Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency last Saturday due to the pandemic spread of coronavirus in New York City and Westchester County. The Governor confirmed 43 additional cases bringing the State of New York total to 216. The number of positive cases for the virus in Westchester and New York City is 121 and 52.
Because we are unable to provide adequate building cleaning due to our current building renovation, the Seicho-No-Ie New York Board of Trustees decided to cancel the Sunday Service, Friday Truth of Life Study Class, and Ancestral Memorial Service at least through this weekend.
If you have any ailments or even slightly under the weather, please stay home. I will deliver my short message and practice Shinsokan meditation at 11 am this Sunday through Zoom Video Communication, so you will be able to view it. If you are on the mailing list, you will receive detail information.
The coronavirus situation might become worse phenomenally, but our True Image will never change. The first and foremost important thing that we must realize is that we are all children of God, perfect and harmonious. Therefore, we will never become panic. When we keep peace in our minds, the best idea will come to deal with the situation. Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote: “Since the perfection of God’s life is being constantly manifested within me, I am always strong and healthy. God’s wisdom is constantly guiding me in my activities, therefore I shall never err in my actions. I shall always advance on the right path and never become lost on a crooked road.” (Truth of Life magazine, March 2002, Prayer to Remove Fear and Attachment)
When we visualize the True Image, we will never be suffered from anyone and anything. Rev. Taniguchi also wrote: “As we now visualize the True Image of existence, we see that the life of all living things, even to the smallest microorganism, is an outpouring of God’s life. As long as they have life, all forms of life are expressions of God. Thus no virus, bacteria, fungus, or protozoa can ever invade man and cause him to fall ill. The belief that man comes under attack by microorganisms and falls ill is nothing but a dream, nothing but an illusion.” (Truth of Life magazine, June 2000, Prayer to Become Aware of My Indestructible True Body)
Fear brings another fear and panic, so we must visualize the True Image. When we visualize the True Image through Shinsokan meditation, we will receive appropriate ideas on how to deal with our situation. When we follow our inner guidance, we will be always safe. Some people asked me why we do not have our meeting if we practice Shinsokan to visualize the True Image. These people think that we can have a gathering if we do not have fear in our minds. However, it depends on a person how deeply convinces oneself as a child of God. When we realize the True Image, there are many ways to have our lives. If you only think one way is the best way, you already lost your battle because you do not have flexibility. In this world, there are many choices and ways to deal with difficulties. We need to stick to what we are doing, but sometimes we must become flexible and avoid uncertainty.
It was said that the Zen monk Kaisen wrote his last poem in his life at Erin-Ji temple: “If you eliminate thoughts, even a fire is cool.” He was surrounded by the army of Nobunaga Oda (1534-1582) at that time. Nobunaga’s army set a fire and he was burned. Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi introduced this poem and wrote: “We are not saying that it is correct faith to advocate ‘ego’ to not get burned while sitting in fire, but we are saying that we must follow the guidance of God’s wisdom and naturally be led not to sit in fire.
If someone thoughtfully considers your situation and gives a piece of advice, you should be flexible and if your gut feeling says that you should listen to this advice, you do not have to insist of your own idea. The teachings of Seicho-No-Ie says that we must be reconciled with the whole universe. If we are reconciled with everyone and everything in the universe, nothing will harm us. However, if you lose flexibility and insist that you can go into the crowds by saying nothing would harm you. This story of the Zen monk Kaisen gives you an inspiration. This story is introduced in the December 2019 Truth of Life magazine on pages between 21 and 22. Please read it again.
Let us read the Holy Sutra together every day to pray that the coronavirus will subside in New York and in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment