Do Not Practice Empty Power of Word: Day 14

            Some people encourage to practice positive thinking and other people denied saying it does not work. Even some of them believe the power of words and the power of the mind but sometimes doubt positive thinking because they only practice empty words.

            Our minds have the power to create our destinies. When you can change your mind, you can change your life. How can we change our minds? We must use the power of positive words. The positive word with emotion has power but without emotion does not work. A person who was told that she needs to be grateful to her husband and practice to say that he is a good person repeatedly, then her husband would become a good person. She said repeatedly that her husband was a good person and also chanted “thank you very much” many times. Every day she checked if her husband was changed or not, and he became worse. She claimed that positive words' chanting did not work. Her practice, of course, did not work because she totally believed that her husband was a bad person and tried to change him by using positive words. In other words, what she truly believed appeared.

            In order to receive good fortune, our minds need to be prepared because the phenomenal world is unfolded in accordance with our thoughts. You may say that a person is fortunate, but his good fortune actually comes from his prepared. Therefore, he was ready to receive good fortune. Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote: “Napoleon boasted, ‘Do you think I am lucky? I create my own luck.’ This may be true for a person whose mind is well prepared, but if said by a person who is not mentally prepared, it is a foolish and irresponsible utterance.”

            Our mind creates our destiny. Rev. Taniguchi said that it is a foolish and irresponsible utterance if we use positive words without our mind’s preparation. He continued, “Laws permeate the universe, and to grasp the opportunity is to utilize the laws. Law exists in the universe even if the mind is not prepared. When man is mentally prepared, however, he will be able not only to fly into the sky but to explore the entire universe. The study of science is, in essence, for the preparation of the mind.” (Truth of Life December 2002)

            To use the positive words we must totally believe in them. If you use positive words to change about your husband or child, you must completely believe that he is a good, excellent person mentally and emotionally. Do not repeat empty positive words without emotion. Practice positive words with your strong emotion and belief that he is a very good person. When you truly feel that way, he will appear before you as a good husband or child.

Acrylic Paints and A Palate Knife : Day 13

            Watching the news about coronavirus every day, it’s depressing and disappointed with the guidance of the White House because it is so poor. The Bishop of the SNI US Missionary Headquarters called the special emergency meeting of the SNI ministers in the U.S. on March 3 to discuss how to deal with the coronavirus, there were only 2 persons confirmed positive for the virus in New York. Since then, almost every day the number of people who tested and confirmed positive has increased.
            I immediately emailed to our Japanese leaders because we had planned the Japanese Seminar on March 8. We discussed the seminar on whether or not we should postpone it. We concluded that we had the seminar but stopped promoting it to the public. We did whatever we could such as sanitizing doorknobs and tables as well as chairs, giving up providing refreshments to the participants, opening the windows while putting the heater on during the seminar, etc. We also broadcasted our seminar to those who wanted to participant online. We encouraged members to join the seminar online. We did everything that we could but watching the federal government actions, I was flabbergasted and disappointed. That disappointment still continues until today, I won’t discuss it today. I will write about a different thing.

            My brother texted me that my mom’s dementia became worse and it was difficult for his family to take care of her. My sister-in-law became so tired of taking care of our mother and became depressed. So my brother asked the siblings to help him and his wife. I want to do everything I can but am not sure what I can do because I do not live in Japan. It is difficult for me to take even a week's vacation right now due to the lack of full-time employees in the SNI NY Center. Great ideas will come to me at the most appropriate time in order to help my mom and my brother’s family.

            Now, what I do for my mom is to paint on an envelope every week and write to her with this envelope. Today I used a palette knife to paint. To paint with a palette knife on the envelope is not easy because it is too small to paint on the envelope with a palette knife. But I did because I wanted to send something different to my mom. Last month I called her on her birthday, she said she forgot many people even her own children and asked them who they were. She also said that she enjoyed my weekly letter but she did not read it but just enjoyed painting. That’s the reason that I want to do something different.

            I started using acrylic paint a couple of months ago because I had plenty of leftover craft smart paints that were used to use at Sunday school. I bought many Craft Smart Paints for the Sunday school students to paint together with them, but our Sunday school ended 4 years ago. I didn’t want to waste them, so I started using them. This acrylic paint is liquid, so it is good for painting with brushes, but if you use expensive acrylic paints, it has texture and more fun. Today, I add baking soda to these acrylic paints and painted with a palette knife. This was the first trial. I need to practice a lot to make an impressive paint envelope, but I enjoyed it. I hope my mom also likes it.

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.