E26229

     The evil of daijo is the good of shojo and the evil of shojo is the good of daijo is a precept to which I constantly refer. There are some my followers who to tend to forget this essential point. Followers must reflect on this relapse of their efforts at faith. In simple terms, the daijo point of view is to look at everything from a broad perspective. I will try to explain as best I can. There are times when what we have exerted ourselves to do thinking it good unexpectedly turns out to actually be a hindrance to the teachings. Everyone can probably relate to the recollection that it is the very people that commit this error who are overconfident in their own abilities and who without realizing become forgetful of the important power of God.
     Then again, I frequently hear the following. A questioner says that so-and-so is working very diligently but wonders why so-so-so’s work does not grow, does not expand more. Such results from a shojo faith. Individuals of shojo faith are stiff and constraining, and so there is no attraction, and thus their work does not expand. The worst is that matters and affairs are handled in ways biased to one side, so common sense is left behind, and strange, erratic behavior ensues. Thoughtful, sensible people see this behavior and take World Messianity to be a superstitious faith of low level. World Messianity comes to be despised and scorned, so leaning too much in one direction should be guarded against. On the other hand, those who do not seem to be enthusiastic are sometimes quite successful with growth. These are the very persons who have absorbed a daijo faith and put it into action.
     One more point I would like to make is that it is particularly those of shojo faith who make judgments about the good or evil of others. In this respect, I always stress that it is an egregious error to pronounce on the good or evil of others. No one but God can know the good or evil of an individual, so making statements about the good and evil of human beings is an audacious undertaking. The extent that it is blasphemy to God can not be known. There is nothing as impertinent. Those who do so are self-righteous and conceited. As they have no inherent virtue, not only do they not grow and develop, they tend to cause pointless problems wherever they go.
     Look at Japan before the war for an example of this. Under the banner of loyalty and patriotism, the entire nation fought for its life only to reach the conclusion we saw and experienced. This principle more of less applies to everything. To be sure, at the time everyone thought that what was done was right and good, but because this kind of good is shojo, the nation was rewarded with the results it got due to the selfish concept that another country does not matter as long as one’s own country is satisfactory. In this regard, just recently I published the essay “Be a Citizen of the World” where I explain what I mean. The essay shows how there is no real good unless it is a daijo good, a good of world scope. Of course, if matters were to proceed in accordance with a daijo way of thinking, there is no way that an aggressive war can come about. Japan would not have fallen into those miserable circumstances, and it is certain that Japan would have enjoyed peace and the respect of the world.
     To put it in another way, in love as well, there is God’s love and there is human love. God’s love is a great daijo love, so it includes all humanity without limit. Human love, however, is a very narrow shojo love, so it envelopes only itself, friends, and one’s own nation, a limited love, so as a result, it is evil. When this point is grasped, it is only truth that my followers in all matters and affairs should proceed in a daijo manner, in other words, always channeling God’s love firmly in the heart. A favorable result will certainly ensue. Therefore, by keeping God’s heart as your own, conducting all matters with unconditional love, approaching everyone with a pleasant attitude, it is only natural that people will gather around you, and there will be growth. These points that guarantee expansion recently leapt to mind.

“Be Man of Daijo,” The Glory, Number 015, December 15, 1956.

“Be Man of Daijo,” Teachings of Meishu and Kyoshu, no date, page 24.

“Broadmindedness,” Fragments from the Teachings of Meishu-sama, 1965, page 67.

“Be Daijo,” Meishu and His Teachings, no date, page 22.

“Live With a Daijo Attitude,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 310.

“Live With a Daijo Attitude,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume Three, 2005, page 51.

“Only God Knows Good and Evil,” Reaching for Faith, 2010, page 70.