Spend Time in Nature: Day 12

            The Seicho-No-Ie New York Center was officially closed today. There was no Sunday Service, but I conducted it on the internet using Zoom Communication Conference. This was the first time to hold the service online. My computer’s microphone was broken a long time ago and a technician in Larchmont couldn’t fix it. I connected through my iPhone but couldn’t use the PowerPoint presentation. I think it went well.

            The coronavirus brought difficulties to many people in many ways. But my daughter does not have to go to school and will study online next Wednesday, so she is happy. Maybe I have to see it as an opportunity for a family bond. One of my New Year’s Dreams is to have fun with my family. So many years I dedicated my time mainly to my work and my wife and children didn’t have enough time to spend with me. Now, two of my children have left home and the last one will soon go to college this September. I need to find out how we can enjoy it as a family for the next 5 months.

            I want to spend the time with my family in nature such as hiking in the forest, enjoying on the beach, or walking along the river. My wife also wants to spend time in nature, so I bought a book, Explorer’s Guides 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley. There are many different kinds of hiking courses between Westchester and Kingston counties such as 2 or 3 days hiking or 2 hours hiking course. This year I hope I can go hiking at least 5 times with my wife and children. Last year, we went to 3 different places: Bash Bish Fall on the border between NY and MA, Fire Island Lighthouse Beach in Long Island, Hampton Beach in NH. I hope we enjoy nature as a family.

Drive Out Fear and Express Love: Day 11

            Fear is the worst enemy of human beings. Why do we fear?—because we do not know the true nature of fear. If you don’t know something, you cannot figure out what it is. That creates fear. Many people do the same things such as order the same menu, go to the same restaurant, use the same company or buy the same brand because they do not want to take a risk to try unknown things.

            Why do we not want to try unknown things?—because we do not want to fail and become unhappy. We must know that this world is created by God, so wherever you are, you are always in the best place and whatever you do, you are always guided by God. Stop worrying about unknown things. Believe the perfect creation of God. Do not imagine misfortune. Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote: “Fear is the very emotion that is the cause for all misfortune. Since this world is a world created by God who is goodness, great sympathy and love, intellect and wonderful wisdom, and 0mniscient and omnipotent, there is no way that misfortune, which seems to go against love, could exist here. Nevertheless, we imagine that misfortune is real. We ought to know that God is absolute love and filled with nothing but love.” (Open the Doors of Your Life 2, p.94)

            The best way to drive out your fear, bring your love out more. Give kindness to others. Express gratitude to your family members. Praise your friends more. Thank what you receive from nature. These are all expressions of love. You can do it because you are a child of God. You are a child of the Love of God.

Maintain Your Peace: Day 10 (3/13/2020)

            Today I went to the post office. Because of the coronavirus it was not crowded and was unusually quiet. While I was waiting in line looking at some forever stamps in the display, a lady cut in front of me and went to the front of the line. There, she saw a young man who was wearing a huge white mask on his face. She loudly asked him if he was sick. He said, “No,” but she did not hear him so she said louder, “If you are sick, stay at home!!” He replied again that he was not sick.

            The lady became aggressive and literally screamed at him, “A mask doesn’t help prevent you from contracting the coronavirus! I know! I work in the medical field! Take off your mask! You are creating chaos! Go home!” This lady who claimed to work in the medical field was herself creating chaos at the post office. To protect yourself from chaos you need to keep calm within your mind. I immediately left the post office to protect myself from this chaos.

            Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday, March 7 due to the pandemic spread of coronavirus in New York City and Westchester County. The Governor confirmed that 216 people tested positive for the virus on Thursday and then today confirmed 325 total individuals who tested positive for the virus.

            Some people can take days off from work or work from home. Others cannot. Currently, the Seicho-No-Ie New York Center is under heavy construction. The construction workers go to different job sites depending on the need. They have to work for their families. Because we would like to finish construction as soon as possible, we have kept the center open.

            However, we are unable to provide adequate building cleaning due to our current building renovation, so the Seicho-No-Ie New York Board of Trustees decided to cancel today’s evening meetings and the next Sunday Service. If you have any ailments or are even slightly under the weather, please stay home. This is important.

            My daughter’s school decided to cancel all classes through March 30, 2020. According to the authority the coronavirus situation will become worse in the coming weeks, but we must know that our True Image will never change. The first and foremost thing that we must remember is that we are all children of God, perfect and harmonious. Therefore, we must not panic. When we keep peace in our minds, great ideas will come to us showing us how to deal with the current situation.

            When we visualize our True Image, we will never suffer from anything. Even if we encounter a difficult situation, we will receive the solution to be able to deal with it and as a result we will be in a better situation in the future. Therefore, it is truly important to visualize our True Image.

            When we practice Shinsokan meditation and enter into the True-Image World, the kingdom of God, and are able to visualize and spiritually feel the life of God who gives us the power of life, everything will change. Rev. Taniguchi wrote: “…The fountain of life emits a rainbow of five or seven hues as it is poured over me. It becomes an endless wave of light as it flows over my entire body, thoroughly purifying and washing away all uncleanliness and imperfections from my entire body. Every last cell in my whole body is thoroughly filled with infinite ageless life, revived, regenerated, and each and every cell emits a brilliant glow of ageless life that surpasses the brilliance of the purest diamond. The light is so sublime that no harmful microbe, nor germ, nor virus can come near it. Should these things approach close enough to the light, they simply vanish like darkness before the light.” (Truth of Life magazine, July 1991, Prayer to Enter into the Ageless World of Heaven)

            This Sunday I will practice Shinsokan meditation at 11 am, so please practice Shinsokan at home followed by the Holy Sutra reading. Thank you very much.

Visualize the True Image and Be Flexible: Day 9

            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.

Live As Normal As Possible: Day 8 (3/11/2020)

The city of New Rochelle appears most frequently on the news in New York. My home is located right next to the city of New Rochelle probably within a few houses away. The news calls this city, "cluster." It is as if an epicenter of an earthquake. The state government, the Governor, and the Mayor are doing whatever they can do or should do to prevent expanding coronavirus. It's a good idea to be as cautious as possible and we should avoid fear and panic. As long as I know many people are dealing with it using their wisdom and lead quite normal lives.

            Yesterday when I came home by train, many people got off at New Rochelle Station. People have to work, and their lives continue in any situation. If we are panicked or scared and emotionally upset, our situations will become worse. We need to know updated information through the news, but the news should be carefully broadcasted. It should not sway people's emotional fear. At the same time, we who watch news also be careful to not be fearful but just accept the necessary information and live our regular lives as normal as possible. Let us continue reading the Holy Sutras and Songs of Praise daily.

A Day Is A Thousand Years: Day 7 (3/10/2020)

            I take the first train to go to my office in Manhattan every morning. The train is not crowded but not empty. I sit on the seat and usually read a book for 35 minutes. I recently started reading Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said, “If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown.”

            Nowadays people are so hectic and they may not believe in God if they don’t see the result soon. On the contrary, we forget the truth that God has already give us what we need like the light of the stars on the night sky to lead people to their homes. We see the light every night which shows us the way we should go, but we do not think the light is our answer. If we see the only once in our lives or twice, we may see its brightness and appreciate it. We must see recognize the light. We must be patient, not hectic. When we live in the countryside, we have to learn patience.

            We are lucky because God is patient. Peter said, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friend: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter, 3:8-9).

            When we see things and think about them from God’s perspective, we can become patient, forgive other people, and give abundantly. When we see and think about these things from the viewpoint of nature, we can become patient, forgive other people, and give abundantly. If we still don’t understand, we must deeply pray to God. We should find nature and live in the bosom of Mother Nature.

A Month of Letter Day 6 (3/9/2020)

            I practiced painting and writing by hand every day in February. It is called A Month of Letter. I received from people whom I sent and they are all moving stories. I will introduce two of them.

            The first person had a problem practicing Shinsokan Meditation for 30 years and couldn’t continue more than a week. In the end, he quit practicing last year. However, he really wanted to resume Shinsokan this year and started. He practices breathing techniques for 10 minutes before Shintokan and now is able to practice without any difficulties. He now loves to practice it every day and after the Shinsokan, he continues visualizing the True Image for 5 minutes.

            Another person who recently replied to me by email that she really enjoys her life now. In her life, she had undergone several life-threatening surgeries, but now she is fine and already had her 80 years old birthday last year. Now, her grandson goes to high school. On her birthday her husband gave her a new red Porsche. So she enjoys driving almost every day. When she goes out by this new car, elderly people, especially women, often began chatting with her and she had joyful conversations. That makes her happy and loves driving more. I think some people have a prejudice that young people might look good with a brand new red Porsche but not an over 80 years old lady. Imagine if a lady who seems like over 80 years old driving a brand new red Porsche, some people may think a bit negative thing. However, this lady is a very positive thinking person and says, “I'm 80 and driving a new car, a red Porsche. I think that by driving a new red Porsche may encourage senior people who might give up many things and give a new hope that they can do many things regardless of their ages.” I think this positive way of thinking is beautiful. I am glad that I continue A Month of Letter this year again. Because of this practice, I could hear many wonderful stories. So I wanted to share these stores with you.

            I am grateful to some people who upload their YouTube tutorial painting. I often learn from them.