Konkokyo is promoting “the Faith Movement: Let Us Live a Mutually Fulfilled Life with Kami”.
Translation of a faith movement pamphlet “Let Us Realize ‘the Way of Kami and People’ in Our Lives” has completed.
We hope that people in the world will be connected with Kami, and live a happy life through this Faith Movement.

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A translation of a faith movement pamphlet
Let Us Realize “the Way of Kami and People” in Our Lives

Chapter 1 the Goal of the Movement
As of January 1st, 2012, the Faith Movement: “Let Us Live a Mutually Fulfilled Life with Kami” was launched. The purpose of the movement is to realize “the way of Kami and humanity” as spoken by the spiritual leader Konko-Sama on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Konkokyo establishment. The goal is to strengthen our relationship with Kami and humanity in our daily lives by pursuing “live a mutually fulfilled life with Kami.”
The spiritual leader Konko-Sama taught a believer who was worried about human relationships, “The connection between Kami and humanity is on a vertical axis and the connection between people is on a horizontal axis.” A world of “salvation” will be opened by deepening the connection between Kami and people, resolving daily problems, enhancing human relationships in daily life.

The Faith Movement: Let Us Live a Mutually Fulfilled Life with Kami

Let us seek and receive Kami’s Words through Mediation
Let us awaken to Kami’s blessings and unconditional love
Let us live a joyful life of appreciation
Let us pray for, help and guide one another, with a compassionate heart of Kami
Let us truly live the way of Kami and all people ? in mutual fulfillment

The goal of the movement is to express the way of Konko Faith the Founder envisioned and the way of “salvation” plainly and simply. The way of Ikigami Konko Daijin Mediation requires sticking to the basics of “seek and receive Kami’s Words through Mediation.” “Awaken to Kami’s blessings” means to awaken to the world of Tenchi Kane No Kami’s blessings.
“Let us live a joyful life of appreciation” begins by doing the first two lines: “Let us seek and receive Kami’s Words through Mediation” and “Let us awaken to Kami’s blessings.” As we work on these, we are deepening our relationship with Kami on the vertical axis. As we cultivate “Let us live a joyful life of appreciation”, the world of “salvation” appears through the faith practice of “Let us pray for, help and guide one another, with a compassionate heart of Kami.”　Through this process the way of Kami and humanity is created in modern society.


Chapter 2 Let Us Seek and Receive Kami’s Words through Mediation
“Let us seek and receive Kami’s Words through Mediation” is not only the starting point of the movement but the core of faith. How do we show the way of Kami and humanity specifically through “Let us seek and receive Kami’s Words through Mediation”? We focus on “Let us awaken to Kami’s blessings and unconditional love”, “Let us live a joyful life of appreciation”, and “Let us pray for, help and guide one another, with a compassionate heart of Kami” in terms of the contents and the meaning through a practice of the Founder’s Toritsugi Mediation.

1. Let Us Awaken to Kami’s Blessings and Unconditional Love
The following is a story about Shino Toshimori.

Shino Toshimori lived in Okayama. Her first son was diagnosed with infant tuberculosis at the age of seven. Although infant tuberculosis was an incurable illness at the time, Shino, desperate to help her son, worshiped at several different shrines and temples and saw many reputable doctors. His health did not improve and Shino at the age of 27 came to the Founder’s Hiromae to make a request for her first son’s recovery in 1866. The Founder did not talk about the illness, but instead taught about the blessings between heaven and earth and about humanity, who is allowed to live between heaven and earth. He said, “All of humanity is allowed to live by divine blessings. Sunshine and rain are divine blessings.” At first, Shino didn’t understand what the Founder was talking about. While listening, she began to think “He is talking about a tremendously important thing” and was very surprised to hear him say, “People are born into divine blessings, live amid divine blessings and die amid divine blessings.” Before receiving the Founder’s Toritsugi Mediation, Shino had thought divine blessings meant recovery from sickness or solving various problems in daily life. She never realized that the work of the Universe supports the lives of her and her son, nor about the truth that they are allowed to live in divine blessings. Far from it, thinking she had lived an honest life and was doing her best, she blamed society and Kami for misfortunes. However, when she realized the truth and her own mistakes, she regretted her attitude and said to the Founder and Kami, “From now on, I will shift my way of life to giving gratitude to Kami, and will tell my son to have faith. Would you please look after us?” She went back home and told her son about the Founder’s story and started to practice giving gratitude to Kami for being allowed to live. She also came and worshipped at the Founder’s Hiromae once or twice a month. Her son’s health got better day by day. Everyone was surprised at her son’s full recovery.

From this story, she blamed society and Kami for her son’s illness, but realized “Awaken to Kami’s blessings.” When Shino received Toritsugi Mediation she realized that she and her son were guided to the world of blessings far beyond their understanding and were allowed to live in the divine virtue of Kami.

2. Let Us Live a Joyful Life of Appreciation
In September 1873 of the lunar calendar, Sugi Ogihara at the age of 21 lived in Kurashiki, Okayama and had been bedridden for two years due to sickness. During the two years, she worshipped at many kinds of shrines and temples and saw doctors but her sickness became worse and worse.
One day, a cotton merchant recommended receiving divine blessings from Konko-Sama. Her father Rikizo worshipped at the Founder’s Hiromae and requested for the first time. However, her health did not get better after hundred days. Her father Rikizo thought, “It seems hopeless after all. I would like to go worship once more.” He went to the Hiromae again. Konko-Sama told him, “It is good you have come but you would not understand if I told you. Tell her husband Toyomatsu to come to worship just once.”
The following day, her husband Toyomatsu went to the Hiromae. Konko-Sama asked, “Does your family practice faith?” Konko-Sama said, “You have not practiced faith single-heartedly. You say you practice faith in all the kamis (gods) and buddhas, but that is excessive faith.” Konko-Sama admonished him to “practice faith single-heartedly.” Konko-Sama added, “There is one more thing I have to tell you. Sugi is a very spiteful person who is always complaining. Complaints won’t bring divine blessings so her health will not get better. Go home and tell her this. If she realizes this from the bottom of her heart, discuss with your family which one faith to practice.”

When we become sick, every one of us tends to dwell on the misfortunes. Particularly when we are sick for a long time, we forget our family’s hearts and compassion and even blame them with accumulated complaints, which cause us more troubles. The Founder saw this problem and pointed to the complaints held within “our heart.” Then, he said clearly, “Complaints won’t bring divine blessings.”
Toyomatsu realized that what he had was not true faith and understood complaints wouldn’t bring divine blessings. He went home and told Sugi everything that Konko-Sama had told him. When she listened to the story, she found Kami who sees everything in heaven and earth in a single glance. “Yes, it is all true. I have been wrong. I had an ill-natured character and a disrespectful heart. I was selfish and complained about everything. I have to reform my heart.” She examined herself deeply and decided to become humble and look toward “a joyful life of appreciation.”
The Founder told Toyomatsu, “Look forward to receiving divine blessings in three weeks.” The divine blessings were delivered in the third week. Sugi and her husband Toyomatsu went to the Hiromae and gave thanks to Konko-Sama for the blessings with joy. The Founder admonished her, “Don’t ever forget the longtime pain you have suffered and the divine blessings you have received. As long as you don’t forget these two things, your illness won’t recur. Hereafter, when people come to you in pain, give prayers for them while recalling your own suffering and the divine blessings you have received. If you don’t care about others because you are already cured, your illness will return. Continue to receive divine blessings with the heart you have now, and your illness won’t recur, and future generations of your family will also receive blessings.”
Sugi was told by the Founder, these are important teachings to live “a joyful life of appreciation”: “Sugi, being cured is not considered divine blessings. Having good health is.” “Don’t ever forget the longtime pain you have suffered and the divine blessings you have received.”

3. Let us Pray for, Help and Guide One Another, with a Compassionate Heart of Kami
Gihe’e Fukushima, who ran a hardware store, was guided by Sakichi Sakai and started to practice faith. After that, he strongly wished to see the Founder and receive teachings. In July of 1869, he went to the Hiromae for the first time. He expressed his thanks for the blessings he had been receiving for one year. Konko-Sama promptly went before the altar and informed Kami-Sama in prayer and delivered the following teachings:

“Though people say that I am an Ikigami, I am just as human as you. I have been receiving divine blessings just by practicing faith. … You should also follow what Kami says, and practice faith in Kami single-heartedly to receive divine blessings. Save others and have yourself become a Kami.”
“From Tenchi Kane No Kami-Sama, people receive a body and a part of His mitama spirit. They are able to live by eating the grains bestowed by Heaven and Earth. Since long ago, it has been said that Heaven is the father, and Earth, the mother. Tenchi Kane No Kami-Sama is the parent of all people.”
“Tenchi Kane No Kami watches over everything. People are Kami’s children. Turn your body and heart toward Kami-Sama and practice faith to receive His many blessings. Rely on Kami wholeheartedly for everything without worrying about possible irreverence to Kami. Then you can receive divine blessings. Flowers will bloom on withered trees, and life near death will be saved. Receive divine blessings and save those who are suffering.”
“There is no particular way to worship Kami. Just be sincere, conscientious, honest, and single-hearted. Give thanks for being able to live from day to day and apologize for the irreverence, carelessness, impoliteness, and arrogance that you commit unknowingly. Then with sincerity, tell personal requests that you may have.”

Konko-Sama tried to clarify the way of Faith and “salvation” in this manner. First, it is about “Ikigami”. To become Ikigami is not special. “I have been receiving divine blessings by practicing faith.” “You should also follow what Kami says, and practice faith in Kami single-heartedly to receive divine blessings. Save others and have yourself become a Kami.” These teachings lead to the one for Sugi Ogihara; “Hereafter, when people come to you in pain, give prayers for them while recalling your own suffering and the divine blessings you have received.”
The Founder explained “the vertical axis” relationship between Tenchi Kane No Kami and humanity by saying, “From Tenchi Kane No Kami-Sama, people receive a body and a part of His mitama spirit. They are able to live by eating the grains bestowed by Heaven and Earth”. Tenchi Kane No Kami is our immortal parent.”
He also proclaimed that when Humans, who are Kami’s children, turn their body and heart toward Kami-Sama and practice faith, a world of “blessings” will be opened. Then, he asked to receive divine blessings and save those who are suffering.”
In Conclusion, just like above, Konko-Sama guided the believer who came for the first time with a thankful and joyful heart to “pray for help and guide one another with a compassionate heart of Kami”.

Chapter 3 Awareness of “Divine Blessings of the Faith”
--- The Faith Based on Appreciation
One minister asked the current Spiritual Leader Konko-Sama during mediation, “What is the Way of Kami and humanity?” He replied, “It is to express your thanks for everyone and everything that benefits you.”
The current Konko-Sama has been practicing the fourth Konko-Sama’s words: “Have a heart that expresses your thanks to everyone and everything that benefits you”. He has been performing Toritsugi Mediation with the faith based on appreciation.
Is there a connection between realizing the way of Kami and humanity and “the faith based on appreciation”? Let’s look into the teachings from the fourth Konko-Sama.

1. Human Feelings Should Not Come First
“Human feelings, such as pleasure, anger, and sadness, come after you wake up. I deeply think that we should not live a faith based on feelings.”

We all hope to have brilliant and enriching lives, so we work on different things and feel happiness or disappointment in the process and results. However, the fourth Konko-Sama taught that we are given our life by Kami. Our life starts with a divine blessing, not human feelings. He meant that our everyday life and all the feelings happen after our given life and all the feelings happen after our given life wakes in the morning.
Given life is the origin and the foundation of our lives. It is essential to realize the truth and give thanks to Kami. Then, based on the appreciation, we may also make requests. When we acquire this way of living, a world of happiness will be opened in front of us. This is “the faith based on appreciation”.
Because we are allowed to live, we are able to feel happiness or sadness and even become sick. Let us be aware of this truth through the fourth Konko-Sama’s teaching.

2. Misfortunes in Divine Blessings
The fourth Konko-Sama once said, “You will be saved because your misfortunes happened in the midst of divine blessings. If you live in the midst of misfortunes, you will receive only misfortunes no matter where you go or no matter what you do. However, the fact is that everything happens in limitless divine blessings between heaven and earth or the Founder’s favor.”

“Live in the midst of misfortunes” means dwelling on the problems leads to getting wrapped up in the problems. For example, in Shino’s experience, her son’s illness was central and she thought the only blessing was to recover from the illness. She could see only the problem. In Sugi’s case, she was in bed for two years due to a woman’s sickness. Her sickness was prominent and she was always complaining to her family.
As long as you look at the problems, you will experience only misfortunes no matter where you go or no matter what you do. Even if we are in a harsh situation, the problems or misfortunes happen while we are allowed to live in limitless blessings between heaven and earth.
Furthermore, we have been receiving divine blessings in the Way established by the Founder. You will be saved if you realize this truth and practice faith.
The faith based on appreciation, which fourth Konko-Sama taught, is a lot different from a thankful heart in general because the faith is rooted in a relationship between Tenchi Kane No Kami and people. To seek and practice faith in each of our daily lives, we can unveil the way of Kami and people in our modern society.

Chapter 4 Let us truly Live the Way of Kami and All People ? in Mutual Fulfillment
In terms of the last line of the faith movement, let us have a look at the contents of the teachings so far.
“There is a certain true way of receiving divine blessings. After receiving divine blessings, you must never forget your gratitude. Forget, and you shall regret. You will be unable to receive divine blessings later on. If you remember your gratitude, you can receive future blessings as you wish.”

The Founder mentioned after receiving divine blessings, you must never forget your gratitude. That means we must never forget Kami. To do so, practicing turning our heart to Kami is important. When we strengthen our bond with Kami through practicing faith such as going to worship at a Worship Hall, seeking and receiving Kami’s Words through mediation, praying, listening to sermons, or working for Kami, a new set of blessings will be created. In other words, the way of Kami and people will be unveiled.
Furthermore, the opposite of appreciation is disregard. We should not take things for granted. We should regard everything to be special. By doing so, a thankful heart will be created.
The fourth Konko-Sama taught us that to breathe, to eat, to study, to work, and everything people can do is a result of blessings. Not only have you received “special” divine blessings, but daily life itself is also a divine blessing you have been receiving. That is why it is significant to thank every element.
People usually doesn’t offer thanks for ordinary things. When you realize they are blessings, then you can show appreciation. In order to practice faith or reveal the Way of Kami and people, we have to realize that blessings surround us; we should acknowledge our blessings and give thanks in our daily life.

Gihe’e Fukushima, who was introduced here before, worshipped at the Founder’s Hiromae to give thanks for his son’s full recovery in 1873. Four years had passed since his first worship. Konko-Sama imparted, “Have faith in Kami, receive divine blessings, and save the troubled. You can give thanks to Kami by becoming one with the heart of Kami. And also by spreading this true Way of Faith by telling others about the blessings you have received. This will make Kami happy. Though people practice faith, they only use Kami-Sama. They are not aware of how Kami-Sama uses them. Tenchi Kane No Kami will use people as His representatives. Practice faith and look forward to being put to use by Kami-Sama.”

In the Konko Faith, a person who received divine blessings is expected to tell people how he received the divine blessings in order to express a thankful heart to Kami. Kami wishes us to develop faith by moving from “use Kami” to “be used by Kami.”
Disciples were saved from hardship and suffering. They reached the faith to “be used by Kami” by “praying for, helping and guiding one another, with a compassionate heart of Kami.” In other words, they were single-hearted in developing the faith that brings happiness to Kami.
The fourth Konko-Sama wrote a poem; “New things will arise naturally by practicing repeatedly.” Repetition of practice is important. In the process of repetition, an unexpected world appears.
Let us strengthen our connection with Kami by practicing faith repeatedly based on the wish of the movement so that the way of Kami and humanity will be realized in our daily life and also in the modern society.

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