Great Construction

How Is Evil Exposed?


     In the penultimate issue, I detailed in an essay titled “Atheism Is a False Belief” the issues of corruption in public officials, so I am sure the nature of corruption has been understood to a large extent, but the fundamental problem is the psychology of people who commit illegal acts. Of course, this psychology is atheistic thought which holds that anything evil can be accomplished as long as it is kept away from the eyes of others and can be concealed, and I will delve into this point on deeper levels. If evil can be accomplished with absolutely no exposure, there would be no more tempting proposition. The one who does as much evil as possible and makes financial gain is the one who wins. Obviously, most of those who perform evil acts nowadays are of this persuasion. Intriguing, however, is the fact that as skillfully as something evil is carried out, it will certainly become exposed. If so, those who would perform evil acts should be aware of this fact, but because the fundamental cause is not clearly understood, the actual mental state is that performing evil acts cannot be abandoned.
     To this point, I will clarify how the performance of evil acts is invariably exposed. The essential element is that although evildoers may indeed be able to deceive the eyes of others, they are not able to deceive their own eyes. Although the evil is unknown to others, as long as evildoers know they have done evil, their evil is exposed to the evildoers themselves. In this respect, the general consensus is that all persons are independent existences with no particular connection to anything else, so it is no problem that they do exactly as they want. It is sufficient that one does as one pleases in all matters, that one skillfully performs to one’s benefit. This attitude and behavior passes as the smartest way of doing things in the present age. But the reality is that even when persuasion along altruistic or moralistic lines is attempted, either from a more experienced friend or from someone involved in religion, the idea is shown concern on the surface but underneath, on the inside, it is considered nonsense, mutterings are made that to do such is namby-pamby, and it is believed it to be merely the empty prescription of a superstitious person. Indeed, the person who believes so is one trapped in system and convention, so spiritually speaking, a nothing, and so has no value as a human being.
     Above I have described the way of thinking of a majority of people as it seen in the present age. If the question be asked whether those with such a philosophy of life can ever be happy in the future, the answer is without exception, that they will fail.
     They fail because, as previously described, even if the evil they commit is not known to others, they themselves know of their evil, and this point is the issue. It is an issue because within themselves, human beings have a frightening something that palpably knows everything that occurs. This terrifying something is in the spiritual world, and in terms of our material world, could be considered like a prosecutor’s office, what in Buddhism is known as Yamaraja. Sadly however, such a concept is not considered serious by those hardened to materialism, and if they do hear about such a notion, they deny that something so preposterous could exist and will give the idea no consideration whatsoever. This is the very concept which is the genesis of evil. Following this principle, the only way to truly eradicate evil is to stimulate belief in the truth of the basis for the genesis of evil. I declare that other than doing so, there is no other effective method.
     So, how does the prosecutors office learn about the evil of an individual? There is a spiritual cord between this office and each soul. Like wireless in the physical world, it connects to each individual and everything is accurately recorded. There is an official in charge of all transcription, and punishment is determined by the proportion or extent of the evil. Indeed, through skillful means is evil exposed, and as punishment in the physical world is also added, if one knows something to be evil in the bottom of one’s heart, understanding how evil is exposed should be enough to frighten anyone from committing even the slightest of evil. On the other hand, when acts of good, of virtue are undertaken, proportionate rewards are distributed. Such is the reality of the spiritual and physical worlds, so it can seen that the world has been precisely and ideally created by God.
     Such is absolute truth and to eradicate the problems of evil there is no other way than believing. But in the present age, as all, including government officials and intellectuals, are blind to such spiritual matters, even informing individuals in the population of such is seen to be anti-cultural, so we face with tremendous difficulty. Although our work is to endeavor to inform the world of this situation, we are declared superstitious and warnings are given against us, but in reality, it is these very people who are enveloped in superstition. The best evidence for this fact is that no matter how much effort is expended against it, the crime of corruption does not decrease. Rather, the tendency is for the number of these incidents to rise. Useless efforts that are made are only attempts to prevent the crime observed on the surface, and the mesh of laws designed to trap such wrongdoing can easily be evaded. Walls built to prevent such crime are easily overcome by anybody, and because the vital points of the problem are completely overlooked, one wants to say that the situation is beyond stupidity. But as it is believed that we live in a civilized nation and all are satisfied with the condition, the situation is so infantile, it is fair to say that ours is an age of cultural barbarity.  

Eikō, Issue 136, page A1, December 26, 1951
translated by cynndd

                *        *        *

“Aku wa Naze Bakuro Suru ka,” originally published on the front page of Eikō, Issue 136, December 26, 1951, and later while Meishu-sama still alive, reprinted in the essays anthology for ministers Goshinsho: Shūkyōhen (Divine Writings: Volume on Religion), page 32, March 25, 1954, has appeared in translation. Citation is given below for reference.

“The Ignorance of Wrongdoing,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume Two, 1968, page 90.

Why Is Evil Invariably Exposed?,Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 155.

“The Truth About Wrongdoing,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume Two, 1968/2004, page 61.