Great Construction
Paradise Is a World of Beauty
Followers of World Messianity are well aware that God’s purpose is the construction of an ideal world of complete truth, virtue, beauty. Conversely, the purpose of the evil forces is as all are well acquainted, falseness, evil, meanness. About the purpose of evil, I will now comment. Falseness is as the word implies and evil needs no explanation, but I would like to discuss the word meanness.
In the world today, we constantly come across matters that are mistaken. One example is meanness that accompanies truth and virtue. There are those who often view this phenomenon as something to praise. Put in simple terms, since long ago, not few have been individuals, wearing plain clothes, eating rough food, residing in a poor house, living a life on the lowest levels who thinking of the world and of people, have performed virtuous acts. It may have been that they could not have lived without doing otherwise, in which case such lives were unavoidable, but even if not to this extent, even if such a life were bearable, I find it most unappealing that one would want to live this kind of life. Among such individuals are many who have lived lives of sexual abstinence as a method for spiritual training. They themselves may believe such is a good form of training, and the world at large may also think well of them, but actually this way of thinking is not truth. It is not truth because the essential aspect of beauty is ignored. In other words, it is truth, virtue, meanness. It is in this sense that clothes, food, and living conditions, as long as they do not exceed one’s station and circumstances, should be as beautiful as possible. Such a way of living is in accord with God’s intention. Beauty should provide not only the self but the eyes of others with an agreeable feeling, what could be called one form of benevolence. Important it is that as society attains higher levels of civilization, the more all things surrounding, all matters should be beautiful. Think about it. There is hardly any beauty in the lives of savages. As such, the advance of culture is on a wide scale, the advance of beauty.
Of course, when it comes to the individual, even males should maintain an appropriate level of beauty, providing an agreeable feeling to those who see them. Much more so in the case of females who should aim to be beautiful. Women may indeed find my guidance to be presumptuous, but there is a logic to it. The rooms of a home are the same. Care should be taken to keep ceilings clear of spider webs, rooms should be kept free of dust, all should be kept in constant order, with appliances and decorations handled properly and kept in their proper places. When these aspects are observed, those who visit as well as members of the household will naturally incur a feeling of respect, and the head of the household will gain in stature. The exterior of the house as well does not necessarily need to have a lot of money spent on it but should be kept clean and in repair, thereby providing not only a pleasant feeling to passers-by but also helping the national policy of tourism. Here I should mention the nation of Switzerland, a small country but said to give an excellent impression with public parks that are cleaned so well they do not contain a speck of dust. That Switzerland is host to many tourists is in large part due to its cleanliness and provides good reference as food for thought.
In consideration of all the above factors, it is probably necessary that we Japanese should try as much as possible to cultivate a sense of beauty. Whether on the individual level or on the level of the nation as a whole, such cultivation will most likely have a good influence that is most unexpected. But this is not all. With an environment of beauty, the hearts of the people of that society will also become beautiful, so crimes and other such despicable acts will greatly decrease, which in itself is one factor of paradise on earth.
And finally, to write about myself, since my youth I have enjoyed all things associated with beauty, and even when I suffered in poverty, I grew flowers on a small vacant lot, sketched pictures when I had the time, and visited museums and exhibitions whenever possible. I was truly able to do things such as enjoy the flowers of spring and admire the maples leaves in autumn. Now, thanks to God, my life has become more natural and abundant, and I can enjoy beauty to my heart’s content. This way of living is also of help to God’s divine task, but when observed from the vantage point of others, my life seems overly luxurious, and such is unavoidable. As I always teach, compared to the religious founders who since olden times have practiced austerities and spread the teachings while living impoverished lives, I am thought to be peculiar since I differ so greatly, but in truth, because it was the world of night, even religions had to spread themselves in a hell. But today as it becomes the world of daylight, the time for transition is coming, and rather it will be a time of salvation while living in a paradise. This point deserves careful consideration.
To conclude, the construction of a paradise on earth is also a goal of the communism, but, leaving aside other aspects, party members in particular have no concept of beauty at all. As long as communist party members do not incorporate beauty into their lives it can be understood that communism is not truth.
Eikô, Issue 112, July 11, 1951
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translated by cynndd
“Tengoku wa Bi no Sekai” has previously appeared in translation. The citations are given below for reference.“Paradise Is a World of Beauty,” The Glory, Number 025, December 10, 1959.
“Paradise is a World of Beauty,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume One, 1960, page 57.
“Paradise Is A World Of Beauty,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume One, Revised Edition, 1965, 1976, page 73.
“Paradise Is a World of Beauty,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 256.
“Paradise Is a World of Beauty,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume One, 2009, page 55.
“Paradise is a World of Beauty,” Meishu and His Teachings, no date, page 30.
“Heaven is a World of Beauty,” A Hundred Teachings of Meishusama, no date, page 185.