(Summary)
We have arrived now with only three months remaining until Oyasama’s 140th Anniversary. How quickly time has passed since three years ago, when the Shinbashira announced the Instruction Four to initiate the “three years, one thousand days” efforts towards Oyasama’s Anniversary. Three years seems to have passed by before we knew it. We are now at the final three months.
I’d like to ask if you all recall the resolutions you had made in the beginning. I wonder if there were times where they just slipped your mind. Or perhaps you feel you made some progress or made a fairly good amount of effort towards your resolutions, while others may feel that it has not been going so well. We still have three months left. I urge you to follow through with a final determined effort.
We are taught the teaching of the “Eight Dusts of the Mind.”
In the Besseki lecture, it reads,
“God the Parent refers to our misunderstanding of the truth as dust so that we can easily understand the concept.”
(Trial translation for this script)
Further, it states,
“Although particles of dust are minute and can be blown away just by puff of air, if you allow them to accumulate, they will accumulate quickly before you know it, to the point where it becomes difficult to make it as clean as its original state, no matter how hard you sweep or wipe them away. Similarly, even though God the Parent allows us to use our minds as our own, if we use them in a self-centered way that does not accord with the will of God the Parent, then we will end up experiencing problems and sufferings due to the laws of nature. If we understand this and correct our mistaken minds sooner, using God’s teachings as our guiding principle, our minds will become clear and our bodies will be healthy.
(Trial translation for this script)
The dusts of the mind are “miserliness,” “covetousness,” “hatred,” “self-love,” “grudge-bearing,” “anger,” “greed,” and “arrogance,” but I believe it would be easier to understand the concept when we ponder the opposites of what they are.
“Miserliness” includes “begrudging giving our services in mind or body; begrudging paying an imposed charge; begrudging fulfilling our responsibilities to the world, or to others; begrudging returning things borrowed; and sitting back while others perform our unpleasant work—all these are considered to be the dust.”
The opposite of this dust would be to do everything we can generously and willingly. Thus, it would be good if we could do things with the mind of hinokishin.
“Covetousness” includes “craving for money without putting in any mental or physical effort to earn it; desiring good clothes or good food beyond what is appropriate or fair; and desiring more and more, although what we have is enough.”
The opposite of this would be to be contented with what we have right now. To be contented, we should try to practice the mind of joyous acceptance.
“Hatred” is “taking offense at someone’s advice given in good faith and feeling animosity toward this person, hating adopted children, hating daughter-in-law and gossiping and laughing maliciously at someone.” Interestingly parents-in-law are not included in here. Assuming it means not to hate young people like adopted children and daughters-in-law. The opposite of hatred is to cherish, love and caring affectionately.
In the Ofudesaki we are taught,
All children in the world are equally dear to Me.
Though there is no discrimination whatsoever. (XV:69)
To Tsukihi, everyone is My child, whoever you may be.
Though I have been watching over you with nothing but love, (XII:88)
“All of you may be wondering why I say such things.
It is from My love for my children. (XI:47)
For all of you children in the world,
there is only love in the thoughts of Tsukihi. (XVII:49)
The mind of God is loving the children affectionately. Hating others, whom God loves caringly, is using the mind completely opposite of God’s heart.
Let’s say your kids are having a fight. For some reasons, older brother is being really angry at his younger brother. How do parents react about it? They will probably say, “stop it,” to their older one. They will say, “please be patient with your younger brother.” This is the parental heart. Telling “please be patient” to whom will likely understand is the mind of the parent.
Next, let’s talk about “self-love.” It is a bit different “love” from what I talked about earlier. Self-love, in other words, it is the mind of selfishness. Caring only about ourselves, forgetting others and the mind only thinks about one’s family and themselves. The mind that is opposite from this is the mind of thoughtfulness and the mind that cares others compassionately.
The dust of “grudge-bearing” includes “bearing ill will toward others, claiming they have caused us to lose face or interfered with our attempt to gain what we desire or taking offense at some remark they made. In all matters, bearing ill will without looking at our own lack of wisdom, strength, or merit is dust. It is important to reflect critically on ourselves before getting caught up in the feeling of ill will toward others.” This is said to be the dust of grudge-bearing.
Suffering comes from your own mind.
So you should reproach yourself. (Mikagura-Uta: Song Ten)
Therefore, one must reproach oneself instead of bearing grudge against others.
What is the opposite of grudge-bearing? I believe that it is to forgive. As the elder brother, forgive the younger sibling. This should be the way one uses their mind. However, it is difficult to do that in the family. The father has a hard time forgiving the son. Even between husband and wife; if it is something the lady next door is doing, it doesn’t make you irritated, but if your wife is doing the same thing, it makes you angry. These things happen. Forgive. It is very important.
The dust of “anger” includes “becoming angry just because someone has said something we find disagreeable or because someone has, in our own view, done something wrong. Anger also arises when we insist on making our own opinions heard without trying to understand others’ points of view.” The opposite of anger is a calm mind, a satisfied mind; in other words, it is a mind of joyous perception. It is important to be able to fully perceive with a mind of joy.
The seventh dust of “greed” includes “desiring to have more than others and take as much as possible by any means—whether by giving short measure, by misappropriating what belongs to others, or by engaging in profiteering. Also included in the dust of greed is succumbing to lust.” The opposite of greed is honorable modesty. One must keep their mind pure. This is the mind of joyous perception.
The eighth dust, “arrogance,” includes “being puffed up with self-importance; being domineering; looking down on others and trampling on others by abusing our wealth or power; flattering our superiors while being cruel to our subordinates; holding others in contempt by boasting that we are knowledgeable; pretending to know what we really do not; and finding fault with others.” This, we are taught, is the dust of arrogance.
The opposite of arrogance is modesty. A mind that is humble. A humble use of mind, I think, is a mind of joyous perception.
Thinking of the opposites of the Eight Dusts I just mentioned, we realize that the most important thing for us is to follow the path while firmly settling the mind of joyous acceptance daily. I think the basis of salvation lies where you live every day by accepting things joyously, “This is good enough for me. I am very thankful.” People will naturally come to those who accepts things joyfully.
It may take time to become a person who exemplifies the truth of the teachings and a person who accepts things joyously. It may take a while for others to understand. Oyasama went through the path for 50 years. I think we, too, should strive each day to practice the mind of joyous acceptance and devote ourselves to help others be saved.
In the Divine Directions given on May 13, 1890, we are taught:
There are many who think, “why, after all this effort I have put into my faith....” This will not do. Sincerity is lacking. There is nothing to accept. […] If you react with dissatisfaction, everything will become dissatisfying to you. There is nothing to accept other than joyous acceptance. […] Joyous acceptance is sincerity. Sincerity is the principle of heaven. Being the principle of heaven, sincerity is surpassed by nothing. Please understand this principle.
(Osashizu: May 13, 1890)
Many people may think, “I am doing my best. Why does God not understand me? How come I don’t I receive blessings?” Such attitude will not do. There is no sincerity. If you think, “Why?” it shows a lack of sincerity, and God says it cannot be accepted.
If you react with dissatisfaction, things will become dissatisfying. The opposite of joyous acceptance is dissatisfaction. God says you will become more dissatisfied.
Sincerity is the mind of helping others be saved. If you think, “I have to help this person be saved,” you will be able to accept things joyously. Joyous acceptance is sincerity—only joyous acceptance is the foundation of helping others be saved. It is said that the mind of helping others be saved is the foundation of joyous acceptance. We should settle joyous acceptance in our minds and diligently help others attain salvation. Furthermore, it is said that while saving others, we will realize that “this person will not be saved unless I practice joyous acceptance.”
In the Story of Creation, it is stated that “God the Parent consumed all the loaches in the muddy ocean, tested the flavors of their nature, and made them the seeds for human beings.”
We are taught that the loaches were the seeds for human beings.
What is the nature of a loach? It lives in the muddy waters. Typically, if fish live in the muddy waters, naturally mud will get into their stomachs. If you fish carp, you have to expel the mud before consuming it.
Incidentally, although the loach goes into mud, mud does not get into its stomach. This is very interesting.
Also, it is said that loaches are mild-mannered and gentle. They don’t attack other fish. If you raise them in an aquarium, the water becomes clean. They clean the tank by eating the remaining filth.
Further, loaches live at the bottom. Even if the water dries up, they dig into the mud. When it rains and there is enough water, they will come out of the mud. This is essentially, a loach. A humble heart, warm, kind, and has the hinokishin spirit that cleans things that are dirty. This is the seed of human beings.
The place that the loaches return to is the Jiba. Let us all return to our birthplace and connect our hearts to the Jiba. At Jiba, we can find peace of mind. This is where you will find the warmth of the Parent. The Jiba is the origin of salvation.
We always live every day with warm, gentle, and humble heart and accept things joyously. Convey other people that we have characteristics of a loach and invite them to return to Jiba together. So that we will be able to receive the blessings of God the Parent and will be able to touch the heart of Oyasama, please allow me urge you to connect your heart to Jiba. With these remarks, I would like to end my talk today.
In three months, we will observe the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama. Let us go through the next three months in a way that Oyasama will say, “Job well done.”
Thank you for your kind attention.
(Edited by Honjima Tsushin Editorial Staff)