Windows To The Heart
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
=======================================
T E N
W I N D O W S
T O T H E H E A R T
# 1 Respect the process Mar 2, '98
# 2 Seeking the heart of diety Mar 2, '98
# 3 Together-in-ease Mar 2, '98
# 4 Tune in to the process of life Mar 24, '98
# 5 The Five Stages of Faith Mar 27, '98
# 6 The Nature of the Universe Apr 7, '98
# 7 The teaching of the day - Faith should be easy Apr 12, '98
# 8 May The Divine Prayer Come to Life Apr 17, '98
# 9 The Way to Truth May 21, '98
#10 Slow but sure, enlarge and enrich your faith May 28, '98
* P R A Y E R S : 1) Prayer for Together-In-Ease
2) Everyday Requests
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- -----------
Respect the process
Mar 2, '98 ___________________________________________ Mar 2, '98
#1 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^
* G i v e * Remove Selfishness
* * ~~~~```~~~~```~~~~```~~~~```~~~~```~~~~
* i t a * The desire not to die tires you out.
* * When you decide to go down with the ship,
* t r y * You are at ease .
_________________________________________________________
| TO BE AT EASE IS HAVING AN LARGE SPIRIT |
| = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = |
| |
| A program of nurturing |
| |
| < The spirit > Like the Earth |
| < of > QUIETLY & PEACEFULLY |
| < the soil > A C C E P T I N G . |
| |
| It's a nourishing process |
| |
| << The larger and more enriched the spirit >> |
| << a greater ease evolves >> |
|_________________________________________________________|
** ** **
** The Ideal In Faith **
T H E D I M E N S I O N B E Y O N D
====== ====== ====== ======
b e g i n s f r o m w i t h i n
t h e p r o c e s s o f l i f e .
====== ====== *** ====== ======
___________________________________________________________
| |
| Respect the process in your life. |
| It is the divine work of the rhythm of the universe. |
|___________________________________________________________|
' ''' ''' ''' ''' ''' '
' Any human being just by trying can joyfully and '
' gratefully follow the way called Together-In-Ease '
' '
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Together-In-Ease Together-In-Ease Together-In-Ease |
| |
| Given a new day, day after day; |
| T Given life in the universe; T |
| o Living by the blessings of the universe; o |
| g And all goes back to the universe. g |
| e Then our whole life is for e |
| t contributing to and serving the universe. t |
| h Seeing and accepting Mother Nature, the universe, h |
| e as a living thing, one lives together with it. e |
| r Hasn't the modern world lost sight of r |
| - this way of living? - |
| I ----- ----- ----- I |
| n Life is not anything petty to be trampled n |
| - on with politics or power. What it is to - |
| E hold life dearly is to live life as it is E |
| a provided. Mother Nature is the source of a |
| s our life. Develop a life relying on s |
| e heaven and holding to the earth so that e |
| it becomes a living part of you. |
| |
| Together-In-Ease Together-In-Ease Together-In-Ease |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
R E S P E C T
T H E P R O C E S S O F L I F E
It is the divine work of the rhythm of the universe
***** ******* *****
Harmonizing with the process in everyday life
opens the heart to infinite joy
eternal peace of mind
THE PEACEFUL JOYFUL HEART
( W A G A K O K O R O )
Mar 2, '98 -------- -------- -------- Mar 2, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
Seeking the heart of diety
Mar 2, '98 ___________________________________________ Mar 2, '98
#2 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^
I wrote this May 19, 1996 | Note I'm using 'God' throughout.
after my first week | If you wish, replace it with
on the computer. | the Japanese term, 'Kami.'
Let's title it:
SEEKING THE HEART OF DIETY, OUR DIVINE PARENT
When serving God, you must live with the heart of God.
Most people do things on their own with the heart of man.
Thus, they can only do what the heart of man can do. By
doing things with the heart of God, you can do what the
heart of God can do. [ Collected Teachings #10 ]
I took the liberty of selecting this teaching today. I feel
its meaning in most of my activities these past few days. I
have just started using a computer and my beginner's mistakes
combined with my human heart, with all its limitations, had
me suffering to the point of feeling sick.
A couple of days ago the computer I was using went dead and I
lost a whole page of work. I tried to remember it all and
really got tired trying to redo that day's page. On the next
day with a new computer I mistakenly erased the page of work I
did and again tired myself out redoing it from memory. Then I
had ceremonial duties for a day and a half, from preparations
up until the service, to the final clean-up and delivering of
the offerings. To say the least, I was getting tired from
overwork; and my frustration and disappointment didn't help it
a bit.
That night I conked out quite early. In the morning I awoke
feeling feverish. Lacking energy to wash up, I returned to
bed. I'd convinced myself I needed the rest, and was sure I
was sick. But throughout my whole day, after getting started
at breakfast, I didn't have one symptom of illness. It was
amazing. I was sure I wouldn't be able to work, but I was
proved wrong. It was a pleasant surprise.
What does it mean? Like most people using my own heart of man
I had met my human limitations. I had worried myself till I
was tired and frustrated. And then I continued wearing myself
out till I was sickly. At this point my heart of man had
reached its limit. I needed the rest.
However, I wonder!? Had I missed a chance to practice the
heart of God by not attending morning prayers? If I had gone,
could I have turned to God, changing from a heart of man to
the heart of God? Would my symptoms have cleared up earlier?
Could I have realized, and then recognized the blessings at
that time? Did I really need to sleep in? The questioning is
endless; the possibilities beyond limit, especially through the
heart of God.
We are taught to turn from worrying and practice faith.
"People who practice faith should not become upset.
Do not be afraid regardless of how bad things become."
With the heart of God, blessings and virtues are provided you.
"Without virtue, you will worry. With divine virtue,
you will not worry."
"Abandon doubts and have faith. Divine blessings are
in one's heart."
"Whether or not your prayers are answered by divine
blessings depends upon your heart."
From a heart of man, to the heart of God is a whole new world.
"Practicing faith on your own
will not bring divine blessings.
Practicing faith with the support of God, will."
"A heart that feels compassion
is a heart of God."
I wish to continue developing this heart of God I feel I have
found. I pray to build faith in which God can trust. May my
heart of faith grow strong and sturdy in the graces of our
Principle Parent, through the blessings of the moment, each
moment of my daily life.
"With a single heart it all comes into being."
(Rev. S. Otsubo)
Just by trying
a quiet, natural joy
kept me happy
through the night.
Mar 2, '98 -------- -------- -------- Mar 2, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
Together-in-ease
Mar 2, '98 ___________________________________________ Mar 2, '98
#3 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- ----------
** The Ideal In Faith **
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Any human being just by trying can joyfully and
gratefully follow the way called Together-In-Ease
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
R E S P E C T
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
T H E P R O C E S S O F L I F E
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<< It's The Divine Rhythm Of The Universe >>
^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's where you enter
N
E S
M I
I O
D T H E N
~~~~~~~~~
B D
E N
Y O
Together-In-Ease
is where divinity and
humanity meet together in prayer,
rejoice together in gratitude, and delight
in mutual satisfaction. It is the world in which
the divine and the human commune together. That is, both diety and human beings
are prospering, happy, and fulfilled.
The ideal in the Konko faith is
Together-In-Ease.
**=========================**
Difficulties are invitation cards
to a happier life.
Mar 2, '98 -------- -------- -------- Mar 2, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
Tune in to the process of life; Faith first, blessings follow
Mar 24, '98 ___________________________________________ Mar 24, '98
#4 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- ----------
__________________________________
| THIS SAME TEACHING |
| WAS SELECTED AT RANDOM |
|__ two days in a row __|
___ ___
| After Konko Daijin's physical form is gone, Konko Daijin |
| will go wherever asked. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #19] |
|___________________________________________________________________|
Read March 19, 1998:
It's giving an indication of a function which works
irrespective of time and space, and is free of all
obstacles. However we must come even one step closer to
Konko Daijin. It makes it easier for Konko Daijin and is
also a shortcut to blessings for us. To do it, you must
search out the very limits of yourself and from there take
off and proceed wholeheartedly.
Here is the sales pitch of a toad cream salesman:
"Surrounded on four sides by mirrors the bullfrog,
suffering from his own filthiness and wretchedness, begins
to drip and drip with greasy oil. Refining this oil we
produce a special remedy for cuts."
When we look at ourselves in the mirror of the teachings,
our filthiness and wretchedness are reflected. This is
quite a self-discovery. 7/1/70
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
Read March 20, 1998:
Without the conviction of what gets beyond the human
founder, a living diety (ikigami), these are unspeakable
words. It's an actual proclamation or sworn statement
standing on insight and confidence that's fundamentally the
same as the universe. 7/10/81
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
The faith of the Konko religion is subjective. It comes down to the
question: Do you feel Kami in your daily life? If your heart's spirit
isn't tuned to the process of life, if it's not turned to the channel of
the process of the universe, the human spirit will register but static.
To take up the divine way of human life, your heart must be set to
recieve the divine heart. You take up the way of the universe as your
way of faith. Your heart takes on the ways of the divine heart. The
process of everyday life is where we make the divine-human connection.
Tune your spirit to the process. The process is the link joining us to
the heart of life. It's the divine-human waveband; the channel for
divinity and humanity to unite together.
When our headminister was in dire straits, high fever
and headache, he had a dream indicating two ways out
of such hard times. 1) Join together with that
process; 2) Renew through that process. By process
is meant the sacred working you are receiving at that
very moment. It will lead your spirit to emulate the
very processes of the universe, the very nature of
our universe.
translated and adapted from:
The Morning Sermon of March 20,1998
Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Headminister
Konko Airaku Church, Kurume City
Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Let's Emulate It
The Nature of the Universe
* * *
The limitless beauty of humble generosity
is manifesting: The heavenly nature
The limitless calm of silent acceptance
is nurturing: The earthly nature
The limitless submission of conscientiousness
is following: The orderly nature
* * *
It's the calm submissive beauty to
accept humbly & conscientiously.
**=====** **=====**
By aiming for blessings faith is very difficult. Seek
faith itself; blessings will follow later. The basic
content for true faith is to realize that the process
of everyday life is the sacred work of God or Kami.
There's nothing truer to grasp than the process of
life. Take the process seriously -- it's important.
Depend on the process; through it renew your spirit,
develop your faith. The truth will set you free is
often said. The truth of the process in your own life
guides you to the way of the universe. To respect the
process is to emulate the way of the universe. This
truth, this process, puts you on the way to the truths
of the universe, the very nature of the universe.
Faith is developed through the truth of the process of
the universe. You find it in the process of your
your everyday life. (Rev. Dick Dusek Mar.22'98)
**=====** **=====**
Y o U A r E
a L i V e
Mar 24, '98 -------- -------- -------- Mar 24, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
The Five Stages of Faith
Mar 27, '98 ___________________________________________ Mar 27, '98
#5 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- ----------
March 27, 1998
The simplicity of faith comes with learning how
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Although it seems that the person or their body is doing it,
it's actually the spirit that is doing faith. The spirit is
a combination of divine and human works mutually satisfying,
mutually fulfilling. Both divinity and humanity enjoy the
delights of spiritual development, greater faith.
It's the spirit at work, practicing faith.
Here's three ways to develop your faith:
1) Be centered on God/Kami
It's faith you should aim for, not blessings.
Aiming for blessings makes it all so very difficult.
Life is provided for faith to be developed,
although almost all of us use faith for our lives.
Use what happens in life for building faith.
2) It's for me to renew. I'm the one that must do it.
Don't try to put blame on anyone or anything else.
3) I must depend on God/Kami. Without divine help,
I am helpless. Trust totally in God/Kami.
Number Sixty-nine from The Teachings of Konko Daijin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 every-
thing will go well. You should practice your faith easily.
The Mini-teachings of Reverend Soichiro Otsubo:
Since we don't sufficiently sense the blessings of each and
every day we make errors in faith. Faith is practicing to
worship your own heart to whatever extent. Saying that
practicing faith is easy is, for example, like learning to
drive a car. If intent on learning, it is something anyone
can learn to do. By not trying to learn, it becomes
difficult. (7/20/71)
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. (7/21/77)
_________<<>>___________
People become skilled at what they really like. We need to
like our faith. In order to do that, we should listen to
someone who likes faith. To seek for the depths of faith
is so pleasant, so joyful. With a heart that has hands
clasped in prayer, there are no limits. Like the joint of
a bamboo tree, each and every joint of your faith should be
taken seriously. From that joint comes new buds, and then
branches. (7/29/82)
================= ************** =================
A Summary of Morning Sermons From March 25, 26, 27, 1998
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The teaching on Wednesday, the 25th, was:
The religious training of this faith does not
involve traditional physical austerities. Doing
your everyday work is religious training.
[The Teachings of Konko Daijin #39]
And the Mini-teaching:
When you do your daily work as a form of faith training,
it becomes a way to receive divine virtue through your
everyday job. Of course, this means that it is important
to do our tasks in a way that fulfills Kami's will. It
has been seven years since we've received the blessing at
Airaku of abolishing all physical austerities. Since
then, as we have focused on spiritual training, by trying
to keep Kami in mind all day long, offering prayers on a
regular daily schedule, and trying to do Kami's will
during everyday work, our church has doubled.
By the way, trying to receive blessings through physical
austerity is just like trying to raise money at a pawn
shop. By keeping Kami's will for us in mind all day
long, at work as well as at home and in between,
everything is arranged for us through natural blessings. 7/30/81 [Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
Comparing what great ministers of the past did with the spiritual
training being taught here at Airaku the five steps for faith
were listed. First, is going to worship; second, receiving the
teaching; third, do spiritual training; fourth, develop one's
faith; and fifth, the way to do daily work. The only tough part
is getting up to come for morning worship; so much easier than
the austerities done in the past. All were called to gather in
the mediation hall and instructed in the importance of starting
the day early with worship and prayer and the teaching.
Then Thursday, the 26th, teaching #67 of The Teachings Of Konko
Daijin was read (see below). The headminister spoke of the
natural education we can receive through our character, our
personality. Even, and especially, our weak points guide us to
develop greater faith, a larger spirit. By taking the character
one's given importantly, means to polish the gem of the heart, to
renew one's spirit. In this way our character leads us to
develop a faith through the five stages spoken of yesterday which
reaches fulfillment in the way we put it to use in our everyday
life. So realizing the blessings of one's character is a way of
attaining true faith.
Then Friday, the 27th, teaching #69 was read (see above). Faith
should be simple and easy. That it's not is proof that our faith
is not developed, that we're lacking in faith, or that we are off
the track which leads to faith. Are you heading in the right
direction? Our headminister spoke of how to swing a golfclub.
Most people see the swing as coming through the arms, but
actually the whole body is needed for a good swing. Are you only
looking at one particular part of faith practice? It takes the
whole heart and soul single-heartedly working in one spirit.
Thus in our daily lives by putting such true spiritual
development into practice the joys of faith come even without
asking; really simple when you know what you're doing.
================= ************** =================
March 26, 1998
` Change is Constant `
` Nothing is Set for Sure `
` Without Faith `
` There's Not a Thing `
` to Hold On to `
Number Sixty-seven from The Teachings of Konko Daijin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing ever stays the same. Unless each person
practices faith, it will not last very long.
The Mini-teachings of Reverend Soichiro Otsubo:
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)
_______________<<>>______________
The blind person, the deaf, various people in different
circumstances, each realizing their situation must rise to it
through faith. Since the blind cannot see, they counteract by
developing a strong sense of perception to the point that the person
with sight appears ill-suited; the deaf develop precision better
than anyone in interpreting the spirit/hearts of others. It's
really necessary to demonstrate fully the bodily strengths each of
us has. We must actually work at studying and mastering how to be
delighted, how to be grateful. (7/19/77)
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)
****** ****** ****** ****** ******
The Heart: A Spirit Divine & Human
The spirit-heart is NOT the personal possession of
people, but a joint venture for divinity and humanity
to work on and develop together. The emotions and
feelings, the images and messages of the heart are
shared properties of the diety and the person.
By reading, interpreting, and understanding
the spirit of the heart, one can get a grasp,
like a hint, of the sacred heart of divinity.
Mar 27, '98 -------- -------- -------- Mar 27, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
The Nature of the Universe
Apr 7, '98 ___________________________________________ Apr 7, '98
#6 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- ----------
* *
* A SPIRIT TUNED TO THE RHYTHM OF THE UNIVERSE *
* *
* EMULATES THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE *
* *
* * * * * * * *
_______________________________________________________________
G I V I N G * C O N S T A N T * A C C E P T A N C E
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nature of the Universe in capsule form
``````````````````````````````````````````
For the ideal of life, called 'Together-In-Ease' or Airaku,
we must focus on the living, moving process of life (divine
work). It's the process of the whole universe manifested
in our world for us to see and hear, feel and taste. We
can reach and touch this living process of life (the divine
process of the universe) in our everyday activities.
First, realize the divine process is in your life, in your
world. Then develop a spirit, in your heart and through
your faith, that respects the process that is happening
just for you. In this way you will attain the heart of the
universe, the spirit which matches the very nature of the
universe. It's the sacred nature of divine grace; it's
divine love being manifested for our benefit.
The nature of the universe (divine love) is explained in
three parts:
The offering nature, like the heavens, gives and gives
generously in all sincerity; a spirit which offers all
without any limit.
The accepting nature is like the earth. It continually
accepts and takes in everything for the nourishment.
Everything and anything is accepted for nurturing a
greater and more enriched spirit.
The ordering nature is constant and continuous. Like
our sun, it never lets up its conscientious and
faithful spirit,
The nature of the universe permeates all of life; in a
word, it's all-pervasive. It is GIVING CONSTANT ACCEPTANCE
in every process of life; it's nature is to give and accept
constantly. It is the very essence of life in this world.
It's divine work in action, the essence of Divine Love.
Rev. Dick Dusek, 1pm 4/7/98
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
E M U L A T E T H E S P I R I T O F T H E U N I V E R S E
_________________________________________________________________
* *
* The Spirit to Offer << g i v i n g >> *
* The Spirit to Accept >>>>>>>> g r o w i n g <<<<<<<< *
* The Spirit to Continue <*><*> c o n s t a n t l y <*><*> *
*_________________________________________________________________*
To Accept and To Give At An 8 To 2 Ratio
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The late Rev. Soichiro Otsubo has taught that the base of
the human spirit should be 'acceptance' for 80%, and the
remaining 20%, the nature of 'giving'. And for maintaining
the spirit which respects this rhythm of the universe
requires the consistent aspect of faithfulness.
A quiet and peaceful posture is recommended to fully
develop the base of accepting the everyday graces of one's
daily process, for accepting the happenings of life which
are presented to us as divine gifts. Then, with a firm
base in tune with the rhythm of the universe, what you can
offer, what you're be able to give, will come out even more
beautifully, much more enriched, and more nourishing for
oneself, and everyone and everything around you.
**** **** ****
It comes down to belief in the process of life.
That it is the work of divinity in our midst.
The rhythm of life begins with the process.
It leads to real joy and true happiness.
The way of truth, happiness and peace has no shortcut.
The process of your life
leads you slow, but sure
step by step
to ever greater
t r u t h .
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Respecting The Process
Tunes The Spirit
To The Rhythm & Nature
Of The Universe
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE
T P
C R
E O F O
P C
S L I F E E
E * * S
R * * S
* T H E N *
* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *
* *
* W h e n A p p r o p r i a t e *
* *
* The Appropriate Thing Can Be Done *
* *
* A p p r o p r i a t e l y *
* *
* * * * * * * * *
Apr 7, '98 -------- -------- -------- Apr 7, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
The teaching of the day - Faith should be easy
Apr 12, '98 ___________________________________________ Apr 12, '98
#7 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- ---------- ----------
Saturday Morning, April 11, 1998
Enter the tatami-matted worship hall before 5 am
The lights dimmed, only shine on the altar ahead
Sit on the matted floor praying quietly composed
** == ** == ** == ** == **
lights turn on as prayer recitation begins
then in the quiet after communal prayers
The Teaching of the Day
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
i s g i v e n b y
Reverend Katsuhiko Otsubo
The Headminister
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]
Since we don't sufficiently sense the blessings of each and
every day we make errors in faith. Faith is practicing to
worship your own heart to whatever extent. Saying that
practicing faith is easy, for example, is like learning to
drive a car. If intent on learning, it is something anyone
can learn to do. By not trying to learn, it becomes
difficult.
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo -- 7/20/71]
Those of us who have heard and know of the ideal in living one's
faith have the duty of making it easy. We should take the responsibi-
lity to make it easy. It should be easy to practice one's faith, to
receive divine blessings, to create a peaceful & joyful heart, and
awaken the spirit of one's soul. To make it easy doesn't mean one can
relax, lay down, and take it easy. Being made easy is something the
ordinary person can do in the regular activities of a usual day.
What is it? What can the usual average person easily do to get beyond
a normal way of living? The least this ordinary person could do is to
train themselves by taking each morning as life itself, and by taking
the happenings of one's day and really accept them. The morning
becomes the very essence of one's life; the events of an ordinary day
take on such meaning that they are truly respected. Anyone can do it,
even an ordinary person as you and I. It's easy.
The problem is where to put one's objective. What are you aiming for?
What do you pray for? Is it the blessings you want? Is it for making
things simpler? Of course, this is the place where all human beings
start. We all pray for blessings. All of us start here sometime or
other. But when our troubles are always seen as problems, it means
there is something wrong.
How can we reach the goal of doing our everyday duties with true
spirit, of taking the ordinary daily routine for spiritual enrichment.
This is something I couldn't really understand myself. The ideal of
human faith isn't explainable in a few short words or phrases. There
is no quick and easy way to explain how the human spirit can be truly
opened and awakened. The ideal in faith is an combination of 30 years
of experiments and training in the faith of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo. It
isn't anything explained so easily.
The late Rev. Soichiro Otsubo was once phoned by the director of The
Konko Theological Seminary and was asked to explain the ideal that all
of his disciples kept speaking about during their studies at the
seminary. So one evening, sitting at the mediation desk, he wrote out
six points that must be understood for explaining the ideal in faith.
And one of these points was spiritual training.
In the less, you won't be able to realize that 'everything is divine
love' without taking up spiritual training. Developing one's spirit
is necessary before being able to see the divine work of love in every
aspect of this human world of ours. One needs to polish the gem of
the heart in order to realize that everything is divine love.
I was reading of a novelist who wrote that he actually considered
suicide twice in his life. Once was in his junior high days and again
just as he began working as a novelist. In _A_Drop_of_Water_ he
states that all is difficulty and hardship. Thus he concludes that we
must look at this life from the negative standpoint. It's similar to
a Buddhist stance in which all is fate, quite tough and tiresome.
I was once told that the ratio of the negative and positive sides of
life is something like 7 to 3, or 6 to 4. That we have many troubles
in life is true. There are many difficulties; they're quite numerous.
For example, how many nice days are there in one year? Disregarding
the cold and hot days, the windy and rainy ones, there are but a few
truely good days. So most of the year can be considered bad.
It's the truth. The difficulties are many. Thus so many people have
taken this as the excuse, can we say, to give up. Then what they have
is something along the lines of, all is troublesome and difficult.
They have to give up; they can't explain any way out the stance that
all is hardship.
When realizing that every single thing is truly divine love at work,
then all things are explainable, all is understandable, and it all can
be realized. The whole universe opens up for those reaching the truth
that everything is divine love. Every riddle of life will be solved.
But it does take time. Spiritual training isn't something you can do
hurriedly, in a rush of energy. There is no quick way to go about it.
Practicing faith for three to five years, you'll still get confused.
By continuing to practice for ten years, then you can celebrate you're
faith's heart with joyous gratitude.
You will come to be able to apprepriate your character, to worship it.
It takes the desire to learn. You really wish to take it up. Those
ministers who have reached the point for getting a mission really feel
faith deeply with full vigorous feelings. They really desire to pray.
They seek wholeheartedly into the depths of faith.
Why don't we desire to develop our faith? It's because we don't feel
the necessity. It doesn't seem necessary. You need to really want to
strengthen your faith.
What was it? Oh, Mrs. Ito at age 60 learned how to drive just so she
could come to worship regularly.
I, myself, really have begun to worship and treasure my own character,
with all the faults and failings.
How is it done? By taking the process of one's daily life and truly
practicing to accept it. One of my daughters and one daughter of my
brother, Rev. Mitsuaki, came for mediation. They asked if they could
study and get a driver's license. I advised them to follow what
happens in their life's process. Then a day or so later my wife read
something about driver's license.
Here it is. Kami's unmistakable work in the natural process of the
everyday live of ordinary human beings. See how easy it is. It
should be easy to see and easy to do.
How often do you feel Kami each day? During the process of your day,
how easy is it to feel divine work? How easy is it to practice faith?
Make faith simple to practice. Make it easy to see divine work in
the process of ordinary life. Make the joy of faith more desirous for
anyone to attain. Make it easy to see and feel Kami in this world.
The Teaching of the Day
Saturday Morning, April 11, 1998
Rev. Katsuhiko Otsubo, Headminister
Apr 12, '98 -------- -------- -------- Apr 12, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
May The Divine Prayer Come to Life
Apr 17, '98 ___________________________________________ Apr 17, '98
#8 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- -----------
This was received from Kami on April 18 to be put
on the bulletin board outside the church:
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
< 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
*** *** *** *** ***
An Attempt At Interpretion
Every land and each human is made up of the soil of the earth.
The heart of true prayer starts from within the soil of one's
land, of one's true being. True peace, actual ease, and real
happiness is developed through the living soil working within
oneself. It is able to accept and absorb the nourishing
virtues and blessings of our universe. To realize such
sacred graces requires the will to believe in the natural
process of the universe. These blessings can be actualized
when respecting the very process of the universe, the great
process of divine work in our world. Put this heart into
one's everyday work and awaken to a truly amazing world of
living blessings. It all begins from the deep workings of
the soil in the human heart. The actual, real happenings of
daily life is what comes to be the ingredients for the soil's
work.
*** *** *** *** ***
Within The Depths Of Human Spirit: Taking In & Shining Out
So very many deep impressions within the last couple of days it will be
difficult to get it all down. I want to try. I need to try. It's
important. It's paramount.
On the 15th I was the duty mediator of the day. Rev. Mikisaburo Otsubo
gave the morning talk. Receiving teaching #83, he spoke of getting a
spiritual heart that is wealthy, adding that the way is slow but sure --
like a trail for horses to trot along (jimichi in Japanese). It requires
you to lower your 'self,' to get deeper down (like in a dip) so blessings
can just flow in (kubomu). Lower your pride, reduce your stubbornness a
little more to gradually feel the definite taste of divine blessings.
Then I myself opened to The Divine Call which is when Kami asks the
founder to regard his 'self' as dead and his wife as a widow, and give
assistance to The Principal Parent helping others find the way to
receive divine blessings.
Then glancing through the April issue of _AIRAKU_ , which had just
arrived, the central teaching and sermon was #27 and contains the phrase:
"Exquisite joyfulness sprouts with riches." It was the sermon given on
Sunday, March 22, the day I served at my last Saga Faith Gathering. And
the phrase to develop the exquisite joy of one's faith had been my chosen
theme for the whole year I was to serve at the Saga branch of our church.
At my very last meeting in Saga I had spoken of this very teaching, the
difference of blessings through faith versus just being good and doing no
wrong.
Next during afternoon prayers I came to realize the meaning of 'deuce,'
a divine message I had received a few days ago. It has to do with two
actions happening simultaneously: taking in the light of faith & shining
out with the brightness of faith. And this lead me to realize more
meaning in the teaching: divine blessings which are "like the feeling of
gratitude underlying a sense of ease".
[refer to mini-teaching of 7/10/76].
Thus, first lower your 'self' from the heights of human brains, social
thinking, and even common sense. Then from within this dip you find an
'ease' that is neither taking the rough training nor the smooth and easy
(it's neither right nor left), but the inner drive to reach for universal
truth (Kami's truth). Taking the way inside the human spirit and
reaching such ease, so finally blessings will naturally (without any
pressure) fall into place. Therefore you become truly thankful.
We have been taught that without requesting, without praying for it,
that blessings will follow and come to you. This is the exquisite faith
of the joyous Wagakokoro, a human spirit inviolate and ever celebrating.
Therefore the ideal in faith, called together-in-ease, is omnipresent.
By respecting the rhythms of the process of life, all goes according to
the way it is going and that is how all things will work out.
Do you feel the process as your very livlihood? If you do, then we can
speak of when it's appropriate, the appropriate is done appropriately.
Anyway, my major point is joining the inner drive and outer reflection
of faith with the ideas of getting deeper down into the dip or depths of
the spirit for the ease of blessings to flow and produce a natural
gratitude.
4/22/98 Rev. Duice Shingo
[Deuce is spelt like Dusek without the final 'K'; ]
[ and the 'S' is replaced with the 'IC' of Dick. ]
===== ***** ===== ***** ===== ***** =====
M A Y T H E D I V I N E P R A Y E R C O M E T O L I F E
===== ***** ===== ***** ===== ***** =====
People have often wondered why a man who is honest and like
a kami or buddha is often afflicted with many misfortunes.
There is a difference between a good, honest person who does
not do wrong and a person who has received divine blessings
through faith. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #27]
Just because a person studies religion or lives a very moral
life does not mean that they understand or experience the
blessings given by Kami. The divine blessings we are
talking about are characterized by a feeling of gratitude
which underlies the sense of "ease" we experience. In other
words, it is possible to live with a sense of heavenly
paradise in both your body and your soul. Believers who
achieve this state, taste life without poverty, strife or
sickness and live in a world of truth, goodness, and beauty.
An excellent plot of Japanese ginger
Has butterburs sprouting with it.
(Exquisite joyfulness / Sprouts with riches.) 7/10/76
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
****** *** ******
R E S P E C T
T H E P R O C E S S O F L I F E
It is the divine work of the rhythm of the universe
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Do not think of becoming rich in one year. The future is
long. The small amounts you save will grow, but the money
you gain in one stroke will soon disappear. Those with
faith must not be greedy and selfish. You should not try to
make money easily, as if you were grasping grain with a wet
hand. You should become rich a year later than others.
[Teachings of Konko Daijin #83]
Being wealthier than others; eating more delicious food than
others; wearing better clothes than others; having a higher
status than others. This is what I think are the conditions
for happiness in society today. In other words, it's the
illusion that happiness is in a high place. The spirit of
"a year later than others" is the heart of a sunken hollow.
That is to say, as a sunken depression in the ground is where
water collects, all the conditions for happiness naturally,
ever so naturally coming from over there, come to be met.
Furthermore, it never runs out (become exhausted); the way is
opening wider and ever more wider endlessly.
__ __
| | | | "Like the way water gathers
| |__| | into a depression, all the
|________| world's problems gather in
India China this hiromae."
Japan
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/12/83
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An excellent plot of Japanese ginger
Has butterburs sprouting with it
== == === == ==
Exquisite joyfulness
Sprouts with riches
____________________________________________________
With the completion of this sacred staff, I (Kami) will end
your farming career. Please understand. When you are out
farming, the person at home has to go out and call you whenever
someone comes to give a request. And after you relay the
request, you have to go back out again. You have to keep going
in and out of the field. This gives you little time for
farming, and the worshipper must also wait for you. Both you
and the worshipper are being inconvenienced. Won't you stop
farming? When you were gravely ill at forty-two, the doctor
gave up hope. Everyone worried about you. You prayed to kamis
and buddhas and were blessed with complete recovery. Regard
this event as your death. Dispel all desires and assist Tenchi
Kane No Kami. Also, your wife should consider herself a widow.
This is better than being a real widow, as she can still talk
to you and discuss matters. She should take the children with
her to do the farm work. There are many people like yourself,
who have sincere faith in kamis, but still have many problems.
Help these people by performing toritsugi-mediation. This will
help Kami and save people. Man exists because of Kami, and Kami
exists because of man. Thus, Kami supports man as Kami's child,
and man supports Kami as his parent. There will be eternal
prosperity through this mutual interdependency.
[The Divine Call of Konko Daijin - November 15, 1859]
For the first time since humans began practicing religion,
{that from which religions sprang/that which precedes
religion} has been brought into the world of everyday life,
the Konko Religion. "Join your heart and mind to Me," the
Divine Request which was given to Konko Daijin from the
heart of Kami, was at one and the same time both stern and
gentle, gentle and stern. It is, namely to "regard this
event as your death" and "dispell all desires"; it's that
"your wife should consider herself a widow -- this is better
than being a real widow, as she can still talk to you and
discuss matters." The ultimate request of Kami is the
manifestation of the Airaku world to save and fulfil both
Kami and man. 7/1/78
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
NOTE: 'Airaku world' is where Kami and man meet
together in prayer, rejoice together in gratitude
and delight in mutual satisfaction. It's a world
in which Kami and man commune together, both Kami
and man being saved, both prospering. It is the
ideal faith in the Konko religion.
___________ ____________ ____________
Pray not only to heaven, but to earth as well.
One shouldn't just depend on Kami. One must
come to be abe to worship one's own spirit.
When one can worship difficulty as
divine love is the first time that
you really worship your own spirit
**** *** *** ****
This is Kami's Concern for Human Salvation
Very Appropriate for the Spring Grand Ceremony
April 16th at Airaku Konko Church
Although people live between heaven and earth, they are
unaware of Kami's blessings. Shrines, temples, and houses
all stand on Kami's land. Without realizing this, people
consult the Days & Directions and are disrespectful to Kami.
They suffer hardships due to these offenses. Tenchi Kane No
Kami has sent Ikigami Konko Daijin to provide blessings and
teachings so that mankind may prosper. Kami is Kami because
of man, and man is man because of Kami. Both are fulfilled
through this mutual relationship.
[Teachings of Konko Daijin #3]
Proclaiming from the start in a strong loud voice what
Tenchi Kane No Kami has to say, it teaches us for the first
time the way of prosperity for both Kami and man. These are
the points it explains logically: Being unaware of the
great blessings of the universe and unaware of the way we
are disrepectful toward the universe and of how that leads
to the roots of hardships. Namely, that "shrines, temples
and houses all stand on Kami's land" and that "people
consult the Days and Directions." However, it's not just
that. While it indicates human misconceptions and misunder-
standings, it is pointing toward a realization of the ideal
world for Kami and for man to continuously seek to
comprehend Konko Daijin's teachings. 7/15/75
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo]
************************
SINCERITY IS
The Real Thing
---- ----
When you try your best
to do the real thing
B l e s s i n g s F o l l o w
Apr 17, '98 -------- -------- -------- Apr 17, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
The Way to Truth
May 21, '98 ___________________________________________ May 21, '98
#9 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- -----------
Neither right nor left,
Go further inward
into the truth of yourself,
your true heart --
the true character, health and
welfare of one's faith-life.
One's truth polished brighter
will be able to shine
with divine truth.
Unite and together
even the "mission: impossible"
will be made possible.
Ease and Joy lights the true way.
It's simpler than you think,
easy enough for a child to do;
until you do it, it's seen
as something over there,
beyond one's reach,
But Not So! It IS easy!
One's truth reaches faith in God
and puts God at ease. God is pleased
and puts us at ease. Without knowing it
joy begins to take form: a faint scent,
a fragrance, the aroma of truth.
Get down to the truth of oneself.
One just has to rely on divine grace;
Without divine support is personal disgrace.
Reach deep down into one's true self.
Where one's truth meets the greater
truth of the divine universe is when
mutual ease permeates the air one breathes,
and then the atmosphere gives birth to
a joy that is shared by the universe & us.
______________________________________________________________________
The impossible becomes possible through a Wagakokoro (United in Joy)
______________________________________________________________________
Don't let up, don't take it easy;
Let ease come up naturally through divine joy,
through pleasing Kami and letting Kami feel at ease.
__________________________________________________________________
Face The Process Of True Life
It's not really A Demon God, but The Divinity of the Universe. (the world of the founder's faith)
It's not really A Tragedy Of Troubles, but Divine Love at work.
(the faith of the first pastor of Airaku)
The Process Is Divine Work In Our World
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First stage of faith ::: blessings
All goes according to one's expectations
Second stage of faith ::: strengthening
Expecting to go right, things go left;
wanting it to go left, things go right.
So much happening opposite than expected.
Third stage of faith ::: virtues
Kami is pleased and the joy is shared with us.
___________________________________________________________________
Don't let up! Let true joy come up
through being together (Kami-Man) at ease
From underneath divine-human ease, springs joyous truth.
May 21, '98 -------- -------- -------- May 21, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
Slow but sure enlarge and enrich your faith
May 28, '98 ___________________________________________ May 28, '98
#10 W I N D O W T O T H E H E A R T
<= passages for awakening the spirit =>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
---------- -----------
Toward Greater Expectations In Faith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faith is realized when the follower and Kami become
close. Faith will fade if you stand in fear of Kami.
Stay close to Kami. [Teachings of Konko Daijin #23]
It's to really come to like faith. There are many who
like blessings, however, Kami doesn't give blessings
which are exactly what we want. When things don't go
our way, we dislike faith. When you like faith and
like the training and get divine virtue, you receive
blessings beyond your expectations. To actually become
close to Kami is to really become the person Kami
likes. <> It's to become your most charming self.
[Mini-teaching of Rev. Soichiro Otsubo] 7/5/70
In the homily this morning Rev. Eishiro Otsubo spoke
again of his utmost desire to seek the true spirit of
a contentment whereby life is happy without any need
of anything else. He received the character for being
content, 'michiru' in Japanese.
Speaking of ginseng, he said, those who continue to
come for early morning worship will receive blessings
of health, family welfare and success sometime even
before they realize. It's true!
I, myself, feeling strongly my own inadequate attempts
in faith, have perceived that my faith is so inept,
that my spiritual heart is grasping such a tiny world
of real faith.
Yesterday the teaching read was:
Anger casts a cloud over one's heart.
In the mini-teachings is:
"When your heart's cloudy,
blessings are not mirrored."
and in another:
"A world without anger is a world
without dissatisfaction or deficiency."
and one more:
"Because when angry we have a small heart,
blessings are stopped."
Realizing my true ineptitude, I began to see that
Kami's greater world, though appearing to me so
contrary to any desired standard, is actually moving
toward the unmistakable development of ever greater
blessings and even more enriching virtues of truth,
excellence and beauty.
I desire to enlarge my faith for Kami's greater plans
to be fulfilled. It will require more silent, patient
acceptance of what is going on. I realize that even
the contrary activities I'm perceiving are within the
divine design to create what Kami is praying to
achieve. May my faith enlarge and become more
accepting to be of service to the world and assist the
fulfillment of the divine will.
A goal so high will take time, of course. Go at it
slow but sure. Check each step along the way. Do you
feel indications of Kami being set at ease? Work to
get evermore closer to Kami's work. It's a slow
moving process of sure-footed steps opening into a
world of joyful ease, an infinity of true blessings.
May 28, '98 -------- -------- -------- May 28, '98
Rev. Dick Dusek of Airaku Konko Church
in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
------- -------
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D I M E N S I O N B E Y O N D
_________________________________________________________________
| It was an original prayer of the late Rev. Soichiro Otsubo. |
| 'Airaku' can be interpreted as "coming together with ease," |
| a world where the divine will and the human heart meet. |
|___ ___|
---- ======================================= ----
| |
| Beyond heavenly paradise is ... |
A I R A K U ,
| The Dimension Beyond. |
| |
Airaku is
| where Kami and man |
| meet together in prayer, |
rejoice together in gratitude
and delight in mutual satisfaction.
| Airaku is a world in which Kami and man |
| commune together. That is, both Kami |
and man are saved and prospering.
Airaku is the ideal in
| Konko faith. |
| |
---- ======================================= ----
The prayer of Airaku {recited by prayer leader}
Protected by the universe, reared by the universe, revert to the
universe. Through this world and the next, given life in the midst
of its virtue. Even being blessed without knowing of its great favor.
Ungraciousness to the universe. Suffering through the cycle of
misfortune. How wretched all suffering can be. Man, on his own,
conceived the world as hardship, a world of suffering.
Even though he prayed, he couldn't find happiness.
Here the founder, Ikigami Konko Daijin, has been sent.
Blessings are bestowed on those who pray; teachings are provided.
The way has been manifested to help Kami and give man joyous lives.
Then, considering the character of the universe,
As it's taught it is vital to emulate the nature of the universe,
Realizing the nature of the universe, lead a life of faith following
the laws of the universe, perceiving Kami's endless favors, bathing
in Kami's boundless blessings, so to attain more and more
divine gifts of happines and prosperity.
Through divine guidance may all be led to commune with Kami.
May the faithful who come be led to understand the blessings of Kami,
be led to lead lives of genuine faith. May Kami be pleased; may
man be pleased; may Konko Daijin also be pleased.
To receive such blessings, even unworthy as I am, may I be given
boundless divine favor that will be an example of such great blessings.
For this I devote myself to my physical limits and spiritual limits.
For a life of faith development is what I solemnly request.
That the suffering people of the world be led to their awakening
is for what I solemnly pray.
Ikigami Konko Daijin Sama. Tenchi Kane No Kami Sama.
Ikigami Konko Daijin Sama. Tenchi Kane No Kami Sama.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A I R A K U
is a step
beyond heavenly paradise.
~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
I T ' S
DIMENSION BEY
E O
H It is where N
Kami and people
T meet together in prayer, D
rejoice together in gratitude
and delight in mutual satisfaction.
A world where Kami and people
commune with each other;
T both are prospering, D
H both fulfilled. N
E O
DIMENSION BEY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_________________________________________________________________
| Here are prayers that were written by Rev. Dick Dusek while |
|___ he was studying at the Seminary of the Konko Religion. ___|
D A I L Y P R A Y E R S
~~~~~~~~ =========================== ~~~~~~~~
Pray for the world of man to reach the world of Kami and fulfill
each mutually in true Wagakokoro life for world peace,
universal happiness and eternal prosperity.
Pray that Tenchi Kane No Kami's requests come to full life in the
Wagakokoro of man, the heart-spirit of human life.
Pray for each human request and every prayer of man to reach closer
and closer to the Parental Kami's everlasting supporting love
for mankind's very existence.
Pray for Konko Daijin's mediation of all of human life to maintain
the process of divine enrichment which will bring praise and
glory to reflect the divine virtue and blessings of Kami.
Pray for each and every occupation and position of human life to
fulfill its mission for the world of man and of Kami.
Pray for broad appreciation and deep gratitude to surpass the
insufficiencies of our faith, the irreverences of man, whether
known or unknown, to bring glory to Kami's Heart.
Offer up all impurities, worries, sufferings and fears of man to
Kami and request the divine arrangement of everything and
everybody with single-heartedness.
Pray that today be better than yesterday and a gift of joy for
tomorrow; that Kami be happy, that man be happy and that Konko
Daijin also be happy.
*****==============*****=============*****=============*****
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Name: Rev. Richard Lee Dusek