Great Construction

Faith and Labor Strikes

     What the general public perceives as most threatening among the issues in current affairs are probably the strikes by the coal miners and by the electrical workers. In efforts to resolve these disputes, the government and the Central Labor Relations Commission have tried various measures and diligently worked, but both sides in the strike have remained more adamant than expected and progress has not been made toward settlement. The coal miners strike has lasted for more than fifty days and that of the electrical workers has gone on for more than seventy days, and it is most distressing that there do not seem to be any prospects for ending either strike. The direct loss to the country due to these strikes is estimated to be in the billions of yen each day, and if indirect losses were added as well, the figure would probably rise to an astonishing amount.
     The causes of this stalemate do not deserve any deep thought. They come from the collision of the desire of the workers to increase their income by even a little amount with that of management to keep wages down as much as possible. A great majority of the Japanese population is suffering because of this collision. As the members of these two groups are closing their eyes to the suffering of the people, it may safely be said that we find both sides difficult to forgive. Because the sides both represent a way of thinking that is preoccupied only with self benefit and give no thought at all to others in trouble, whether sooner or later these particular issues show any promise of being resolved, there is no mistake that similar conflicts could occur again, so coming to terms with and stopping such an objectionable attitude as soon as possible is certainly desired by all.
     To the question of whether there might not be some means by which this problem may thoroughly be dealt with, I would like to report that such a method most certainly exists. The answer lies in the cultivation of a strong faith, and I hereby declare there is no other way. In spite of the fact that a solution does exist, nowadays in response to whatever problem that might arise, it is avenues other than faith that are pursued most earnestly, and as these methods are all off the mark, although they may seem to be effective for a while, they are remedies that plaster over the surface, so the problems will of course occur again, in the same way as do the problems caused by medical science. Government, the mass media, and individuals in the ruling classes do not attempt to study and pursue the issue of faith at all and rather seek answers only in materialistic methods. This ignorance defies description.
     Therefore, if most workers and members of management were to immediately become practitioners of a correct faith, I would like you to think about how matters would then proceed. Since the basis of faith is of course love for others, workers would tackle issues with sincerity and members of management, as they calculate their own profit, would also take into consideration to the greatest degree the welfare and well-being of workers, so the fruits of shared coexistence and coprosperity would result and the benefits to both sides would exceed expectations. Of course, as work would be accomplished pleasantly, efficiency would rise, and because costs would naturally decrease, enterprises would prosper. Moreover, export activity would increase, so the national economic condition would improve, taxes would go down, and daily life would become more comfortable. As a result, disease and criminal activity would decrease, and in all aspects of society would only become better. The reconstruction of Japan would be easily accomplished. It is most certain that the whole world would look up to Japan as the model peaceful nation.
     The above, while almost as if a dream, is not that difficult to achieve, rather, that it could effortlessly be accomplished can be understood when approached with common sense. Moreover, the fundamental of easy resolution depends on attitude, how matters are looked at, and on actually making matters concrete. The point is to put this approach into practice. My way of thinking is such wonderful good tidings! That an answer so simple has not been understood until the present is due to the barbaric nature that resides within the hearts of all human beings. Humanity boasts that it has become civilized, but this civilization is only in form on the outside and inside, the aforementioned barbaric nature, so conflict is constant. When I use the word “barbarism,” of course I am referring to a beastly nature. Beasts will gnash their teeth and snarl to take away from other animals even one piece of meat and it is this characteristic I am talking about. It may seem extreme to say so, but people today do have to some degree this beastly nature within them, which remains in the shadows of the cultural sphere. There is an expression from antiquity, “a beast with a human face,” which is as applicable as ever in the civilization that exists at present.
     Therefore, in order to eliminate labor strikes from our society, the beastly nature of human beings must be removed through religion. No other fundamental way is possible. It is in this sense that it is World Messianity’s purpose to take the beastly nature out of and reconstruct human beings. It is this very task that can be said to be an ideal cultural project. However, those who do not know of this truth, who do not seek to investigate the contents of World Messianity, and who simply chalk our work up to superstition, of such people, there is really nothing much to say other than that they are blind, enamored of the present erroneous civilization. About this topic I am now writing a book to be called Creation of Civilization that will explain, as I described above, how the present civilization of external form and inner poverty is to be transformed, and what naturally will be born in its place, that is, the concept and design of a true civilization. Upon completion, this book will be given for perusal to the intellectuals of the entire world for the purpose of making a contribution to their further enlightenment.

Eikô, Issue 187, December 17, 1952
 translated by cynndd