Great Construction

Theoretical Religion and Active Religion

     To write in serious terms about the purpose of religion is silly at this point, but when justly considered is not a subject to be treated lightly. In these times, as unsettled as they are, the public will not remain silent. There is probably no one who does not think something must be done. Indeed, the way things are now, it is impossible to lead a life in peace is the present state of the society. Moreover, unbearably deplorable is the increase in juvenile crimes. The future of Japan is a cause for concern.
     The authorities have taken up the challenge and are in a furious struggle to prevent crime, but the anticipated results are not to be seen. Sensible people perceive that reformation must start from the spiritual sphere, but at their present stage the religions of Japan cannot do anything about the problem. That is because the big wigs of today’s religious world are absorbed in Buddhist philosophy or in research on classical texts or have become professors in universities. Some have even hidden themselves away in palatial structures devoting themselves solely to writing books or copying sutras. Spiritual leaders, are thought to clothe themselves in robes of embroidered brocade, reside like living gods or buddhas above the clouds, and believe it tradition to turn their backs on association with the vulgar world. There are professional missionaries who occasionally associate with the masses, but such way of spreading their message has no power to appeal to the everyday person, and these professionals have to suffer from not being able to enter into the actual daily life of people. Though they talk themselves hoarse preaching Buddhist teachings, many of the exhortations are vain speculation, and it must be said that the power of these missionaries to save the world is quite weak. These religions that do not really benefit the reality are what I call theoretical religions.
     Such being the case, theory alone is insufficient in order to truly save all our fellow human beings. What is necessary is for something to burst directly into the lives of the people, integrating to the point that faith equals life. This is what I mean by active religion. How such a way of thinking would operate can be shown in the many examples of Japan’s greatest anguish at present which must be quickly resolved, that of the suffering in daily life caused by inflation, and the causes of this daily stress, that is, the foodstuffs policy, and related to this, labor problems, as well as prevention of crime, cleaning up the political world, the problem of tuberculosis, and on and on. Against these problems, we wield the sharp scalpel of religious critique to try to settle these problems by living action.
     In this sense, the projects in which the Japan Kannon Church are currently engaged and the many plans it is attempting to carry out are being advanced with the intent of being in accord with the lines outlined above. First of all, as a specific example of a project recently started is that on a strip of hilly land about a mile long, 33 hectares in area, stretching from Atami to the Jukkoku Pass, on inland uplands with mild climate and spectacular views. Water is abundant and electricity is available. We are borrowing this land without cost from the sympathetic owner to begin development with of course only the volunteer labor of our followers. This project has two goals. One purpose is to increase the production of foodstuffs through non fertilizer cultivation. The point is showing to the public results through practice rather than by simply presenting theory. We seek to help solve the problem of a lack of foodstuffs. At present this farm covers 2.97 hectares acres with both paddies and fields. There are also a few milk cows. The land is high in the mountains far away from populated areas so it gets good sunlight with a command of the coast at Atami right below. Moreover, there is the favorable characteristic that about 300,000 cedar and 70,000 cypress trees are on the property, so in about twenty to thirty years we shall not lack for construction materials. We also plan to include activities in many diverse fields of agriculture such as orchards, fields for flower cultivation, poultry, cattle and sheep raising, and dairy farming.
     We have another purpose. This goal is faith healing by spiritual radiation for those in weak health, those recuperating after illness, and particularly those with light degrees of tuberculosis. Faith healing can provide help towards solving the problem of tuberculosis that is now looked upon as a grave issue. Of course, we have clearly shown wonderful percentages of recovery with our therapy, and also that faith healing does not cost any money, and that tuberculosis is not contagious. We are now attempting to enlighten the ignorance behind the mistaken view of existing tuberculosis therapies. I do not exaggerate when I say we are fully confident that we can gradually eliminate tuberculosis from Japan, a plan in which we are currently engaged.

Chijôtengoku, Issue 3, page 4, April 20, 1949
translated by cynndd