Great Construction

Paradise Is Indeed a World of Art

     I have a great and constant interest in the arts. As my followers know, I am planning and constructing in Hakone and Atami gardens and buildings of a high level of artistry never before attempted by anyone. Previously I often used to paint pictures, but nowadays I am so busy I have no time to spare for painting. Even so, these days I do enjoy writing calligraphy, composing poems, arranging flowers, preparing tea, as well as appreciating art objects. I buy pieces to the extent that my economic circumstances allow. I also receive the donation of items from my followers which heals slightly my thirst in artistic matters. I also enjoy drama and music, but as I have no extra time, I make do with watching movies and listening to the radio. I enjoy both Japanese and Western music. I am often told, though, that it is rather unusual for a person of my age to enjoy movies and Western music. It seems, however, that there are a considerable number of such Americans but few among the Japanese.
     From what I have just written, it can be seen that art pervades my daily life; my life could be called a life of art. Since I have the mission to construct a paradise on earth, I believe that God has provided me with an artistic instinct. As paradise is a world of art, there is a reason for my disposition.
     To the present has continued the world of night, and as it was an age of darkness and ignorance, human beings found it easy to keep secrets and commit evil deeds, so that there would be some who came to have an interest in evil matters was only inevitable. The facts do speak to the truth of this because individuals do deceive others, individuals do cause others to suffer, individuals do try to take things from others, illicit relations between the sexes are indeed pursued by some, and conflict is very much something in which pleasure has come to be taken. With the world entering the daylight age, however, all will become transparent, exposed to view, and hiding anything will become impossible. Since individuals will naturally come to lose interest in evil pursuits, it will be that the pleasures of human beings will turn to those that are good and right. Such being the case, a change in pleasurable activities to an interest in art is only a matter of time. Therefore of course will become beautiful to an imaginable degree not only poetry, music, and all artistic endeavors, but also buildings, the streets of cities, theaters, and all facilities for entertainment, as well as the interiors of households and the clothing of individuals.
      Thus should it be known that the world of Maitreya, paradise on earth, is a world of art.

Kyûsei, Issue 51, February 25, 1950 
translated by cynndd

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“Tengoku wa Geijutsu no Sekai Nari” has previously been published in translation. The citations are given below for reference.

“Paradise Is a World of Art,” The Light from the East, Volume 2, 1986, page 270.


“Paradise Is a World of Art,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume Four, 2007, page 5.