reference

Our Belief Hereafter

by Yoshihiko Kihara
Head of Board of Directors


  I was in constant attendance at Meishu-samas side from the night of the 9th until the time of his passing away. He was really very peaceful and natural when he breathed his last.
  Our attachment to Meishu-sama as a physical being has been so strong that we all must be overwhelmed with the deepest sorrow at the event of his passing and ascension. Indeed, this is inevitable as we are human, but we should consider the fact that the divine program has been progressing smoothly, just as God wills, even though we had not reported such details to Meishu-sama since the beginning of his physical purification. So, even after his passing away, the divine program shall progress just as smoothly as previously.
  Meishu-sama will be able to exert divine power more freely from the spiritual world and accord us stronger protection now that he has been freed from physical restriction. The stronger the divine power, the greater protection can be given.
  A journalist once asked Meishu-sama what course our religion would take in the even he should die. I shall send divine light from the spiritual world,Meishu-sama said. It shall be emitted the better from over there,he continued, and so will be just the same, as I shall work for the salvation of the world from the spiritual world.
  I believe that Meishu-sama once told Nidai-sama in the same purport. Therefore, there is no reason for us to grieve over Meishu-samas ascension. On the contrary, we followers should strengthen our resolve and work with joy and courage. The only difference is that until recently, we have prayed to the physical Meishu-sama who lived in Hekiun-sofor protection, and hereafter must pray to Meishu-sama who is in the spiritual world.
  We can be blessed with Meishu-samas protection as much now as when he lived in Hekiun-so’”. Hereafter, we shall be given greater protection, and this means progress in the divine plan.
  It is just ten years since Meishu-sama began the divine cause in 1935 until the end of World War II, and from that time until his ascension, it is also ten years. Here can recall a periodical progress in the history of World Messianity.
  During the war, disciples of Meishu-sama had to seek refuge in various parts of Japan to avoid the air-raids, and this in turn caused World Messianity to be spread over a wide area of the country during 1936 and 1937. And this year, 1955, too, shall be an epoch making year in which our cause shall be greatly extended.
  I think that the judgement of God shall become stricter from this year, and I believe that this fact evidences itself at Meishu-samas ascension, and that now the time of the Last Judgement has come.
  Providing that we follow Meishu-samas teaching to the greatest extent of our abilities, there should be no reason why we should experience inconvenience at his passing. The fact that we have been given an Omamori-sama, or power of Johrei, means everything, and is of basic importance to us. All followers should reflect on the above more deeply at this juncture.
  Every kind of impurity, spiritual, physical or material, is dissolved through this power of Johrei, and the Crystal World shall be realized when all the impurities in the Universe have been dispersed.
  This power is nothing but the great divine power of Meishu-sama, and we followers who are bestowed with this power can proceed further as agents of God.
  Now, how should our mental attitude be henceforth? We should not be tardy in putting Meishu-samas teachings into practice. We should practice that which Meishu-sama teaches, in the correct way. Meishu-samas teaching can be said to be a natural, or divine law. Therefore, we can exert limitless power by looking up to Meishu-samas teachings as a standard on which to base our deeds. There is no problem which can not be solved through this strength. Thus we should become men of strength.
  We may feel secure with this great power of Johrei, and we should not forget that his power increases or decreases according to how far we keep in the right. We are sure not to err if we only think and feel just as God things and feels.
  The judgement of God shall become stricter hereafter, and should we behave just as Meishu-sama taught us, our daily living will unexpectedly improve, but if we do not, our lives shall become burdensome. The proverb, Sow virtue, and harvest virtue, sow vice and harvest vice, shall become a literal fact. The time has arrived in which one shall be rewarded at once if one does good, and punished if one does evil.
  Such a world is none other than the World of Miroku or the Earthly Paradise to which the present world is approaching. The realization of the World of Miroku is as certain as God is absolute. Therefore, we followers should increase our determination to serve the cause of God with greater sincerity.
  At such a significant time, therefore, we followers should redouble our resolve to follow the right path, and apologize to Meishu-sama for any errors committed and any deviation from this path. Let us advance in high spirits, keeping the fact in mind that the purer our souls are, the happier we shall become.
  While attending Meishu-sama just before his passing away, I assured him that we would go on, keeping to the right in obedience to his divine intention.
  Immediately after Meishu-samas ascension, Nidai-sama has assumed leadership over our organization, and all officers have unanimously vowed to make further efforts to serve God on a more complete basis, completing that which had up to now been incomplete.
  I hope that all followers shall resolve to serve rightly and vigorously as God is watching us solemnly, and only if we are in the right, may we feel assured.

The Glory, Number 005, March 10, 1955, page 3