GEDATSU COMPANION - Gedatsu Church of America

February 2015
Vol. 66 No. 2
GEDATSU COMPANION
GEDATSU CHURCH USA
www.gedatsu-usa.org
FEBRUARY 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2
3
4
4
6
8
9
News and Announcements
L.A. Church Christmas Party
Dear Reverend: “How can I make
my wife see that she needs to selfreflect and correct herself?”
The Sacred Practice of Goho Shugyo
Gedatsu Kongo’s “Shinko #5 –
Eternal Life” and Commentary
“The Upside of Karma”
by Rev. H. Taki
Offerings and Upcoming Events
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sun 8 9:30 am Sunday Service / Ajikan Meditation
Sun 22 9:30 am Sunday Service / Ajikan Meditation
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sun 1 10:00 am Japanese Kanshakai Service
Sun 8
Church Open (until noon)
Sun 15 10:00 am Japanese & English Kanshakai Service
Sun Spirit Service
Tue 17
Church Closed (in lieu of Presidents Day)
Sun 22
English Kanshakai Service
Ajikan Meditation
Gedatsu Kongo’s
Thought for the Month
“Gedatsu is about correcting
ourselves, not others.”
Gedatsu is to improve and reform
ourselves through self-reflection in daily
life. It is not to find fault in others.
We have inherited physical, mental and
spiritual aspects from our ancestors.
Therefore, our minds and bodies are
strongly influenced by family traditions,
both good and bad. It is hard to
recognize negative aspects within
ourselves. Therefore, we may
unknowingly hurt others or create
interpersonal conflicts.
Gedatsu is to look deeply within
ourselves and recognize our bad habits.
Only by correcting our negative
behavior and changing our attitude will
we be able to live happy lives.
MARCH 2015
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sun 8 9:30 am Sunday Service / Ajikan Meditation
Sun 22 9:30 am Sunday Service / Ajikan Meditation
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sun 1 10:00 am
Sun 8
Fri 13 10:00 am
Sat 14 1:00 pm
Sun 15 10:00 am
Japanese Kanshakai Service
Church Open (until noon)
Propagation Meeting
Board of Directors Meeting
Japanese & English Kanshakai Service
Higan Service
Sat 21 7:00 am Stateline Turnaround
Sun 22 10:00 am English Kanshakai Service
Ajikan Meditation
Sun 29
Church Closed
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Saito Goma Applications
Apply now for plaques for the Saito Goma ceremony,
to be held at the Spring Grand Festival in Sacramento
on Sunday, April 12. An application form is enclosed
with this newsletter.
Casino Turnaround Bus
L.A. members and friends will travel by bus to
Stateline, Nev., for fun and games on Saturday, March
21. The bus leaves the L.A. Church at 7 a.m. If you’re
interested in going, sign up at the church. Cost is $35
per person.
Guest Minister Schedule
Rev. H. Taki, guest minister from Japan, will make two
extended visits to the U.S. in 2015, as follows:
Los Angeles
Sacramento
Los Angeles
Honolulu
Los Angeles
Honolulu
Los Angeles
Sacramento
Los Angeles
Feb. 13 – 17
Feb. 17 – 24
Feb. 24 – Apr 21
Apr 21 – 29
Jul 2 – 7
Jul 7 – 16
Jul 16 – Aug 21
Aug 21 – Sept 6
Sept 6 – 30
Open Letter to Members
Dear Gedatsu Members:
It is with heavy heart that I have turned in my
resignation as Board Director and Chairman, effective
December 31, 2014. I have been very fortunate to
have served on the Board for over 35 years and as
your chairman for more than 10 years. I felt it was my
obligation (giri) to Gedatsu Kongo, Archbishop Eizan
Kishida, Mother Kenyu Kiyota and especially my
parents that I be allowed to cultivate the seed they
and other pioneers of the Gedatsu Church in America
had planted.
Although I have turned in my resignation, I
have no plans of withdrawing from the Church. I will
continue to volunteer at the LA Branch and offer my
services to Revs. Yamada and Okano.
Mr. Victor Mizokami has been elected to
succeed me. Please give him the support all of you
have given me. Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Rudy K. Tsujimura
Sun Spirit Monument Services in February
Seventy-five years ago this month, Gedatsu Kongo
dedicated the Sun Spirit Monument on the
grounds of the Goreichi Sanctuary in Kitamoto,
Japan.
The Founder regarded this monument – with its
large circular sun image at its center and Japanese
characters for “seishin” or “spirit” – as a symbol of
the sun’s expression of selflessness, fairness and
endless compassion. The everlasting light and
heat from the sun are attributed as the sacred
source of life, which the sun gives freely to all
living things on earth without taking anything in
return.
In his dedication speech, as he unveiled the
monument before the crowd of members
assembled on the cold February 11 day in 1940,
Gedatsu Kongo said: “I put my whole heart and
soul into building this monument at my dear
birthplace. It is only the expression of my sincere
heart of reverence to God and respect for
ancestors, and appreciation and requital.
“Even if it would be covered with green moss
some day, as long as the earth exists, as long as
mankind lives on earth, I firmly believe that this
commemorative monument will continue to put
forth its voiceless eloquence forever. I would like
to protect this monument as a soul and continue
to stay here forever as a forerunner of peace for
mankind.”
Members are encouraged to attend the Sun Spirit
services in February to recognize and give thanks
to the sun for its gifts and significance in our lives.
Obituaries
Long-time Northern California member, Tom Noritaka
Harada of Union City, passed away on December 26 at
the age of 96. He is survived by his daughter, Pauline.
2|Page
L.A. CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sunday, December 21, 2014
L.A. Church members enjoyed
the annual Christmas Service
and Musical Program, with
entertainment from the local
high school band and homegrown talent. There was a
visit by Santa – as well as a
rousing sing-along of the
“Twelve Days of Christmas.”
3|Page
OUR GEDATSU STUDY
DEAR REVEREND
Q
A
- Gedatsu Kongo teaches about self-reflecting
and reforming oneself. How can I make my
wife see that she needs to correct herself?
This is a question that people have often
asked reverends. Even when our Founder,
Gedatsu Kongo, was alive, church members
sometimes asked him this question. I’ve heard the
following story about Gedatsu Kongo’s guidance.
An elderly woman regularly came to church to
learn from Gedatsu Kongo. One day after the
Founder’s sermon, she told him, “Today’s sermon
was wonderful. I was deeply impressed. I want my
daughter-in-law to listen to your sermon today
because she is too stubborn to listen to me.”
“Focus on yourself. Otherwise, your
knowledge of Gedatsu is meaningless.”
Gedatsu Kongo then scolded the woman, saying,
“It’s you who are stubborn! My sermon today is for
you, not for others. Reflect on yourself deeply!”
His words shocked her. She was compelled to
closely scrutinize herself and became aware of the
negative attitude she harbored toward her
daughter-in-law for many years. She sincerely
apologized to her for the malicious attitude she held
in the past. Her daughter-in-law was surprised at
her sincere words, and since then her attitude
toward the old woman completely changed.
This story tells us how we should study
Gedatsu. Gedatsu is not to criticize other people.
You must always focus on yourself in your Gedatsu
study. Otherwise, your knowledge of Gedatsu,
however great, is meaningless.
First, sincerely reflect on your attitude to
your wife until today. You will then become aware
of some negativity toward her. Then try to correct
yourself. Your wife will change according to the
change of your attitude toward her. Human
relations are like a reflection in a mirror. Your wife’s
attitude is a reflection of your attitude toward her.
Rev. Hisakazu Taki
The Sacred Practice of Goho Shugyo
Founder Gedatsu Kongo gave to us three unique
esoteric practices that are unique to the Gedatsu
Church. Two practices – Amacha Kuyo blessing
and Holy Hiho meditation – were explained in
previous issues of this newsletter. The third
practice, Goho Shugyo, is explained here.
It is significant that all three practices
incorporate the miraculous power of the Holy
Goho. The Holy Goho consists of the five
spiritualistic Sanskrit characters – representing the
five aspects of universal life and encompassing the
total Cosmic forces, which give life to all things.
Gedatsu Kongo, through his great spiritual
powers, realized the sacredness of the Holy Goho
and discovered, to his amazement, that he was
able to manifest the Holy Goho by simply writing
the characters. In a state of divine spiritual
revelation, he inscribed the holy characters on
paper, plaques and amulets.
In describing his ability to manifest the
Holy Goho, Gedatsu Kongo stated: “A circle,
square, triangle, or anything; they are all the Holy
Goho that the Supreme God of the Universe
wrote. I am not writing the Holy Goho, but merely
copying the characters that I see on the paper.”
Holy Goho Central to Gedatsu Study
Gedatsu Kongo discovered the Holy Goho
in the late 1920s, just as he was establishing the
Gedatsu Church in Japan. Thus, the Holy Goho
became an intrinsic part of the Gedatsu teaching
from its earliest days. Today, the Holy Goho is
copied from the Founder’s original writing and
printed on Amacha kuyo plaques, stupas and
amulets, which we use in our homes and at
church.
Shortly after discovering the Holy Goho,
the Founder began to realize the amazing power
and utility of this instrument in connecting the
Continued on page 4
4|Page
Holy Goho Practice – Continued from page 3
seen and unseen worlds, especially in being able to
communicate with spiritual entities. Through early
spiritualistic practices and experiences with the
Holy Goho, the Founder began instructing his
followers in the practice of Amacha Kuyo blessing
and Goho Shugyo, meaning practice or training, as
early as 1930.
Goho Shugyo is performed by meditating
and holding the amulet of the Holy Goho between
your palms, with eyes closed, in a prayerful posture
before the altar. Through the power of the Holy
Goho, the mysterious energies of spiritual forces
are then manifest.
When you perform Goho Shugyo, you
should realize that you are holding a sacred
instrument, a symbol of God or Universal Life itself.
Therefore, you should put your analytical mind aside,
entrusting all to the Universal God and the
miraculous power vested in the Holy Goho through
the Founder, Gedatsu Kongo. This total emersion
of your will and mind to God is in itself critical to
the effectiveness of the Goho Shugyo practice.
With this attitude, the Holy Goho will guide you
appropriately.
Training to Cultivate, Perfect Your Character
The basic objective of this practice is
perfection of character. The practice enables you
to cultivate your character by recognizing your
negative traits, discarding your selfish thoughts and
attitudes in life, and strengthening your volition, or
will power.
This method of disciplining your mind and
soul strengthens your intuitive faculties, enabling
you to realize your true self and grasp the inner
meaning and truth in all things.
Through sincere and continuous
performance of Goho Shugyo, your outlook on life
gradually changes, allowing you to enjoy and
appreciate all things with deep faith and conviction,
leading to your spiritual awakening.
Developing Spiritual Perception
Goho Shugyo practice also enables you to
experience and comprehend the existence of the
spiritual world, and how it significantly impacts your
daily life. Through your heightened awareness of
the relationship between the physical and spiritual
worlds, you become aware of and appreciate the
help and guidance given to you by your ancestors
and guardian spirits.
Because the Holy Goho possesses an allencompassing power, many spirits are attracted to
the Goho and its penetrating ability to render
purification to unrested souls. Therefore, when you
meditate with the Holy Goho, you may experience
the mysterious energies of spiritual forces. Most
often, this consists of communication with ancestral
spirits and/or unrested spirits of other entities.
Because of this spiritual contact, it is
important that the Goho Shugyo practice be
performed at church in the presence of an
experienced teacher or intermediary, who can
correctly interpret these spiritual communications
and instruct you appropriately.
Also, during the performance of Goho
Shugyo, Amacha Kuyo blessing is diligently
performed to console spirits with appreciation and
allow them to rest peacefully in the spiritual realm.
The regular practice of Goho Shugyo enables
you to understand the true, total nature of yourself,
amid the vibrations of the seen and unseen worlds
in which you exist. When unrested spiritual
conditions of your ancestors and others closely
connected with you are understood – and
subsequently purified and settled – through the
power of the Holy Goho, your ultimate destiny
appears before you. Your volition is strengthened.
Your life unfolds harmoniously.
Such is the beauty, sacredness and power of
the Goho Shugyo practice.
[Editor’s Note: The Companion is indebted to Archbishop
Kishida, Rev. Sakamoto, Rev. Taki and Rev. Yamada, whose
writings and/or sermons were referenced in this article.]
5|Page
OUR GEDATSU STUDY
e
SHINKO (Sincere Practice) Part 5
By Gedatsu Kongo
Eternal Life
It is very inspirational to be able to realize the eternal life while living in this ever-changing
phenomenal world.
It is natural to be attached to physical life, but there is a vast difference between knowing and
not knowing that after death, the individual soul exists together with the Divine Spirit. Moreover, the
existence of soul and spirit transcends time and space, and is immortal. If one feels certain that spirit is
the real substance of life, one is able to believe that one does return to the true spiritual home after death.
Just to conceive of an eternal life after death is exhilarating.
For those who believe that everything is over when they die, death is the greatest agony. I can
sympathize with those who are on the verge of death. By contrast, those who are aware that the flowers
of Truth, Goodness and Beauty do bloom even after death are the blessed ones.
If man sincerely wants to search for the true path of life, he must be aware of life after death.
To renounce egoism in one’s physical life is to live a spiritual life without physical attachment. It
is likened to communicating with the spiritual world while living.
Those who entirely live a spiritual life can always go and come back freely between the present
world and the spiritual world while living. One’s sincerity actually reaches through to Heaven.
Renouncing one’s ego while living and physical death are different objectively, but are
subjectively identical. This is because the subjective self is immortal.
Even those who do not believe in life after death, when they actually die, will discover that they
exist as spiritual entities. They will then realize their ignorance and, as a rule, regret it. Knowing or not
knowing of the eternal life, in all probability, will make a big difference in one’s present life.
(To be continued next month)
The photo at left was taken around
1940, showing Founder Gedatsu
Kongo sitting at his desk in the old
Tokyo Dojo. The building was burnt
down when Tokyo was bombed in
World War II.
The Founder’s book, “Shinko,” was
published in 1942.
6|Page
Commentary on “Shinko” by Rev. H. Taki:
As Gedatsu Kongo said, we are living in an
ever-changing phenomenal world. You have been
aging since you were born. Everyone will
experience physical death. Who knows how long
you will live? When you were young, you felt you
could live forever. But the truth is, you can live
only for a hundred years at most. Compared with
eternity, it is merely an instant.
During this short period of time, you
experience various things. You were born into this
world. You went to school, loved someone, and
maybe suffered a broken heart in your youth. You
got a job, got married and had children. You may
have attained great success in business, or have
been highly praised sometimes. But you may have
lost your loved ones, suffered from illness, or failed
in business. No matter what kind of life you may
have lived, you must die someday. This is life.
When you look deeply into this fact of life,
what do you feel? No matter what power and
fortune you may possess during your lifetime, you
will lose everything when you die. If you believe
that the physical world is everything about life, can
you find any meaning in life? If you believe you will
lose everything when you die, how can you find
hope in life? It must be very difficult.
Eternal Life Gives Hope, Meaning to Our Existence
How can we find the true meaning of life
then? Gedatsu Kongo answered this question
saying, “If man sincerely wants to search for the
true path of life, he has to be aware of life after
death.”
In other words, you have to recognize the
existence of the spiritual world, and see the
immortality of souls and spirits. Only when you
clearly see this, can you understand that your
physical death is not the end of your life, but is the
beginning of your eternal life. You will then be able
to have hope in life. This is the Gedatsu life.
The next question is, how can you clearly
see that life exists after death? Gedatsu Kongo
explained how we can communicate with the
spiritual world. He said that there is an
indispensable condition to being able to
communicate with the spiritual world: renouncing
egoism. When you scrutinize yourself and
renounce your egotistical way of living, you will be
able to communicate with the spiritual world. You
will then attain true peace of mind.
Gedatsu Kongo taught us the unity of the
visible and invisible worlds. He said the spiritual
world is not separate from our present life. The
spiritual world and the present world are always
one. This understanding is essential for our
Gedatsu study.
Aim of Spiritual Study is Self-Reformation
If you believe that the spiritual world is
irrelevant to your present life, you may be inclined
to show much interest in psychic or spiritualistic
phenomena without self-reflection. Actually, we
see such people everywhere. Gedatsu Kongo
always emphasized the importance of selfreflection. When you scrutinize yourself and try to
change your negative attitude in life, you will be
able to live peacefully with other people, and your
ancestors will also rest in peace.
Gedatsu Kongo stated: “To renounce
egoism in one’s real life is to live a spiritual life
without physical attachment. It is likened to
communicating with the spiritual world while living.
“Those who entirely live a spiritual life can
always go and come back freely between the
present world and the spiritual world while living.”
“Renouncing one’s ego while living and
physical death are different objectively, but are
subjectively identical.”
These statements explain this point.
Gedatsu Kongo repeatedly emphasized that
Gedatsu is not to chase spirits but is to scrutinize
(Continued on page 8)
7|Page
Commentary – Continued from page 7
yourself. When you deeply self-reflect and
renounce egoism to benefit other people, you will
be able to attain true happiness together with
other people.
Those who do not believe in the existence
of spirits may think that their physical life is all
there is to life. They may think everything will
become nothing when they die physically, and they
may wish to enjoy their physical life in egotistical
ways. However, when they die, they will see the
existence of the spiritual world. But then it is too
late for regrets.
Gedatsu Kongo taught us that our physical
life is not everything about life. When you truly
understand the eternity of souls and spirits, you
will be able to live fully and peacefully in this world.
To understand the unity of the visible and invisible
worlds is, therefore, essential for us to live fully in
this present world.
The Upside of Karma
Finding hope, a fresh start through
the law of cause and effect
Excerpts from a sermon by Rev. H. Taki
Each day, we are blessed with precious life.
This is because God loves us 100 percent. No
matter what difficulties you may have, no matter
what defects and faults you possess, and no matter
what negative karma from your ancestors you may
have inherited, you are alive now! You are allowed
to exist here today. This is because God loves you.
It is often said that Gedatsu is to study the
law of cause and effect. This is true – but only half
of the truth. Your existence in the present
moment is the result of your past, and at the same
time, it is always the beginning of your future.
Please don’t forget this.
Even if you have some negative aspect in
your past, or if some of your ancestors committed
wrongful acts during their lifetimes, you could not
be here today if only a single ancestor of yours had
not existed. Your existence today is possible
because of all of your ancestors and everything
you’ve done in the past – good and bad.
Everything in your past is necessary for your
present existence. So you should accept them all
with appreciation.
It is important to reflect on yourself, of
course. When you become aware of some
negative aspects in yourself, please try to correct
those aspects through your daily life. It is no use
regretting your past. You should remember that
you are always at the beginning of your future. No
matter what negative aspects are in your past, you
can start afresh now! It’s all up to you.
“Your existence today is possible
because of your ancestors and everything
you’ve done in the past – good and bad.
Accept them all with appreciation.”
No matter what kind of past you may have
had, please remember that you are allowed to
exist today because of God’s grace.
You can start a new life from now. It is all
up to you. This is the Gedatsu way of life.
While I am in Japan, I visit the Gedatsu
branches in Niigata prefecture every month to
teach members. Recently, a Gedatsu couple asked
me for guidance about their daughter who was in
her twenties. They said that she had a lot of
problems. When she was in her teens, she
continually misbehaved and dropped out of school.
For a while, she worked part-time during the day
and went to night school, but she soon quit school
altogether and left home. She then lived alone in
Tokyo, working in a nightclub for a couple of years.
(Continued on back page)
8|Page
DECEMBER 2014 OFFERINGS
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
$5–$49: R. Ide, R. Nakatani, J. Tanaka, M/M D. Tsuboi,
K. Gibson, S. Taketa, K. Tsukamoto, S. Tanaka
$50–$99: M/M D. Ide, M/M S. Sekikawa, M/M C. Tanaka,
Y. Shimazu, T. Johnson, S. Nishino
$100+: Sebe Family, S. Yokota, H. Taki, N. Johnston, F. Mills
$200+: K. Sasaki
$300+: Senkakukan Sword Group, Sacramento Karaoke
2015 UPCOMING EVENTS
Apr 12 (Sun)
Spring Grand Festival 10 a.m.
May 10 (Sun)
Sacramento Joen-no-gi
(plaque burning)
L.A. Events Meeting (after service)
Church Closed
(in lieu of Memorial Day)
May 17 (Sun)
May 26 (Tue)
Jun 14 (Sun)
Jun 21 (Sun)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$5–$49: Hiromi Ogawa, A. Okimura, M. Michiuye,
M. Numata, Y. Oishi, T. Toyama, M/M T. Hirami,
Rev. A. Sebe, Tom Matsumoto, M/M Katsuo Chinen,
M/M V. Mizokami, M. Mori, Angelin Okamura
$50–$99: M/M B. Hamamoto, M/M C. Morioka,
T. Murakami, M. Nakamura, M/M M. Okada,
M/M Howard Tsujimura, T. Tsujimura, R. Kageyama,
D. Tomita, E. Ogawa, M/M P. Young, M/M S. Mukai
$100+: K. Fujii, D. Allum, J. Kaku, M/M K. Kimura,
M/M Ken Kuritani, F. Miyamura, M/M M. Murakami,
T. Nakamura, C. Tomari, M/M R. Tsujimura, M/M K. Yamada,
Rev. H. Taki, T. Ishida, Kari Kuritani, N. Okano
$200+: M/M T. Fukushima, J. Ito, D. Shiroishi,
M/M T. Matsumoto
$300+: M/M F. Barthel
Special Acknowledgment:
Mitsuko Numata Appreciation for Jonny Numata’s
One-Year Memorial Service
Teruko Nakamura
”
Hiroko Takahashi In Memory of Hitoshi Matsumoto
T. Ishida & Family Appreciation for Fumio Ishida
Funeral Service
M/M M. Shiroishi In Memory of Mrs. Kiyo Murakami
Ernest/Hiromi Ogawa Appreciation for Late Peggy Ogawa
Toyoko Murakami Appreciation for Old Plaques
Ken Kuritani
“
Howard Tsujimura Appreciation for New Year 2015
Kari Kuritani
Appreciation for Goho Shugyo
Jun 27-28
Jul 4 (Sat)
Jul 12 (Sun)
Sacramento Kiyota Sensei
Memorial Service
L.A. Kiyota Sensei Memorial Service /
Father’s Day service
Rokujizo Bazaar
Sacramento 11 a.m.
Jul 26 (Sun)
Jul 26 (Sun)
Church Closed
35th Anniversary of
Gedatsu Church Hawaii
L.A. Obon Service /
Graduates Honored
Sacramento Obon Service
L.A. Event Meeting
Aug 8 (Sat)
Aug 16 (Sun)
Lake Tahoe Benzaiten Service (TBD)
L.A. Benzaiten Service
Sep 6 (Sun)
Sep 8 (Tue)
Sep 20 (Sun)
Sep 27 (Sun)
Sep 27 (Sun)
Fall Grand Festival 10 a.m.
Church Closed (in lieu of Labor Day)
L.A. Higan Service
Sacramento Higan Service
L.A. Events Meeting (after service)
Jul 19 (Sun)
Oct 3-4 (Sat-Sun) Autumn Moon Festival and
Holiday Crafts Faire 11 am – 6 pm
Oct 13 (Tue) Church Closed
(in lieu of Columbus Day)
Oct 18 (Sun) L.A. Ujigami service
Oct 25 (Sun) L.A. Events Meeting (after service)
Nov 1 (Sun)
Nov 8 (Sun)
Nov 14 (Sat)
Nov 15 (Sun)
Nov 26-27
L.A. Gedatsu Kongo Memorial Service
Sacramento Gedatsu Kongo Birthday
L.A. Stateline Turnaround 7:00 am
L.A. 7-5-3-Year Children’s Celebration
Gedatsu Kongo Birthday
Church Closed (Thanksgiving Holiday)
9|Page
２月度教会行事予定
ロサンゼルス教会
1 日（日）10:00A
8 日（日）
15 日（日）10:00A
17 日（火）
22 日（日）10:00A
サクラメント教会
8 日（日）9:30A
22 日（日）9:30A
日本語感謝会
教会正午まで開館
日英・感謝会
太陽精神碑建立記念祭
振替休日(プレジデントデイ)
英語感謝会・阿字観法
感謝会・阿字観法
感謝会・阿字観法
２月度みさとし
「解脱は決して他所事ではない。
総て自分自身の事である」
解脱の学びとは、傍観者的に他者を批判することで
はなく、どこまでも自己のありようを見つめ、改め
るべきを改める実践を心がけることです。われわれ
の心は、先祖代々長い年月をかけてつくり上げられ
てきたものであり、したがって色濃くわがままなク
セがついてしまっているものです。しかも、そのこ
とにほとんど気づいていないために、われわれは自
他を傷つけ苦しめたり、争いを引き起こしたりして
いることが多いのです。日々の生活のなかで起こる
さまざまな出来事をとおして、過去の自分のありよ
うを深く反省し、わがままな心のクセに気づくとと
もにそれを改めるよう努めていくことによっての
み、自他共に幸せな人生は実現されるのです。
体
験
講 話
長女へのお知らせで目覚めた
私ども夫婦
松橋伸次 2014 年７月６日
ロサンゼルス日本語感謝会にて
私と妻の仁美が解脱会に入会し
た経緯をお話しします。入会以前、私たちには長男
がおりましたので、次は女の子が欲しいと私たち夫
婦はもとより、家族中がそう思っておりました。そ
の待望の長女が生まれた事で私たち夫婦は解脱の
勉強をする事になりました。
仁美は夜中に陣痛が始まり、私は仁美と彼女のお
母さんを車に乗せて病院へ急ぎました。病院に到着
してドクターに診察してもらうと出産までまだ時
間がかかるとの事でしたので、私は一旦家に戻りま
した。昼頃、女の子が生まれたと彼女の母から電話
があり、私は嬉しくてさっそく以前より考えていた
名前の『杏奈』と名付けました。病院に駆けつけ多
くの赤ちゃんが寝ている新生児室に行き、私と仁美
は窓越しに赤ちゃんを見ました。どの赤ちゃんが杏
奈なの？ と私が尋ねると仁美はその新生児室の
一番奥の方を指さし、あれが杏奈だよと教えてくれ
ました。
杏奈は他の赤ちゃんから離れて一人ポツンと寝
ていたので、どうしてあそこに居るのか仁美に尋ね
ると、仁美はうつむいて一言「ごめんなさい」と言
うんです。私は、どうして謝るのか聞くと「杏奈は
皮膚に問題を持って産まれてきた」と言うんです。
その時私には、それがどう言う意味なのかよく理解
できず、「まぁ他の赤ちゃんにもそういう子がいる
だろう、そのうちに治るんじゃないか」とたかをく
くっておりました。しかし、他の赤ちゃんにはその
様な子はおらず、杏奈の皮膚の症状もなかなか改善
しないので、だんだん不安になって参りました。し
かし何故か、私たち夫婦は杏奈が産まれた病院では、
皮膚の状態についてドクターや看護婦さんに何も
聞けずにおりました。振り返ると、何か底知れぬ恐
ろしさを感じていたのだと思います。
その病院で一週間過ごし退院すると、直ぐその足
で皮膚科専門の病院で杏奈を診察してもらいまし
た。すると皮膚科のドクターは「これは非常に珍し
い病気で、この子は成人になるまで成長に合わせて
何度も皮膚移植をしなければ肌が綺麗にならない」
と言うのです。さらに「この子が男の子だったら生
まれてこなかったよ。女の子は生命力が強いから産
まれてきたのだ」と言い「医学の発展のため、この
子の治療の過程を写真に撮らせて欲しい」と言われ
ました。私たち夫婦は杏奈が見世物になったみたい
な感じがして、とても悔しく、自分たちの無力さに
落胆し途方に暮れました。
藁をもすがる思いで飛び込んだ教え
杏奈は幸いに顔だけは異常が無く、私は無邪気に
笑う杏奈の顔を見ていると只々、親としてどうにか
しなくては、何とかしなくてはという気持ちが湧い
て居ても立っても居られませんでした。皮膚を移植
するならどうぞ自分たちの皮膚を使って下さい。出
来ることなら変わってあげたい…。苦しいときの神
頼み。私たち夫婦は正に藁をもすがる心境で、この
子の為なら何でもする思いでした。
そんな時、以前に母より『隣に住んでいるご夫婦
は何か宗教をしているよ』と聞いたことを思い出し
ました。そのご夫婦は日頃より、我々はもとより周
りの人にも親切にしておりましたので、「宗教をし
ているから他の人とは違うのかな」とは思っており
ました。しかし、私はそれまで宗教をする人は心の
弱い人間で宗教に頼らないと生きていけないのだ
と尐し見下すような感覚を持っておりました。私は
自分は正しくて自分の思うことに間違いはないと
いう傲慢なところがありましたので、そもそも宗教
について何も知らないのに、自分は絶対に宗教に入
らないと宗教を否定しておりました。これは懺悔話
ですが、杏奈が産まれるまでろくに神・先祖に手を
合わせずにいた自分でした。そんな私が宗教で杏奈
の病気が尐しでも良くなるなら何でもすると決心
し、解脱の世界に飛び込んだのでした。自分も宗教
にすがる弱い人間だったと気づかされました。
先ず私一人でお隣の家を訪ね杏奈の状態を話し
たところ、優しいご夫婦は私を温かく迎え入れてく
れ、「詳しい話は仁美ちゃんにするから仁美ちゃん
をよこしなさい」と言われ仁美と交代しました。仁
美の話によれば、以前に肌の病気になり解脱の勉強
をしたところ、すっかり治った人の話や解脱によっ
て救われた人達の様々な例を優しく分かりやすく
お話し下さったとの事でした。優しいご夫婦は不安
で一杯の仁美を気遣って『大丈夫、大丈夫』と何度
も励ましてくれたそうです。
夫婦で始まった「心直し」の勉強
学び始めは仁美が先行しておりました。当時私た
ち夫婦は小さいながらも商店を経営しておりまし
たので毎日忙しく、仁美は商売のほかに解脱の勉強
と子育てや家事をこなし、身心も衰弱していくよう
でした。それはちょうど川を遡上し卵を産んだあと
のボロボロになった鮭のようでした。産卵後の鮭は
本当にボロボロになって死んで行くのです。仁美は
その姿と重なって見えるくらいでした。私は自分も
こうしてはいられない、自分も解脱の勉強をもっと
しなくてはと触発されたのです。
これも懺悔話ですが、私たち夫婦は杏奈が産まれ
る前まで喧嘩が絶えず、回数もさる事ながら、内容
もそれは凄いものがありました。私たち夫婦は解脱
の教えがなかったら 100 パーセント離婚していた
でしょう。そんな仁美が、解脱の勉強をし始めてか
らどんどん変わっていきました。私たち夫婦は喧嘩
することが減り、また喧嘩したとしてもエキサイト
しなくなりました。
それからほとんど毎日、支部で解脱を学びました。
解脱の勉強は私にとって新鮮で、私はたちまち解脱
の魅力に取りつかれ、ある意味そんな自分にカルチ
ャーショックさえ感じました。
そんな私たち夫婦に対してあの優しかった筈の
お隣のご主人が言いました。「杏奈ちゃんが、ただ
助かって救われてそれで終わりなら、初めから解脱
の勉強をしないほうが良い。金剛さまもぶら下がる
人が多いと大変だから、いずれどんな形でも恩返し
をする気がないなら、金剛さまの助けにならないの
なら、勉強しないほうがいい」と言うんです。
とにかく私たちは「杏奈の病気が良くなれば」の
一心でしたから、分からなくても「ハイ」と答えま
した。お隣のご主人は支部の副支部長さんでした。
10 歩も歩けば着くほどの近い距離でしたので、日
ごろの私たちの一挙手一投足や生活全般を通し、そ
れこそマンツーマンで心の使い方の間違いや法則
に沿ったあり方などを教えてくださいました。
「解脱の教えは病気治しにあらず心直しだよ」と
幾度となく言われました。初めは娘の状態ばかりに
囚われて「心直し」がわかりませんでしたが、やが
て私たちの心直しの勉強が始まりました。解脱の教
えに照らせば、それまで私たち夫婦は神の法則から
逸脱した考えや行動をしておりました。自分自身の
事しか考えていない私たちだったのです。私たちは、
神の導きによってそれを変える様、努力させていた
だきました。天職は勿論のこと、社会や支部でのお
役目を率先して、人様のお役に立つ様にと、心と行
動を変えて行きました。
お役目は素直に喜んでさせていただくこと
私たち夫婦はこれまで様々な困難に遭遇し、時に
苦しく辛くて自暴自棄になり、良からぬことが頭を
よぎったこともありました。しかしそんな時、『あ
れもこれも全部あなた達に必要必然なことだから
あるんだよ。明けない夜はないんだよ。乗り越えら
れない試練は来ないから大丈夫』と支部の仲間に励
まされ、解脱の恩恵により困難を乗り切ることが出
来ました。
私たち夫婦にとって解脱は暗闇に光る一筋の光
明です。この光は神の法則だと私は確信します。こ
の光、法則に沿って生きて行けば必ず幸せになりま
す。解脱を学んで 24 年。現在、杏奈は毎日朝 9 時
から夜の 12 時まで元気に美容師として働かせてい
ただいております。お陰さまで、皮膚は一度も移植
しておりません！
私たち夫婦は神々さま如来さま金剛さまから受
けた恩を一人でも多くの縁ある人達にお伝えする
のが使命であり、今日こうしてアメリカでお役目に
お使いいただいております。これもまた必然と感じ
ております。「解脱のお役目は素直に喜んでハイと
受けさせていただくこと。その時に、乗り越えられ
ない試練はない」という事を申し上げたいと思いま
す。今後とも尐しでも皆様のお役に立てますよう精
進して参りますので、どうぞ宜しくお願い申します。
GEDATSU COMPANION
Vol. 66 No. 2
February 2014
The Gedatsu Companion is published
monthly for members like June Tanaka
of Sacramento. Her parents, Sadaye and
the late Karl Tanaka – introduced to
Gedatsu by Archbishop Kishida when he
first came to the U.S. – were among the
founding members of the Sacramento
Church. June, who is super active in the
Gedatsu Church USA
Los Angeles Branch
7850 Hill Drive
South San Gabriel, CA 91770
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
EL MONTE, CA
PERMIT NO. 110
Church, co-chairs the Roku Jizo Bazaar, helps with the Spring
and Fall Festivals, serves on the Church Board of Directors and
has been Sunday School leader for many years. “I continue to
study Gedatsu,” she says, “because I know that this teaching
has made me a better person, and there is so much more to
learn.”
Rev. Kazuo Yamada, Editor
Joyce Reid, Editor-in-Chief
Editorial contributors to this issue:
Rev. Naoya Okano, Rev. Akira Sebe, Jo Ann Shiroishi, Rev.
Hisakazu Taki, Calvin Tanaka, June Tanaka, Jane Tanji, Rudy
Tsujimura, Rev. Kazuo Yamada, Yoko Yamada
Karma – Continued from page 8
Living such a life, their daughter became
worn out and recently returned home. She
apologized to her parents for her disobedience
and said that she wanted to make a fresh start.
I met the daughter. We talked and I
listened to her story. In tears, she told me about
her past and asked me if it was possible for her to
change her life. I asked, “Do you really want to
change your life and make a fresh start?” She
answered, “Yes.” I then told her, “Then you can
do it. It’s all up to you.” I explained as follows.
“You are always living in the present
moment, which is between your past and your
future. Your present situation is the result of what
you’ve done in the past. You cannot change your
past, but it is because of everything in your past
that you are here today. If you sincerely reflect
within and realize the preciousness of this life you
have been given, you can make a fresh start.
Therefore, accept your present situation with
appreciation. It is useless to regret your past.
Rather, be determined to follow the correct path
from this point forward. You can do it. Your life
will change when you realize how blessed you
really are. It is never too late to start anew.”
The young lady listened to me in tears and
decided to stay at Goreichi to study and practice
Gedatsu.
This is my recent experience. Gedatsu is a
path of hope, and it is path for everyone’s
happiness. No matter what problems you may
have had in the past, you can overcome them and
make a fresh start because God always loves you
unconditionally.