Thank you very much for attending the KC-Chicago's 2011 New Year's Day Service.
My family & I have been in Chicago for fourteen years. Each of us, in our own way, have dedicated ourselves to a missionary work that exemplifies the teaching that says, "Opening this Way of Faith depends upon Wagakokoro; one's grateful and caring heart in harmony and joy, or one's peaceful and joyful heart"
In order to achieve this kind of heart I have been focused on perfecting a heart like that of the universe throughout 2010, as head-minister of our newly established church.
Our founder Konko Daijin taught us, "It is essential to have a heart like that of the universe and try to be like the heavenly, earthly and orderly nature of the universe."
The heavenly nature of the universe is characterized by inexhaustible generosity. It is a natural way of limitless giving.
The earthly nature of the universe is to accept everything calmly. It is to remain silent & peaceful like the surface of the earth. No matter how filthy we may perceive something to be, the earth doesn't say, "I hate foul smelling things like this' or "these kinds of foul, dirty things are out."
But it is not just passively silent it receives & absorbs these things into itself as nourishment. In the orderly nature of the universe ? there is nothing more faithful and thorough than this.
Wouldn't we be in trouble if the sun were to say, "I'm a little bit tired today, so I'll take a break?" The sun works without rest a minute, a second or even a mille-second. This, I believe, shows the vital importance of practicing faith in this same dedicated, constant way.
After doing my best to emulate the nature of the universe through everything that happened in my life this last year, even though I sometimes failed; for me, this is my correct Way of Faith. Because it is the best way for ordinary persons to live ordinary lives and reflect with the Divine Heart of Kami. When we succeed Kami's glory undeniably appears in our lives and we human beings can prosper with Heaven and Earth from generation to generation, like the universe is constantly evolving.
There is a saying in Japan, "Rise and fall is the way of the world."
In English I've heard people say, "Life has its ups and downs."
It means that throughout human history no one has ever accomplished everlasting prosperity of one's family and descendants. Therefore it is not too much to say that we, human beings have not known the essential importance to emulate the nature of the universe and how to practice this until our founder revealed it.
We are now practicing to achieve such everlasting prosperity that human beings has longed for since the beginning of human history.
From now on let us receive and respect everything that happens each and every moment as Kami's doing to develop our heavenly, earthly and orderly nature of the universe, whatever happens and no matter how hard it might be.
As an expression of that spirit, I would like to share my New Year's poem for 2011.