the Days and the Directions. Through receiving daily mediation your life becomes something thankful and enjoyable. For those who take up the faith, every day is an auspicious day. 7/17/77 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The superstitious custom of the Days and Directions will not make do. The founder came to the point of realizing that we are permitted blessings everyday. His faith reached the point of understanding that this very day is to be celebrated. The thankful heart itself is something to be thankful for. Today I prayed for the inheritance of our first pastor's type of praying, his type of spiritual training. For this day to be celebrated, we should keep with the process just as the first pastor did.
Friday, February 26, 1999 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo You cannot control your life as you wish. [How to develop faith #42] I cannot control my body as I please, but with practice the heart can be freely used. Practicing joy to be continually joyful is faith. To follow rules and staying within statutes may appear rigid as you live following the teachings of faith. But as you acquire it you are able to have a delightful and gracious life. It's to receive freedoms beyond freedom. 7/14/80 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] A believer is driving a brand new car. It was very expensive with many extras. It even has a navigator. Last night taking detours around the road construction things became difficult. Asking why the navigator wasn't used, it's because he doesn't know how to use it. In the world of the deceased you will only have the spirit. Your body is gone. Thus we need to practice using this spirit of ours. Kami is within one's spirit. This is an amazing teaching for the farmer/founder to have realized. Thinking of it I check myself from time to time. When you are kind to people, it's a good feeling. But taking up the process, catching the process is a wonderful,thankful feeling. From such a thankful heart joy springs naturally. Practice how to use the spirit by catching the process. We must renew our spirit to attain the freedom to use it freely.
Thursday, February 25, 1999 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo Nothing ever stays the same. Unless each person practices faith, it 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] In 1976 the roofing was to be done with copper shingles. When the church was first built our first pastor refused any lightning-rod. He left the success or failure totally to divinity. At that time, by the way, any car of the church was not insured. At that time this was the truth, the way to guide our faith to greater truths. So in 1976 during discussions for copper roofing no one even mentioned lightning-rods. But times had changed and it was here that the first pastor asked about it. The time was ripe for a further truth. Truth is never constant; it's moving all the time. And lightning-rods where included in the work project. Unless we each practice our faith, nothing will last for long. We are not to imitate, but follow our own faith. Each person in their own shoes, at their appropriate level, leading to everyone attaining part of the great divine request for this whole universe. Yes, we fit into our own faith as nicely fitting shoes, but we all are working for the same huge request to fulfill the divine mission.
Wednesday, February 24, 1999 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo Those who practice faith should have a sincere faith. [Toward True Faith #12] - To be a man of truth. - Try not to become a fiend for righteous consideration. - Without real training, genuine faith will not come about. - The major point for true training is not to be dissatis- fied with nature's work and to accept it naturally. - Genuine faith is accompanied with living joys and living blessings. 6/27/68 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Here's another mini-teaching we should remember: A famous Masamune sword is said to protect oneself, whereas the Muramasa blade, though excellent for cutting, is not considered that famous. Also in faith, just because your prayers are answered doesn't mean it's true faith. ... 7/12/84 In my reading today I came across a talk by our first pastor where he was speaking about sincerity, or being genuine. If you are not changing, if you always are just the same, then you are not being true. It's not real sincerity. It's that aliveness which keeps up a natural flowing rhythm. Reaching the truth is not at all possible; you never get to the point whereyou can say it's accomplished. Truth never stands still, it's alive and always in motion. Thus it attracts living joy and living blessings.
Tuesday, February 23, 1999 Rev. Eishiro 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 thirtieth anniversary 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 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The world of heartless happenings -- there is no sentiment, no feelings commonly attached to the heartless actions we face. This is the ordinary world, a world without faith. However, here in the world of faith we can't but feel the wonder and inspiring sense of something divine. You may not be able to place a finger on it, but there's a difference you can feel. Death is a reality. All living things will die. Deciding to look up the phrase that means heartless (mujo), I open right to that very page of the huge dictionary. You feel it, don't you? Mr. Kanetaka passed away on the 17th and I served in the funeral ceremonies. That day's morning teaching was #67. In the car going there I took a tape which happened to be #67, too. Then we come to find out he died at age 67. A rather young age to die, but even his age is wrapped with meaningful sensations. In talking with the family we realized that his first time to visit our church was on the 13th and the last time was also the 13th. The car which carried his body in procession was 1331 -- from front or back it reads 13. Here again we can't escape the powerful sense of inspiration -- a sense of divine design. Speaking of today, while I sit here in the mediation area, there are tensions and pressure surely, but within my heart-soul I sense a definite feeling of ease. Inspiring, isn't it? Even senseless activities are packed full of divine messages for us to catch. Yes, heartless is but sentiment for us to open.
Monday, February 22, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo To kill others within your heart is a grave offense. Kami cannot bear such offenses. When one physically kills, the government will punish the person. Kami knows when one kills within one's heart. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #75] Criticism, arguement, hatred, envy and arrogance are what injure and even kill the human heart. Since it is said, "with a single heart it all comes into being," it is also possible that with a single heart it all breaks down. What we want to have is the WAGAKOKORO, a peaceful, joyful heart. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/27/77 What it is to practice faith is to develop and make the spirit. It is made with a single heart. Therefore when appropriate the appropriate is done appropriately. What is it? It's the Wagakokoro, the peaceful and joyful heart. There isn't any other that answers such needs. Yesterday a song heard twice on the radio was felt as a direct message from our diety. It spoke of Kami waiting patiently for the longest time -- awaiting the answer we can give. The seminar in Yamaguchi Prefecture yesterday at Akiyoshi Church concernedthe encounter of our first pastor while in front for a ceremony at the Grand headquarters of Konko faith. As the 3rd Konko Patriach passed by in procession, dressed for the grand ceremony, he stooped and pick up a little piece of straw and put it inside his long sleeve. This makes the difference. It is this type of action that sets the 3rd Konko minister apart from the ordinary. He could not proceed forward even with a tiny bit of strawon the path. There's the famous story of Warashibe Choja, a poor man who proceeds slowly and quite naturally to success. He prays to the Buddha and is informed that when he exists he should take the first thing that comes and treat itwith respect. As he exists he trips and falls. He picks up a piece of straw and attaches it to something. Later a child seeing what he has asks for it, so he gives it to the child. The mother gives him three oranges in appreciation. Then he comes to a lady nearly dead from thrist. Since there is no well and no water, he offers her the oranges which saves her life. She presents him with a field. Later on he meets a lord on horseback.However, the horse suddenly dies. So he volunteers to take care of the dead horse for him. Then he is given a castle and all it's surroundings. The horse comes back to life. And in this way the poor man naturally step by step comes into great success. You see the straw is the very problem you come to face. As in a dream, the situation ever so slowly develops according to the spirit you meet it with. Each point along the way is an indication of divine love. And this is the answer that Kami is ever so patiently waiting to hear from our hearts. All is divine love. It's all provided for developing the spirit of the peaceful, joyful heart. Take what you meet in the process of life with all respect. It is for developing the faith of a Wagakokoro. Such a spirit is what answers with the whole process is but great divine love.
Sunday, February 21, 1999 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Pastor WAGAKOKORO DAY SERVICE 10 AM 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] Mr. Ebasuura in a dream was at the desk preparing his offering envelops while the pastor was waiting for him. He hurriedly finished and rushed to the mediation area. The pastor then told him, he should be relax and not rush about nervously. It's similar to a top that doesn't spin smoothly. Sometimes the top spins smoothly -- this is fine. But sometimes the top has a jumpy or wabbly spin. Here is where we need to practice not rushing and maintaining a peaceful mild heart. Otherwise, we end up working in a hurry and not getting things done properly. Like trying to button up a shirt in a hurry, the proper sequence is hard to keep. Realize this world is for the next world. Thus we can renew our heart's faith through the very process of the moment. Trust in the process to guide the spirit's activity. We are looking too far ahead toward what we think should be done. The faith at this point is being stopped, and we are working only on a mental level. Realizing that this happening that is shaking you up is actually the process of divine work, then we can set our heart on matching it. Decide to accept the process and follow the work of divinity.(Back) < Back to the HomePage > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek