"Face Meishu-sama Straightforward to Make a Year of Self-renewal"

By Rev. Tetsuo Watanabe

January 1, 2005

Dear members, Happy New Year!

I would, together with you, like to express heartfelt words of thanks for
having newly met the New Year, with a burning spirit of self-renewal, under
the blessings of great God and Meishu-sama, and under Sandai-sama`s
prayer and our current Kyoshu-samas guidance.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Sekai Kyusei
Kyo and the 50th anniversary of Meishu-sama`s transition to the highest
level of the spiritual realm. We are here by a curious turn of fate, and in
this sense we must deeply reflect our faith in light of Meishu-sama`s spirit
of that foundation, out of gratitude for being assigned with the wonderful
mission of building a paradise on earth; we shall make our tireless efforts to
be instruments in the Plan of God.
Our years-long dream, "the establishment of a Kyoshu-centered ministry
system," has been firmly established, based on the settlement agreement,
and this year marks the third year of Spiritual Leaders appearance at
services.
So far, we have been taught by Kyoshu-sama about the importance of
face-to-face, straightforward meeting with Meishu-sama, and to surrender
the basic cause of the clouds within ones inner self to Meishu-sama,
according to the thoughts and sonen of Meishu-samas mind. Also taught
was the fact that we are the "individualized part of God, having a paradise

on earth within each of our innermost beings, and that we are the sum parts
of our innumerable ancestors.
Let us, by upholding our heart to these guidances, strive, under Meishusama, who is exerting his power of salvation from the realm of God, and
under the notion that we are serving God together with our ancestors,
expand our services to strengthen the vertical line of faith related with the
three realms the realm of God, the intermediary realm and the physical
world, thereby tying it to the horizontal line related with the expression of
love for others. I am certain that such a stance will prove to become a new
Church, where we will be allowed to have a full-scale ministry.

In this

context, let us take Kyoshu-samas words sincerely, as words of guidance

coming from "the true seat of Meishu-samas successor," thus learning and
practicing them in our daily life.
Meanwhile, the Heian-Kyo construction is going very well, thanks to your
sincere, united services; along with the completion last year of the Kenshu
Center, the first-stage gardening work should be finished in April; then, the
second-stage for Shunju Ans repair work, rearrangement of the inner
garden and other projects will be started.
In the world arena, fighting stemming from religions and political
ideologies is becoming intensified.

Against such a background, we are

given "Heian-Kyo, Sacred Grounds as a symbol of harmony" from Meishusama, so we must believe in the fact that the degree of the Heian-Kyo
construction development is to reflect the stability of world peace, thus
expanding our sincere service further.
Also, relying on the Teachings that show us that according to the

progress of construction of the Heian Kyo, the expansion of our work will
become clearly visible, we must see to it that Meishu-sama`s supra
religious vision is spread to the believers of Buddhism, Christianity and
Islam, thereby making our global expansion work a fruitful one.
What is needed for us to attain such a fruitful ministry is to practice our
faith daily, through Sampai, Johrei, Hoshi and Reading of the Teachings in a
thorough manner, and to make the Three Pillars of Salvation, consisting of
Johrei, Nature Farming and Art, into an unshakeable one, thereby nurturing
ones faith within to be firm enough to respond swiftly to the multi-phase
practices offered by Meishu-sama.
However, this modern age, an age of extreme difficulty in many forms,
makes it difficult to respond for us in an ordinary way as in the past, for the
loftier the ideal we uphold is the higher the barrier against it becomes. But,
it should be taken with gratitude as a chance given by God to us to strive to
attain self-improvement and self-renewal.
Yoki wa tori ashiki wa sutete toraware-zu
Kokoro tanoshiku tengoku tsukuran
Joyously, we are building
Paradise on Earth,
Taking what is good
And rejecting what is bad,
Releasing ourselves from all undue concerns.
Ware wa tada yo no tame hito no tame nomi ni
Tsukusu to omoe-ba kokoro akarushi
Serene is m mind

Cheerful is my heart,
When I am working
For the welfare of others
For the good of all humanity.

By keeping the above verses in mind, let us be allowed to serve always

in the spirit of bright, joyous and free atmosphere.
To recognize, from the bottom of our heart, one another as
individualized part of God" will surely diminish self-centered minds that
force ones own way on others, creating an opportunity, instead, a room for
a respectable mind toward others, and creating a chance for appreciating
each others characters and good points in the spirit of mutual respect.
This is to let each others ability display in full. I think the one who wants to
see this most is our Kyoshu-sama. It is my wish that all the members are
brought to be united under Kyoshu-sama, thereby getting to the work of
ministry of Daylight rhythm, aiming thoroughly at becoming a "witness of
Meishu-sama."
At the outset of a New Year, I, together with you, take a pledge to
sincerely seek the teachings, so as to respond in full to Kyoshu-samas
charge. I now close my words of greetings.
Thank you very much.