Great Construction

Human Beings Made of Glass

     Most members of the general public probably look at World Messianity to be on the same level as that of other New Religions, and although some may view it as a little better than most, popular estimation is generally not very high. But even among the New Religions it appears that World Messianity does go beyond the others. In a very short period of time we have obtained the position we enjoy in society, so there must be no doubt that in some way we stand apart. To a certain extent, even I feel it understandable that some individuals may be thinking that I have exercised some special skill to snare people’s hearts by taking advantage of the postwar social confusion, formulating a propaganda policy that uses the publishing of books with titles as Salvation for Americans and Spiritual Healing of Tuberculosis to impress the public, with me writing about medical science as if I knew anything about it; this is the kind of monster I appear to some people. There are probably even some scornful people, irritated with me, who are quite scandalized that I would dare to put forward unscientific theories in this age of the advance of medical science. This is probably the way I am viewed, and here I would like to comment about viewing this way of viewing me.
     On this I will write as I honestly feel, but I do not believe this way of looking at me is entirely unreasonable. If I were just a regular member of society, I might have the same way of viewing at someone such as I. To be entirely frank, there is really no way that can be understood in any manner the true substance of what I am. It is safe to say there is not even one person in this world who truly understands who I am. This is probably because there has never in the history of humanity been born someone such as I. Therefore, I do think I am a puzzle of a human being. For me myself to say that I am a puzzle is peculiar, but I believe the expression fits me the best. When I consider that that which has been written on me and the rumors that have been spread about me are so completely off the mark, I can not help but smile.
     What I say here may offend some of the leading lights of society and the world, but allow me to illustrate with an example that may be easier to understand about the meaning of the puzzle I mentioned above. That is, that no matter how great a scholar, politician, religionist, or journalist, no matter how great the person, I think of them all as human beings made of glass. This is because the world in which we have lived until today has been a diamond fabricated of glass, our world has been an imitation that we have valued and with which we have been satisfied. It is at this time, that here in Japan has appeared a real diamond, so for those who have never seen the real thing, who are used to seeing imitations, impossible it will be to tell the difference. As human beings who for thousands of years have not known the real thing and who could only have thought that diamonds are made from glass, for me to tell them that I am the real thing only raises doubts and I am not believed. There are, however, those who will take up the diamond, look at it carefully, and since, whether from hardness or luster, it has a wonderfulness they have not yet encountered, they understand I am the real thing, dance for joy, and gratefully receive part of the diamond. It becomes a treasure which they can only but esteem highly.
     It is merely a matter of time before all learn about this treasure, and when they do so, the realization will cause astonishment. It will be a big event that will cause tears of heartfelt gratitude. People from the world over will come to receive. That is what I see in the future. I hereby report the end of the lengthy age of glass and the change at long last to the age of the natural diamond. Which is why all I see no matter how great they may be in the present age are human beings made of glass.

Unpublished manuscript read at a meeting with Meishu-sama 
    on August 25, 1953, also mentioned but not read at meetings with
    Meishu-sama on August 27, 1953, and on September 17, 1953.
translated by cynndd