Dick Dusek's Dosage

September 3, 1998 Feeling the rhythm of today's teaching I'm senting it to you for the web/internet. What's going on in Chicago Propagation Hall? In the Takeuchi family's faith? What's the situation in Portland Church's training ministers? I'd love to have some info on the American scene and some of the rhythms of your faith. As for me, yesterday I was duty minister and at 6AM prayers I opened to teaching #58: 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. Since I had recently journeyed for a home ceremony and forgot my sash for the kimono, I deeply felt Kami desired me to speak about it. So it became the content of my talk after the 1pm Prayers. By forgetting to stick close to the process of life you are not able to grasp the rhythms it is providing for you. Whether embarassing or not, it's necessary to accept what the divine process is leading you to. It's something like Kami saying, this is where you need to do work and renew your faith. In the afternoon an interesting rhythm became the content for the evening talk that night. Rev. Mikisaburo had been reading a book about working with your fate and that the value of fate can be raised. At that time a believer's daughter came for her first visit and so he spoke frankly about his reading and gave her a written teaching which was related to the topic: By loving fate, fate can shift. He spoke of fate being able to be raised in value by how you treat it. As the mediation finished he received a phone call from the very person who had given him the book. Quickly he called the family back and told them who was on the phone. It was Mrs. Akita and she had given him the book. They received a powerful dose of blessings from the great feeling of this unmistakable rhythm. All day yesterday I sat feeling the process, rhythm after rhythm. Rev. Katsuhiko, the pastor, was sitting till about 7:30, then Rev. Mitsuaki came and sat until 8. From 9 to 11 Rev. Eishiro was on duty. He was releaved by Rev. Mitsuaki who sat until the 1 o'clock prayers. From 1 to 2 Rev. Aiko Ikejiri sat in mediation. And then Rev. Mikisaburo came and mediated until 4pm. Each minister had meetings to attend in the evening, but Rev. Mitsuaki was sitting during 8 Prayers and then left for the Koyokai meeting. I completed all the duties and Mrs. Emiko Otsubo took charge of the prayer/offerings. And after my final prayer of gracious completion of the entire day, Mr. Nonaka sought mediation for all his relatives. So interestingly enough I had to retrieve the mediation log again and correct the number recorded in the duty minster's record book. Well, let me hear some rhythms from your side. Dick & Wagakokoro
Thursday, September 3, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Pastor 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. 7/20/76 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The same teaching as yesterday, but today's rhythm is completely different. Our pastor spoke about not easing up -- practicing the rhythm of faith without easing up. In that way needless weeds are not permitted to enter; lazy ways or destructive bugs aren't permitted into the faith that is practiced without easing up. "When you try to take the easy way, it's not easy, but when we pursue faith without easing up, there is paradise." The purpose of faith is to feel the joyous rhythm of true life. It's the rhythm of the universe actually, that is so much fun. The pleasure of life comes when one can meet and feel the rhythms of this universe we are allowed to live in. True faith is not anything to toughen and made you stiff; faith isn't for perfection. "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." Yesterday 3 cases of divorce were mediated for prayer and teachings. That's a rhythm. Marriage wasn't suppose to be like that, and this resulted in divorce. One needs to practice the fine details of faith following the process of life. Life isn't at all an easy teacher. Thus without practice, reaching some of the rhythmic joys is beyond one's capablities. Other examples of rhythm were having or not having the drink, peaches or some cake which is desired at the time. Our pastor wanted a certain drink and checking the fridge there wasn't any. That's an interesting rhythm. When he wanted to eat some peaches, he was told that there weren't any. But his wife went to the kitchen and someone had just brought peaches. Amazing timing. It's the same when he wanted some cake. Though none was available, a believer had brought some for the memorial service of a departed relative and it had just been taken down after completing the ceremony. The timing is amazing. It had just become available. The joy of faith, the joy of true life is to live picking up the rhythms of the dynamic universe of divine works. It's a blessed sensation we are allowed to perceive. But without the basic practice of not allowing the spirit to take it easy, the true ease of finding joy won't be tuned to the channel of the process where the rhythms are born. Rev. Dick Dusek
Wednesday, September 2, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Pastor 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 This teaching was the one received on the day the first master passed away. It is the content of his whole life: burnt as a baby, sick at 4, sore leg in grade school, good grades but couldn't be put into higher schools, money he saved couldn't start a business at 21, rich man in Peking business but lose all at end of war, had three funerals in the family, holding the religious meeting of Divine Love but was taken as a crazy spiritual man, and sick with diabetes his last 12 years. Yes it's like a losing lottery ticket. Without faith, just poverty and sickness and rejection. What's the core of your faith? What's inside? Just working hard? Or the heart of work? Troublesome becomes happy and delightful. The losing ticket becomes a winning number. You have the responsibility to pray for the divine request to be fulfilled. It reaches fulfillment through receiving blessings for the five requests: health, family union, success & prosperity, true labor, and a wagakokoro to fulfill the divine request of true happiness, real peace and genuine delight throughout every land on earth. We do have the responsibility to put our heart and spirit into such prayer for the glory of Kami and the salvation of mankind. May the tough and rough hardships of this world be taken with the bright and shining spirit so true happiness is nourished. The losing hand with faith becomes a winner. "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."
Tuesday, September 1, 1998 Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Pastor Practice faith. Practicing faith means to direct your heart towards Kami. Though you are surrounded by divine virtue, you will not receive blessings unless you have faith. Even a lamp full of oil cannot give light without a wick. Without light, the night would be dark. Without faith, the world would be dark. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #21] Belief is strength; Strength is light. Through belief man is saved. Light passes throughout the world. The aspect felt in this life is That the world is really dark. In this era, as on a dark night, With the strength of belief, with light Let us serve society. To get the belief of practicing faith which means to direct your heart towards Kami and to receive the blessings of faith, pray to Kami for all things, trust in Kami for everything. Belief will be born. This is "to direct your heart towards Kami." 7/3/70 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] In the practice of our faith, what is the core of our belief? What is it that gives you strength and light to pass through the various phases of this life, this world? Of course, you should feel the present situation of the world. There are tragedies, disasters of man and of nature. You see and hear them on world news. It is time to feel it, to really feel it. And to know that Kami is asking for a light to shine for the true awakening of the world. Do you feel it? The great problems: floods, volcanos, kidnaping, thief, and war. It's on the TV news everyday. But do you feel the divine need to open the human soul, reach the spirit of mankind so as to develop a living spirit through these very processes of life. The believer of Airaku has shifted their core of belief from what used to be dependence on the master mediator (Pastor of the church) to depending on the process of life itself to guide the development of their faith- soul, their spirit of belief. The process of everyday happenings is felt as divine work in our midst and guides the soul to develop a cooresponding faith for lighting up the darkness, making the hardtimes lighter and brighter, and leading to true strength for serving the world. Is such a spirit being a light to the world???? Belief is strength;          Strength is light. Through belief man is saved. Light passes throughout the world. The aspect felt in this life is That the world is really dark. In this era, as on a dark night, With the strength of belief, with light Let us serve society.
Monday, August 31, 1998 Rev. Eishiro Otsubo Is it not a real blessing that humans are able to save others? Oxen and horses cannot save an offspring that has fallen into the water. But a person seeing this can save the animal. When people suffer from sickness or hardship, they are helped by Kami. Practice faith and remember to be thankful to be able to save people in distress. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #76] To a limited extent wealth and even possessions will help you. However, for saving the heart eternally and continu- ously there is no other way except through true faith. Those who help others see a problem as their training, realize it is divine love, and receive it with real joy. By speaking to others with that spirit, Kami's miraculous works start from that point, and the way opens to mutually help each other. Thus you are able to lead the most purposeful life of faith. 7/28/77 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] The greatest way is that of prayer, requesting the blessings necessary.
Sunday, August 30, 1998 Always be grateful for whatever you eat or drink. [How To Develop Faith #15] It is said that food is a treasure. People are the only ones who can take it as something sacred. When the feeling of gratitude is gone, things are at their worst. In the faith, there's even the joy after death of being worshiped and becoming a kami. Also accumulating gratitude is the way to get virtue which only people are allowed to receive. Moreover, gratefulness is a privilege of the human race. There's nothing more pitiful than to relinquish these privileges. And at the same time it is an insult to Kami. [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 8/1/68 I received this before early departure for a 30th-day ceremony at the Matsuoaka home in Fukuoka City. I had to leave before the 10AM Wagakokoro Day Services to be able to prepare for the 12 noon ceremony for the late Mrs. Hajime Matsuoka. Her children and spouses came; her grandchildren came, also the little great grandchildren. I was able to assist Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo in today's ceremony. Dick Dusek
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Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek