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     Applicable to everything in life but particularly so in the Kannon faith, all must be round, elastic, free, and flexible. Round is the property of a ball that can roll about, so if there are corners or edges, the ball cannot move. In Japanese is often heard the expression “they have seen much of the world so they have no rough edges,” and this is indeed the way it is. In society, however, we come across individuals who not only have edges, they are like the playing blocks of children for whom nothing can be done: not only can they not move with the flow, they have edges or corners that stick out and impede progress. And then, there are those who create a standard or form for themselves, adhere to that model, put themselves in that model, and suffer. It would not be be a problem if they just did this to themselves, but they force that model on others, put others into that form as well, make them suffer, and think the behavior quite acceptable. This is a pattern often seen in shojo, narrow-minded faiths which could also be considered feudalistic. This behavior occurs not only in faith, the odor of the putrefaction of such attitudes also befouls society.
     Free and flexible means that standards are not formulated nor molds, created. Neither are there precepts or commandments. As the sky and the sea, there is freedom, and flexibility. Flexibility has the same significance. Freedom, however, does not mean an ideology of selfishness. Freedom of course means to respect the freedom of others.
     As the Kannon faith is a daijo, broad-minded faith, it differs considerably from faiths centered on commandments. It is rather difficult to continually and consistently adhere to commandment faiths, so forms are followed on the surface but are broken in the shadows. Accordingly, an inside-outside dichotomy is created and failure results. Along with dichotomy and failure, falsehood is created so the faith becomes evil. Accordingly, people of shojo faith are good on the surface but evil on the inside. Compared to this, those of daijo faith respect the freedom of others, so they are pleasant and lucid and there is no need for such things as an inside-outside distinction. Falsehood, therefore, does not result. This is true Kannon faith, and it is an aspect most welcome.
     Another facet of individuals of shojo faith is that without being aware they tend to pretense as they fall into falsehood. They tend to want to show themselves better than they are. This behavior becomes like the awful stench of miso, and it is quite offensive. Not only this, such behavior invites reverse effects, and these individuals do not appear great at all. What are called “small,” which is to say mean individuals, are of this type.
     I, myself, encounter this kind of behavior when giving direction to staff and our opinions differ. Staff wants to show themselves in their best light or even better, and this is a sort of unpleasantness for which I correct them.
     People in general should strive to not be like those described above, but instead, aim to not appear great, not to try and show off. And because they appear to be modest, others will sincerely respect them. Those who profess the Kannon faith should strive to become individuals respected from the heart.

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“Kannon Shinkō,” published originally in Chijōtengoku, Issue 3, April 20, 1949, and later while Meishu-sama still alive, reprinted in the essays anthology for ministers Goshinsho: Shūkyō-hen (Divine Writings: Volume on Religion), page 50, March 25, 1954, has appeared in translation. Citation is given below for reference.

“The Right Attitude for Members of This Spiritual Path,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 295.

“Learn How to Be Flexible,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume Three, 2005, page 53.

“Daijo over Shojo, Flexibility over Rigidity,” Reaching for Faith, 2010, page 15.

“Belief in Kannon,” A Hundred Teachings of Meishusama, no date, page 56.