Great Construction

Be a Man of Daijo

     As I have previously had occasion to say, that what is Aku (injustice, vice) from the standpoint of “Daijo” is Zen (justice, virtue) from the standpoint of “Shojo”, and what is Zen (justice, virtue) from the standpoint of “Shojo” is Aku (injustice, vice) from the standpoint of “Daijo”. Some members of World Messianity are inclined to forget this all important fact.
     Plainly speaking, “Daijo” means to look at things from a wide viewpoint. There may be some cases in which a member may be striving his utmost, believing that he is performing Zen, and yet the results obstructing the realization of the Divine Program. Such person is usually self-reliant, overestimates his ability and unknowingly forgets the greatness of the divine power of God.
     I often hear people say that such and such a person is doing his work earnestly but somehow without success. They wonder why it is so. Actually it is due to that person’s “Shojo” faith. Persons of “Shojo” faith usually are rigid and formal. So, few people visit them. Consequently their work will not expand. Then their narrow way of thinking is inclined to take them to extremes, they lack commonsense and act eccentrically.
     Setting such an example, sensible people will think that this religion must be low, superstitious. They will hold it in contempt. Therefore, members of our church should be very careful about this.
     On the other hand, there are some members who apparently do not seem to be so earnest and yet are surprisingly successful in their work. With such people their work expands because they understand “Daijo”faith and put it into practice.
     Another thing, people of “Shojo” faith are likely to condemn others. As I always say on this point, it is a great mistake to speak about good or evil of other persons, because it is only God who knows the good or evil of man.
     To condemn others as good or evil is impertinent and a blasphemy towards God. Such people are usually dogmatic, boastful, and not loved or respected by others. Consequently they do not expand in their mission work. Moreover they sometimes cause outrageous troubles.
     You will understand the truth of this in the example of Japan at the time of World War II. The whole nation fought madly, risking the country, advocating loyalty and patriotism, and what is the result? This can be applied to anything, large or small. But this Zen was the Zen of “Shojo” because it comes from selfish love, wishing the prosperity of one’s own country at the expense of other countries. The miserable defeat was the reward for it.
     I once wrote an article entitled “Be a World Man”. That which I intended to convey by this article was to show that only Zen in its “Daijo” sense is true Zen.
     It goes without saying that if Japan had had this way of thinking, she could not have thought of entering into an aggressive war. She might have been enjoying peace instead of the misery of defeat and would have won the love and respect of the world.
     In other words, there are two kinds of love, man’s love, and God’s love. God’s love is a love of “Daijo” and therefore boundless love towards all mankind. Man’s love is love of “Shojo”—love of self or love of one’s own group or race, hence limited and harmful in conclusion.
     If you understand this, you will do whatever you are doing in a ”Daijo” way of thinking. Embrace the love of God in your heart when you are helping other people to faith and the result will be fruitful. Always try to keep God’s heart within you and deal with people with a broad limitless love. Then naturally everybody will feel pleasant to be with you and more and more people will be attracted to you. In this way your work will expand.

The Glory, Number 004, page 1, February 1, 1955