Great Construction

The Transformation to Paradise through Health

     All religions aim for a better world, for eliminating suffering from humanity, for bringing about life permeated with joy and happiness, the proclamation of Jesus Christ’s great prophecy that the kingdom of heaven is at hand being representative. Towards progress on this shared ideal, the present situation is that, unfortunately, far from approaching the goal of heaven on earth, humanity is still a long way from extricating itself from the confines of hell. In both the East and in the West, individuals have vigorously worked since ancient times in the fields of religion, philosophy, morals, and education, but it is certainly true to say that nowadays progress towards this goal is not to be seen. We are not the only ones who point out that neither has there been demonstrated advance towards resolving the problem of human health which truly must be considered to be the basis of the tragedy of civilization today.
     We continue to expound this tragedy and there are those who grow weary of hearing about it, but I still do believe the topic cannot be discussed enough. No matter how many times I teach on this point, I continue to feel it fresh. In trying to attain the conditions for a better world, the resolution of any other issue in the world means nothing as long as the problem of health is not solved definitely and conclusively. The faith healing brought forth by our church eliminates all sickness, disease, illnesses and conditions to make possible the restoration of the human body to complete health.
     The great discovery of this method of faith healing rather exceeds the present levels of understanding in society, so there will be instances when it is misunderstood. Inevitably our methods are difficult to accept only on the basis of reading or hearing about them, indeed just as if an individual standing on the ground cannot see a person standing overhead on the roof of a house.
     Just look! When we seek to discover the source of all tragedy in this world, we find that the cause lies in disease. Young people engaged in their schooling or on the point of graduation fall to tuberculosis. The afflicted, as well as their parents lose all hope. Those who have a black future thrown in front of them, persons in their prime, just when they are about to make their mark upon the world, find their projects torn asunder and themselves thrown to the devil of disease. Society is full of the examples of disease that can be counted as the source of tragedy. Medical science and existing religions do continue their traditional efforts to eliminate tragedy but no light can be found, and indeed, the lives of even those involved in the science of medicine and in religion cannot be guaranteed.
     Into this world so full of tragedy has now appeared unexpectedly our church. Those who join in our work and see for themselves what can be done are quite persuaded of the truth of my claim that this church greatly contributes to extinguishing the inexhaustible amount of tragedy in this world.
     There is one kind of person who accounts for our work by thinking simply that here in the Japan Kannon Church is just another new religion and that without a doubt it is just another variety of superstitious, heretical religion. No way am I going to waste my busy time with something like that. If I have any free moments, it would be better for me to go see a movie or watch a baseball game. In the same way think journalists, and they have a boilerplate critique for describing new religions which is nothing more than to say that they are scandalous, that they take advantage of the postwar spiritual chaos, and that they are dubious organizations designed to deceive and swindle the ignorant populace. Such criticisms of us are nothing but nonsense.
     These Pharisees persist in triumphantly parading their self-righteousness by looking at the outside of the wrapped package with no attempt to try to get a look at what is inside. Not inconsiderable will be the number of these individuals or their family members who will be unable to escape from the hell of the affliction of disease, who meet with misfortune, and who waste a great amount of their resources on medical treatment and recovery. Moreover, as long as these hypocrites continue to appeal through the mass media to the general populace with a mistaken, conceited philosophy, the public remains in ignorance, and society is led to darkness, the sin for which is very great. This behavior by materialists and that by other similar types of opinion leaders can be counted as one of the factors why the amount of wrongs in society does not decrease.
     I believe it is the divine mission bestowed upon us to inform these poor lambs of the appearance of the divine light on earth, to awaken their spiritual blindness, and to extend to them the lifeline of salvation.

 Hikari, extra edition, May 30, 1949
translated by cynndd