Great Construction

The Path of Husband and Wife


     Whether arranged marriages are good or that marriages based on love are good is recently the topic of hot debate. Let me explain what is involved when this subject is interpreted in spiritual terms.
     In Japan, from the big cities to the innermost recesses of mountain areas, in each area there will be enshrined a tutelary deity, either a native place tutelary deity or a clan tutelary deity. These deities are like the city offices in the physical world, and everything in the human world, from the rites of passage, which are coming of age, marriages, funerals, and the commemoration of ancestor death days, to the birth of children fall under the purview of these deities. From ancient times has been the custom of going to a shrine upon the birth of a child, and this is a pilgrimage to give thanks to the deity for the blessing of a child. In the same way, the deity brings about the union of male and female, so whether arranged or for love, the marriage is the intention of the deity. Because so many human beings do not know this and believe that marriages are brought about through human agency, at times such as in marriage quarrels, they may end with the husband saying “Get out!” but this is quite mistaken. It is highly impertinent for human beings to think that they can do anything about the man or about the woman whom the deity has brought together. However wanting the husband or the wife may be, there is no excuse to think that two brought together by the deity based on affinity can be dealt with lightly in human terms. The union should be appreciated gratefully. When these facts are understood, and one’s situation is re-evaluated with appreciation, it is certain that each will come to look upon each other as good spouses.
     There is one important point that should be considered here and that is the death of children. The cause of this tragedy is the faithlessness of the husband. A relationship with a woman besides the wife, for example, is a great sin which usually carries the penalty of death. One hears stories of men having two or three mistresses, sometimes even more than a dozen, and this is indeed frightening. The ancestors in the spiritual world not only greatly detest such sins, the sin obstructs the prosperity of the descendants. Depending on the severity of the sin, such activity can even lead to the misfortune of the end of the family line, so the ancestors make use of every means available to stop the commission of the sin, but most of time, the perpetrator does not awaken to his mistake. Furthermore, as the amount of sin will only increase, it must be atoned for as soon as possible. For this, the head of the household should bear the responsibility, but because anything adverse that happens to the household head will lead to a harmful effect on the life and future of the family, the ancestors sacrifice the life of one of the children in place of the head of the household. The caution of readers is desired. There are certainly those to whom this explanation will speak directly.
     Another aspect of arguments between husband and wife and probably their primary cause is jealousy on the wife’s part while straightened family circumstances are another important factor. Therefore, if the husband recognizes the spiritual conditions of the marriage as related above, the cause of jealousy will disappear. When the husband recognizes that their marriage has come about through divine intent and that having relations with a woman other than his wife is a serious offense, becoming a good husband, becoming a good wife, and the development of a harmonious relationship are most likely inevitable. My advice is not something made up to get couples to become harmonious. I declare without one jot of fabrication that it is based on long years with many experiences further enhanced by teaching from God.
     Let me give some of the teachings from the Christian Bible that relate to the preceding.
§ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
§ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
§ Be thou ravished always with her love.
     These comments are offered to all married individuals.


Essays on Faith, page 87, September 5, 1948
    translated by cynndd


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“Fūfu no Michi,” which appeared originally as the thirty-ninth chapter in the Nihon Kannon Kyōdan (Japan Kannon Church) publication Shinkō Zatsuwa (Essays on Faith), page 87, September 5, 1948, and later, while Meishu-sama still alive, in the only teachings anthology for the general public Tengoku no Fuku’insho (Gospels of Heaven), page 99, August 25, 1954, has appeared in English translation. Citation is given below for reference.

“Marriage,” A Hundred Teachings of Meishusama, no date, page 153..