Dick Dusek's Dosage
Saturday, March 20, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo Do not be afraid to be different from others. You cannot practice faith without being different. A person who is different is one who has a pure heart. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #73] What it means here to be different from others is to be one who eagerly works at understanding the truth of things. As even the human body senses some things and not other things, Kami will feel those people who exhibit traits of a real difference. 7/25/77 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] We wish to change to greater truth. The peculiar difference is to shift from one level of truth to the next. It's a pure-hearted peculiarity done whole-heartedly. The result is something different, never before imagined. The blessings of a totally different nature are attracted. Advancing to greater truth we reach closer and closer to the divine heart. Examples given today were: - Years ago a Shinto prayer was used, but then the new prayer for Konko faith came and was quickly used the very next day. It was a step into great truth -- really representing much better the faith of the Konko Religion. - Recently our church has begun to study Konko Daijin's Record of Revelations. It's a step into new and fertile ground for attaining more of the truths of Konko Daijin and his faith. Something no one could ever imagine just a short time ago. - A postcard was received from Rev. Hata of Tokyo Church. (1) He is one who interpreted the Record Of Revelations into easy-to-read Japanese. (2) He includes a verse from Rev. Tokusaburo Hata, the first minister who established the church in Tokyo. By taking up the happenings, just as they are, Is the way the human being Gets into the Heart of Divinity. "The happenings just as they are" is the very process of life, which is taken as the work of divinity -- it's reaching for higher truths. Read by the duty minister today in the prayers for our deceased souls. A heart that feels compassion is a heart of Kami. [Teaching of Konko Daijin #74]
Friday, March 19, 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 To actually be saved and radiate with energy which saves other too, each one of us needs to complete the circle of the peaceful joyful heart. Rev. Dick Dusek felt new meaning in the circle of our peaceful joyful heart. The circle is to be drawn around everything in our world of faith. Include all of your fears, disappointments, and inadequacies; all your beliefs, prayer-requests, and viewpoints; your whole character, personality traits both positive and negative; your faith, behavior, and mannerisms. When you have your whole world encirled, realize that Kami has done more than most of drawing your circle with you. This circle is the area for your dialoque with divinity; it's a circle where your diety and your humanity continually communicate, sharing everything with mutual benefits. It circles your ground of prayers, your faith development, your total of beliefs. Within this arena is planted the seeds for enrichment, for greater beauty.These seeds sprout and blossom into joys and true happiness. It's the world of Konko Daijin as stated in the Divine Reminder [1873]: 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. This circle of peaceful ease, is where we are in communion with the divine works of our universe; it's the ground for raising true joy, true happiness. The circle is where true faith develops naturally. There is nothing which will not fit into this circle of living, growing faith. Be sure to include all of your world to enrich the circle for greater strength, greater blessings, greater truths. All of your life, the good and the bad, are enriching essentials for the circle to achieve its ultimate. The joy attained is enjoyed by Kami and us together.
Thursday, March 18, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo 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] This morning Mrs. Yukiko Akinaga of Fukuoka came to worship and gave this account. "The other day I had a dream. The elderly Mrs. Nakamura of Kitano was laying down at the mediation area. So I went closer and found that she was dead. Then Oyasensei quickly went up before Kami and when he prayed she was brought back fully alive." Just as in this dream of Mrs. Akinaga a situation concerning the faith of Mrs. Nakamura has arisen. Since her grandchild became sick her faith has recently improved more than before to where her daily worship is so much alive that it would be hard for young people to match. I think here particularly, since a lifetime is the training period of faith, that I want to fulfill my life by training which is not withering, but that is alive and leads to great virtue. The training that is alive is a training which brings joy. 7/19/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Take up your life as living training. It raises living joy. This teaching #37 is the founder's view of life. As a shop puts out the open-for-business sign each human heart-soul should always have their sign out for 'I'm in training.' It's for living one's faith, for living this very day. Using a telescope to view the world around you - the desire is to be a romanctist. Using a microscope to look into oneself - you want to become a realist. Using the telescope and microscope in this way to study more of the Wagakokoro (one's peaceful and joyful faith-heart) way of life. The telescope is like the teachings to guide our viewing of the world - like the glasses of the scholar in teaching #37. The microscope looks into the real truth of the situation, the problem providing the content for your life's process. Human beings have problems as a reality. One doesn't get away from having the problems of life. They are part of life, part of being human. How to view them is the point. In society, the usual way is to view others through the microscope and look at oneself in the telescope. This will not lead to the joy of life. The scope of faith should view others telescopicly and oneself microscopicly. We desire to strengthen our faith, to magnify our view or scope into the mysteries of this human life. May we increase the joys of the divine qualities of living. A pudding was eaten without seeing it was outdated. The next day he had diarrhea, so Rev. Soichiro Otsubo rested after the morning mediation duty. Usually he would return at 2pm, but this time he came early at 11am. The believers were overjoyed and so feeling this joy as Kami's he decides to come early on a regular basis. Oh, the pudding? He said the rest of the bad pudding is to be thrown away. The one he ate which made him sick was the divine arrangement for changing his schedule. But the other puddings out of date should not be eaten, but must be thrown out. Coming to worship was tough at first. Even just coming a few times a month. But now coming to worship is an everyday joy. Each day a joyful visitto worship and practice feeling more joys. Faith should come alive with joy.
Wednesday, March 17, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo 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, a doctor; at death, a priest. Is the doctor or priest really enough? 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 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 faith that seeks for blessings should shift to developing faith. Instead of praying for life, for blessings, or using faith to build up life, live for faith, pray to have more faith. We just go around in circles chasing after a better life of blessings. Seeking to satisfy ourselves. we only keep going around in circles from misfortune to blessings, and round again and again. Directed toward developing our faith is the way to accept and build with this life we're given. Faith can accept life and build up the spirit larger, more enriched and more beautiful. With faith virtue is obtained and blessings follow. A dream of a man in tears. He's built his whole life through human might and human talent; he's what is called a successful person. But his sorrowhe himself states as he has no idea how many birds of happiness he has killed or let escape. This dream demonstrates the limits of human powers and indicates happiness is squashed by living for self, using only human might. To give life to the birds of happiness comes from within the human heart. First the heart needs to be developed. Life plus X equals happiness. Depending on the X one uses the happiness varies all the way to the ultimate -- absolute happiness. Human strength alone gives only limited blessings of happiness. And the strength of the human heart is weakened by depending only on human power. Put faith in Kami. Pray for faith to develop the heart which depends on the process of life. The more of life you can accept, the greater you can build up the heart. By accepting the process of one's life is to get into rhythm with the very works of Kami (divinity). Depend on the process. It's how to pray for the heart's development.
Tuesday, March 16, 1999 Rev. Mikisaburo 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] The aim of the training in this faith is to meet Kami and get to know Kami. If you put effort into doing your daily work, it cannot be considered performing religious training. While training through your daily work you must develop the spirit of being truly thankful, or the motive to just be able to save others. However, that is quite difficult to do. In order to get such a spirit of Kami, the spirit to serve, still traditional austerities and also spiritual training are necessary. When you realize this spirit, all of your everyday work becomes training and finally you are able to have 'training as work' and 'work as training.' Naturally, the point of religious training is not to become disturbed; to master oneself without getting burnt in the fire or washed away in the water. 7/21/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] In order to have faith you need to train. It's not training just to receive blessings. Oh, no. But with a virtuous life, blessings are attained. We wish to develop our faith in Kami (Divinity). We train ourselves to build a larger heart to receive the blessings of Kami. To understand the Heart of Kami we wish to practice and train our faith. This training we can do in our everyday work. It's training in how to hold and develop the spirit. Yesterday Rev. Mikisaburo saw a church sign along the road. It's talking about holding on to one's spirit, and listed three things: instead of dissatisfaction, appreciation; instead of complaints, gratitude; instead of hating, loving. Everyone wants such a spirit. We all would like to be gracious, grateful, and full of love. The comment was made: I wonder what this church would answer if asked how to reach such a spirit. Can you answer? How can we celebrate the happenings of this very day, each day? There are so many books today about developing the heart. One gave three steps to feeling happier every day. First, silent meditation each day; second, walking; and thirdly, serve others. All fine, but they will only do for the short while you do them. During the sudden events of a real day we lose the sense of our precious spirit. To repeat, how can the human spirit learn to celebrate happily the daily happenings of real life? It does take practice. You need to train to be happy. The peaceful and joyful heart is practiced in the very midst of human life, on the job and at home. There's many ways of saying it. To give one example, take each event and each thing as the very sacred work of Kami. It's a divine gift presented just for your development There are many other ways of answering. What did you propose?
Monday, March 15, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo The more blessings you receive, the more benefits you will gain. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #60] Blessings are what are in your heart. Virtues are what Kami gives to you. Also among the teachings of Konko Shijin there is: "Don't think that blessings come from Kami. They come from within the heart of the believer." However, divine virtues are not anything like that. The founding minister of Kurume Church has taught that divine virtue is the trust of Kami. You must have faith that Kami can trust. That is what real blessings are. There is no one who can win against those who have received virtue. 7/11/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] Our image of virtue is rather belittling. Actually, we only have a feeling for blessings. We still haven't the understanding of real virtue. When Rev. S. Otsubo first mentions receiving virtue was after the official notification of his brother's death. He accompanied his minister to Konko religious headquarters and without receiving anything answers that he's received some souvenir with this visit. He explains that seeing the solders on his return he was filled with deep feelings of appreciation and apologies. Whereas on the trip coming he was still thinking his brother might be among the returning solders. When he set off for the headquarters' church he had his heart set on receiving blessings, but instead he was provided with divine virtue. His outlook changed from seeking personal gain, to reaching the divine view. It was something he had never experienced before. This deep set joy of virtue continued to grow and bloom throughout his life. Yesterday, at the 30th day service for Mr. Kenji Kanetaka, Rev. Mitsuaki experienced a different scene from the usual raw feelings of the family. There was a wonderful sense of ease; the deceased must really have receivedgreat divine ease. The wife explained the reason for this deep feeling of ease all have received. From the teaching he had drawn for this year was the number 1 and his name contains the 2; his death was at 3:45 AM; the teaching selected for the day he died was #67; yesterday out of the teaching #28 opened for the celebration was 8 or 9 parts of the water in the well; and a written circle had been presented and was offered. Therefore, amazingly the numerals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 have all been accounted. When we face toward Kami, our heart reaching closer and closer to divinity, is when we approach zero. This accounts for the great sense of ease in yesterday's service. To reach zero puts you at great ease with divine work. The hard candle might represent hardships of our lives, but with a wick in the center it can be lite. To have reached the zero of ease is when the wick in the center can be lite. This means we have changed and shifted, so we can receive Kami's divine virtue.
Sunday, March 14, 1999 Wagakokoro Day service at 10 am Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Pastor 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] The innocent prayer is like wishing to win the ball game in the vacant lot. It's the simple request of a person just trying to be happy as a living human being. Blessings of this kind are like getting a teething ring. We need to receive blessings which really become a living part of us. That is the meaning of praying with sincerity. 7/11/82 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] It is teaching the faith of prayer, requesting divine support. There are so many people lacking the spirit to live. Among females there are some who are alcoholics, some who can't get themselves to go outdoors, and then there are those who have nervous or neurotic problems. Thye rate of suidcide indicates the seriousness of such problems. In the nation it averages 65 suicides a day. The human heart needs blessings; needs to feel the saving blessings of Kami. The basis of receiving blessings is awareness; it's to realize what true blessings really are. On April 30, 1873 Kami revealed, "Everything that happens is The Principal Kami's doing. This includes major upheavals." [Record of Revelations 17-14-1] Early in the morning on November 24, 1882, Kami imparted, "Those who have faith should not worry about the unexpected. There will be unexpected illness not only in summer, but also in winter. No one is aware of the blessings of Heaven and Earth which enable people to live. Kami shall have people become aware of the blessings of Heaven and Earth by having Konko Daijin born throughout the world where the sun shines, in every country, without exception." [Record of Revelations 26-22] People are unaware of the true blessings of Kami. Do they realize that everything happening is the doing of Kami? This includes the unexpected, too. With the faith of Konko Daijin people can reach full awareness of divine blessings. True faith perceives that all is divine love, blessed workings. Pray for everything with sincere faith.
Saturday, March 13, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Do not say it is a miracle when you receive divine blessings by practicing faith. [General Principles #14] Each day we are being provided with a living in the midst of the great miracle of the universe. There is summer and there's winter; there's day and there's night. Everything in the universe is a great miracle for us. Today Mrs. Kumagai sought mediation about what happened to her yesterday and today. When she decided to telephone someone, she received a phone call from that person. Realizing she had missed the bus, she's given a ride in a car which happens to come by. After getting into the car it started to rain. And upon arriving here it stopped raining. Throughout her daily activities she feels like Kami is working things out just for her alone. She says she doesn't deserve such divine work free from any and all error. When you're given to follow faith, then you are given just such blessings to experience. I feel blessings such as these are minor miracles. But without receiving these blessings, you will not realize the actual sensation of the great miracle. 7/18/73 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] With only a small bowl-like container there is no way we could ever receive the great blessings that Kami wants to give us. It's as if we are just stopping at the small, tiny miracles. With such limited strength, even if our prayers for prosperous success were to be satisfied, what could we do with it? What meaning could it possibly have? As in another mini-teaching: ".... Upon gaining blessings if our spirit here doesn't come alive, we won't be able to experience the real blessings (those which Kami is preparing to give us) coming next. ...." (Rev. S. Otsubo) 7/28/78 Taking the two teachings, General Principles 14 & 15, together, you can realize more of what is being taught. Do not say it is a miracle when you receive divine blessings by practicing faith. [General Principles #14] It is strange not to receive divine blessings when practicing faith. [General Principles #15]
Friday, March 12, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo Should The Principal Parent of the universe enter a shrine, the world would turn dark. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #10] Vast and infinite divine virtue is overflowing throughout the universe. It's neither the inside nor the outside of the shrine. It's not that Kami cannot leave the shrine because of being enshrined. And also Kami cannot be closed up in a shrine. However, man has various feelings and concepts. With the sound of opening the shrine doors, we feel our hearts being opened. When the lamps for Kami are turned on bright, the worshiper feels his or her heart-soul swept clean. The point is to open and brighten one's own heart and soul. 7/24/75 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] This same teaching was received just four days ago. In these four days has my faith changed any? Of utmost importance, is my heart in the right direction? I'm pleased to see that I have a completely new way of receiving this teaching today. This Parental Kami is my greatest feeling today. When introducing himself, our first pastor first gave his origins in this faith -- from his grandparents. He was so very thankful for receiving his Konko faith. We should realize that the founder began with the fearsome diety, Konjin, but eventually realized The Principal Parent of the Universe. That we begin our faith realizing that all is divine love is quite a wonderful step. We can be thankful for the founder's and our first pastor's life's teachings. Then what is it we need to practice? To remove our misthoughts and misconceptions, so our faith-hearts will open and become brighter. In the daily prayers we recite are teachings ---- the part my ears picked up this morning was: "Many, not knowing the way, are lost in greed and selfishness; they suffer the cycle of misfortunes -- great is Kami's sorrow." It's talking of living with misconceptions and losing the way of Kami. We really do need to prcatice peeling away more of our selfishness, misconceptions, and greedy desires. I wish to change my outlook daily to match up closer with the rhythm of the universe, the heart of our Parental Kami. May my heart move ever closer with the process of divine work. When more and more peoples of this earth aim to change themselves daily to become more in tune with the natural rhythm of the universe, strife can be erased from the human world. How many of us are practicing? How many more will try? No strife, no wars, no arguements. What a wonderful world to look forward to.
Thursday, March 11, 1999 Rev. Mitsuaki Otsubo This is where you come to develop your faith. So train your faith well before you return home. You never know what might happen overnight, so receive divine blessings at home and at your workplace. Those who have children or jobs cannot leave their homes or workplace to go to worship. When a family member is sick, you can not leave them. Therefore, go worship to train your faith when all is fine. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #71] Let's take the example of the many spectators watching a baseball game and the athletes playing in the game. It's fun to watch, but it's even more fun for those playing the game. They especially enjoy pitting their abilities gained through regular practice, whether they win or lose. The same goes for faith. Don't just look and listen. Unless you aim to be a practitioner of the faith, you can't expect the real blessings of faith. First is to practice, and second is also to practice. 7/22/71 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] After the founder received Kami's blessings when he suffered from a serious throat disease at age 42, he made the decision to worship Kami each month on the 1st, 15th & 28th. This was a major step in the practice of his faith. He had decided to practice his faith on a regular basis. This is completely different from the way he worshiped previously, for this occasion or for a special purpose like his critical age. He decided to always worship on those three days every month. He began a regular practice. Rev. Soichiro Otsubo, decided to treat each joint in his growth, like the bamboo joints, with regular particular respect. We, likewise, should take up regular practice like the monthly service ceremonies, the annual celebrations and even the three daily worship times. When we begin to grope for faith, for truth, for Kami's true blessings is when we need to shift start a regular practice of worship and faith development.(Back) < Back to the HomePage > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek