September 2014 Vol. 65 No. 9 GEDATSU COMPANION GEDATSU CHURCH USA www.gedatsu-usa.org SEPTEMBER 2014 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 4 5 6 8 9 News and Announcements Dear Reverend: “Is the image of Gedatsu Kongo on my altar a form of idolatry?” The Promise of the Memorial Tower: “Never Forgotten” Gedatsu Teaching 13 and Commentary Higan – Reaching the “Other Shore” Donations and Upcoming Events Gedatsu Kongo’s Thought for the Month “Reverence to God starts with respect for parents and ancestors.” The Gedatsu path is reverence to God and respect for ancestors. When you are aware that you are allowed to exist by God, and that you receive immeasurable blessings from your ancestors, society and all things, you will naturally feel thankful for everyone and everything. This sense of appreciation and gratitude is the foundation of true peace and happiness. To revere God is an expression of appreciation and respect to one’s roots. Our Founder, Gedatsu Kongo, urged us to respect our parents and ancestors as the important first step toward revering God. Without respect for your parents and ancestors, you cannot truly revere God. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Sat 6 65th Anniversary Banquet Sun 7 10:00 am 65th Anniversary Fall Grand Festival Sun 28 9:30 am Sunday Service / Higan Service SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Tue Sat Sun Mon Sun Sun 2 Church Closed (in lieu of Labor Day) 6 65th Anniversary Banquet (Sacramento) 7 10:00 am Fall Grand Festival (Sacramento) 8 7:00 pm Welcome Party for Japan Tour Group 14 No Service, Church Open (until noon) 21 10:00 am Japanese & English Kanshakai Service Higan Service L.A. Regional Board (after service) Sun 28 10:00 am English Kanshakai Service Events Committee (after service) OCTOBER 2014 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Sun 12 Sun 26 9:30am Sunday Service & Ajikan Meditation 9:30 am Sunday Service & Ajikan Meditation SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Sat 4 11 – 6 Sun 5 11 – 5 Sun 12 Tue 14 Sun 19 10:00 am Autumn Moon Festival & Crafts Faire Autumn Moon Festival & Crafts Faire No Service, Church Open (until noon) Church Closed (in lieu of Columbus Day) Japanese & English Kanshakai Service Ujigami Service L.A. Regional Board (after service) Sun 26 10:00 am English Kanshakai Service Events Committee (after service) NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 65th Anniversary Celebration Members and friends will gather on Saturday, September 6, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Gedatsu Church USA at a dinner banquet in Sacramento. Special guests at the dinner will be 37 members of a tour group from Gedatsukai Japan, including Bishop Teruo Okano and Yotsugi (meaning Successor) Hideaki Okano, the son of Abbot Seiho Okano, the spiritual leader of the Gedatsu Church. The striking, bold graphics above was designed by John Hayashi (see back page). 65th Anniversary Commemoration and Fall Grand Festival The 65th Anniversary Commemoration and Fall Grand Festival will be held at the Sacramento Church on Sunday, September 7, from 10 am. A luncheon party will be held in the social hall immediately following the services to celebrate the event and honor the special guests from Japan. Graduates Honored Five young graduates – all third-generation Gedatsu members – were recently honored, along with their families, at the L.A. Church. Each graduate received a monetary gift from the Sunday School, as well as a floral lei and congratulatory card from the Church. L.A. members applauded the academic milestones of (from left) Jonathan Shaklan, Reiko Hirayama and Kimiko Hirayama, as well as (not shown) Kyle Hirayama and Bobby Mukai, as the young graduates transitioned to the next level of their educations. Congratulations to the 2014 honorees: Reiko Kayla Hirayama – 6th-grade graduate from Andrews Elementary School will attend Orange Grove Middle School. Kimiko Kady Hirayama – 8th-grade graduate from Orange Grove Middle School will attend Los Altos High School. Welcome Party at L.A. Church The Japan tour group, immediately following the festivities in Sacramento, will fly to Los Angeles and will be greeted by members of the L.A. Church at a special welcome party held in their honor on Monday, September 8, at 7:00pm. A $10 deluxe bento will be served. Contact the church for reservations. Kyle Hirayama – 12th-grade graduate from Los Altos High School will attend College of Hawaii, majoring in Electrical Engineering. Minister News and Schedules Jonathan Shaklan – 8th-grade graduate from Sierra Madre Middle School will attend La Canada High School. Parents: Pamela and Stuart Shaklan. Grandparents: Rudy and Arlene Tsujimura. The congregation of the Los Angeles Church welcomes Rev. Naoya Okano to his new home in the U.S. and new position as Resident Minister-in-Training, reporting to Rev. Kazuo Yamada. After a year of training in Japan, Rev. Okano returns to the U.S. on September 5, accompanying the Gedatsu-kai tour group from Japan. Guest Minister Rev. H. Taki will be in the U.S. through the end of September. Parents of Reiko, Kimiko and Kyle Hirayama: Edwin and Janet Hirayama. Grandparents: Mitsuji and Minaye Okada. Bobby Mukai – Received a B.A. in Business Administration with emphasis in Economics from Chapman University in Orange, Calif. Bobby is pursuing employment or may return to college for an advanced degree. Parents: Diana and Shuichi Mukai. Grandparents: Sadie and late Carl Tanaka. 2|Page NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS L.A. Church Pays Tribute, Gives Thanks to Tomiko Mizokami, “Volunteer Extraordinaire” Tomiko Mizokami, shown at th left in 1988, attending the 60 Anniversary of the Gedatsu Church in Japan as part the tour group from America. For more than six decades, Tomiko Jean Mizokami has been a vibrant, tireless presence at the L.A. Church, widely acknowledged and beloved as the enthusiastic volunteer and interpreter who helped spread the Gedatsu teaching, especially among English-speaking members and visitors in the Los Angeles area. Below, with Rev. Yamada (left) and Rudy Tsujimura, Tomiko th celebrates her 96 birthday, receiving expressions of good wishes and appreciation from L.A. Church members. The congregation and Mizokami Family members gathered at the L.A. Church recently to celebrate Tomiko’s 96th birthday on July 25 and to pay tribute to this remarkable woman, who has given so generously and unselfishly of her time and energy to the Church and its members over the years. Tomiko and her late husband, Roy, joined Gedatsu in the early 1950s, when they lived near the Tsujimura Family in Los Angeles. When the Tsujimura’s moved to what would become the new L.A. Church on Van Buren Place, the Mizokami’s purchased a house two doors away. Later, as the church expanded with English-speaking members, Archbishop Kishida requested Tomiko to interpret his sermons and informal talks. She was surprised at being asked, believing that many others could do a better job. She was glad to serve, however, and could always be depended on for the integrity and passion she brought to her role. Later, she would also interpret for Rev. Ishida and supported Rev. Jerry, when the church moved to San Gabriel. “Mom spent enormous amounts of time at the church – interpreting, typing the monthly newsletter, assisting the ministers, whatever was needed,” says Tomiko’s daughter, Gwen Hass. “L.A. neighbors recall seeing Mom regularly running back and forth between the church and home, always on the move. Even though her days were busy with church work, running a home-office insurance business and raising seven kids, dinner was always on the table, with all ten of us – Grandma included – around the table.” Taiko Drum Classes The sound of drums fills the L.A. Church every Sunday evening as members and friends meet in the social hall to learn the basics of traditional Japanese taiko drumming. Taught by Judi Kaminishi, artistic director/instructor for the taiko group, Yuujou Daiko, the classes teach students the basic taiko elements: stance, how to hold the bachi sticks, how to hit. “Students learn a basic taiko renshu, or song, on the small practice drums,” says Judi. “This is in preparation for their first public appearance playing the large taiko drums at the Autumn Moon Festival event in October.” In presenting Tomiko with a certificate of tribute on her birthday, Rudy Tsujimura, Board Chairman, said, “We thank you for your many years of faithful, loving and devoted service to the Gedatsu Church of Los Angeles.” 3|Page NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Gedatsu Church Named “Triple Crown” Winner of Tanabata Festival Competition “Unbelievable!” was Jo Ann Shiroishi’s reaction on hearing the stunning news that the L.A. Church’s imaginative seven-foot tall Japanese hanging paper kazari paper ornament – “Twin Stars” – had swept the top awards in the 2014 Tanabata Festival of the Nisei Week Celebration in L.A.’s Little Tokyo. “Twin Stars” was awarded first place in the anime/manga division, the Founders’ Award (“Best in Show”) and the coveted People’s Choice Award – becoming the first “triple crown” winner in the Festival’s six-year history. The Church’s second entry, “Spirited Away,” was awarded third place in the anime/manga division. “Our Tanabata Committee members are elated and so proud,” said Jo Ann. “We’ve had winning entries the last two years, but capturing the competition’s top awards is an incredible feat.” DEAR REVEREND Q A As a Jew, I am troubled with praying to an image of Gedatsu Kongo, which I feel is a form of idolatry. Why is the Founder revered in such a way? There are three primary objects of prayer enshrined on the Gedatsu altar: (1) in the center, God of the Universe, enshrined in the Shinto manner, (2) on the left, Gochi Nyorai, or the Universal Life Force, enshrined in the Buddhist manner and (3) on the right, the spirit of our Founder, Gedatsu Kongo, and his image. Of course, during his lifetime, Gedatsu Kongo’s image was not placed on the altar. After his death, his disciples and students enshrined his spirit on the altar as a sign of reverence and appreciation for their great teacher. We believe that, after his physical death, our Founder’s spirit remains alive, always guiding us to the correct path. This is why we pay our respects and show appreciation to our Founder, asking for guidance. This is not idolatry. The reverence and respect we pay to our Founder does not take precedence over, or replace, worshipping our Universal God. The reverence and respect we pay to our Founder does not take precedence over, or replace, worshipping our Universal God. Created entirely by hand by the Church’s 30-person Tanabata Committee, headed by Jo Ann Shiroishi, Gedatsu Church beat out nearly 170 other entries from various community and civic organizations. Committee members Sharon Reckers is head designer, Jane Tanji is assistant designer and Kimiko Hirayama is assistant junior designer. The Church’s winning entry, “Twin Stars,” shown at left. Above, members turn out at the Tanabata Festival in Little Tokyo, L.A. Originally, after Gedatsu Kongo’s death, there was no image of our Founder on the altar. There was enshrined only a wooden tablet on which his name was inscribed. His image was added to the altar years later as a means to more easily visualize his image in our minds when we pray. Your question raises an interesting point, however, prompting us to re-examine how our altar is perceived, especially from the standpoint of other religious traditions and sensitivities. We thank you for opening this discussion. As we evaluate how we can adapt our Gedatsu traditions to be more appropriate for everyone, we ask you to understand the reason for the presence of our Founder’s image on our altar. Rev. Hisakazu Taki 4|Page The Promise of the Memorial Tower: “Never Forgotten” At the Fall Grand Festival this year, the souls of 18 deceased Gedatsu Church members will be enshrined in the Memorial Tower on the Goreichi grounds in Sacramento. This will mark the 45th year of the annual enshrinement and memorial ceremony, which has been conducted each fall since the Tower was dedicated in 1969. The Memorial Tower has a profound, and personal, significance for Gedatsu members and their families. The Tower is, in essence, a memorial vault where the souls of all who are enshrined within can rest and receive the continuing prayers and blessings of their families and church members. Helping Souls to Become “Helping Spirits” “Usually, souls are unaware of the blessings they have received from the Universal Life Force while they were alive,” says Rev. Sebe. “They recognize this fact, with great regret, only after they have died. Therefore, it is important for family members to not only give blessing for their deceased loved ones, but to show appreciation to the Universal Life Force on their behalf. “By doing so, the souls are able to rest peacefully,” he says. “More importantly, the souls are then liberated to become active, helping spirits, who can protect and benefit their living descendents.” A Family Cemetery for All Rev. Sebe attributes the concept and construction of the Memorial Tower to the benevolent vision of the late Archbishop Kishida. “Archbishop Kishida thought compassionately of the many people whose loved ones were buried far away or in unknown locations, and were, thus, unable to visit their gravesites,” says Rev. Sebe. “He envisioned the Memorial Tower as serving as a family cemetery, where anyone could visit the souls of their loved ones and offer them prayers. The Tower ensures that these souls will never be forgotten.” Today, the Tower enshrines more than 400 souls. The name of each soul is inscribed on a glass-like tablet and displayed within the Tower chamber (see photos at right). Rev. Sebe and Rev. George serve as the dedicated caretakers of the enshrined souls, faithfully tending to them every day. They recite the name of each soul on his or her memorial date and offer amacha blessing and prayers, giving thanks on the soul’s behalf to the Universal Life Force, or God. 5|Page OUR GEDATSU STUDY Gedatsu Teaching 13 By Seiken Okano (Gedatsu Kongo) Gedatsu-kyo monthly newsletter, June 18, 1936 Translation by Rev. H. Taki Gedatsu is to revere God and respect ancestors. Observe the path of appreciation and requital. Practice integrity, filial piety, benevolence, fidelity and gratitude. Understand and comply with the great path of God or the Universal Truth. Endeavor in your vocation and fulfill your obligations of appreciation and requital. Cultivate yourself as a dutiful child, as an ancestor and as a descendant. Follow the path of humanity to benefit people and the world. Perform your duty first. This is the core teaching of Gedatsu. The path of appreciation and requital: (1) Country - Without country, you have no home. (2) Parents - Without parents, you cannot be born. (3) Society - Without society, you cannot exist for even a single day. While this can be easily stated, it can be understood only through actual practice and serious contemplation. Revere God and respect ancestors with absolute sincerity. This is the practice of integrity and filial piety. Benefit the world and work for people’s happiness. Perform your duty first with sincerity. The path of humanity is to practice integrity, filial piety, benevolence, fidelity and gratitude. This is the essential teaching of Gedatsu. I urge you to remember this in your heart and relate it aloud in order to practice Gedatsu and teach others. We are allowed to exist by Heaven. We are provided with blessings from Heaven. We are nurtured by Heaven. This is the Law of the Universe. We cannot fully requite the great blessings from God, ancestors and society. This is the essential teaching of Gedatsu. Please do not forget this. I have already mentioned the above in the past monthly newsletters. However, I have heard that some of you still do not understand this point. This is why I have explained it again. The Gedatsu path is great. Without practicing Gedatsu, you will never be able to accomplish anything. If you sincerely endeavor along the path of Gedatsu, you will understand and experience that you are one with God, and that your mind and body are one. This is called the union of God and man. You will then feel assured and confident – knowing you cannot be burned by fire, drowned in water or blown away by a strong wind. This is because you are aligned with the Universal Law. The above is explained in detail in my Gedatsu Doctrine Books I & II and the monthly Gedatsu newsletters. Please read these a thousand times over. This is the essential teaching of Gedatsu. I urge you to put these teachings into practice. 6|Page Commentary by Rev. H. Taki: In this final installment of Gedatsu Kongo’s Teachings, the Founder restates lessons so that everyone can fully understand the essential teachings of Gedatsu. His explanation can be summarized in the following four points: (1) Reverence to God and ancestors (2) Appreciation and requital (3) Endeavor in your duties (4) Salvation of mankind (1) Reverence to God and ancestors This is the most basic point for our faith, which is to fully understand and appreciate the foundation of our existence. Our life is neither created nor sustained by our will. We are allowed to exist by God. Our physical bodies were given to us through our parents and ancestors. We must fully understand this and appreciate the blessings we receive from God and ancestors. (2) Appreciation and Requital Gedatsu Kongo urged us to be aware of three essential elements of human existence: country, parents and society. Country: Without a country, our daily life is impossible. When you observe the plight of refugees throughout the world, you understand this. We should not forget that our everyday life is possible because of our country’s protection. Thus, we receive immeasurable blessing from our country. Language, custom and tradition, attitudes – they are all ancestral heritages of our country from ancient times. We also receive blessings from our country in the form of the land and regions where we live. Thus. our country is the foundation of our existence. Parents: Our parents are the source of our physical existence. Everyone has parents. While we may naturally think of parental blessings as the care and upbringing of children, Gedatsu Kongo emphasized the actual giving of life as the primary blessing parents bestow on their children. Society: Everything in our daily lives, including food, clothing and shelter, is provided through society. Without the contributions of others, we cannot live. When you are aware of these immeasurable blessings, you will naturally feel like benefiting the world as a token of gratitude. Gedatsu Kongo regarded the importance of the following five human virtues as the unchangeable paths of humanity: integrity, filial piety, benevolence, fidelity and gratitude. Integrity means to be loyal and sincere to God. Filial piety is to be dutiful to parents. Benevolence is love and compassion towards other people. Fidelity is to have a sense of duty. Gratitude is the expression of respect and appreciation for all people and things. These virtues are integrated into our lives when we become aware of the greatness of blessings we receive from everything and everyone in the world. (3) Endeavor in your duties When you become aware that you are allowed to live by God and that you are nurtured by others, you will naturally feel like benefiting others and the world. This is accomplished by doing your best through your present roles in the world. By endeavoring in your duties, you contribute to the betterment of society and world peace. (4) Salvation of mankind Our Gedatsu study and practice is not only for our happiness alone, but for the happiness of mankind and to achieve world peace. In conclusion, Gedatsu Kongo says, “Without practicing Gedatsu, you will never be able to accomplish anything. If you sincerely endeavor along the path of Gedatsu, you will feel assured and confident. I urge you to put these teachings into practice.” Thus, Gedatsu Kongo encourages us to practice Gedatsu for the happiness of all. 7|Page Fall Higan Services Reaching the “Other Shore” By Rev. Kazuo Yamada With the coming autumn, the Gedatsu Church will again observe Higan, following the ancient Japanese Buddhist tradition. Higan is celebrated twice a year – during the spring and autumn equinox, the time of year when the day and night are of equal length. Gedatsu Kongo stated: “Even those who do not believe in life after death will inevitably realize the existence of the spiritual world once they themselves pass on. Too late, they regret their ignorance. Therefore, we must broaden our perspective while we are in our physical forms to include the conviction of life after death. Accumulate virtue now, not later And, most importantly, if we believe in the Higan literally means “other shore.” Therefore, for many Japanese, Higan is the traditional time families visit their ancestral graves, to pay respect to loved ones on the “other shore” of the spiritual world. But “other shore” also has a more personal, profound implication for the living. In this sense, Higan means transitioning from “this shore,” the world of delusion in which we live, to the “other shore” of spiritual awakening and enlightened understanding. The “other shore” is living in a peaceful state of mind. In other words, the “other shore” is Gedatsu. Another way to view Higan is a time of balance, when the seasons stabilize with mild, comfortable weather. It is a time of equality, the Golden Mean and the harmony of yin and yang. An ideal time to reach the other shore. Daily practice of Higan indestructibility of spirit, we will strive to live our lives on the righteous path. Gedatsu Kongo instructed a young member in this way: “Cultivate your mind until you are able to work only for others’ happiness. The life hereafter is much longer than this present life, and only those souls who work for others’ happiness can be allowed to reach a higher level in the spiritual world. So accumulate virtue now to attain that higher level later.” As we Gedatsu members observe the Higan services this fall, let this occasion be a turning point in our lives. Let us strive to cultivate our souls, working for the happiness and benefit of others and practicing the lessons of Higan in our daily lives. In this way, we can reach the “other shore” in a peaceful state of mind. The Higan service will be conducted at the L.A. Church on Sunday, September 21, and at the Sacramento Church on Sunday, September 28. Archbishop Kishida taught that we, as Gedatsu members, should live the Higan state of mind every day, not just on the occasion of Higan. He stressed that how we live our lives in our physical form will determine our condition once we pass on to the eternal spiritual world. 8|Page JULY 2014 OFFERINGS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA $5–$49: S. Tanaka, R. Ide, K. Gibson, R. Nakatani, J. Tanaka, C. Umeda, D. Ide $50–$99: N. Johnston, S. Taketa $100+: T. Wakabayashi, M/M C. Tanaka, Sebe Family, S. Nishino $300+: Sacramento Karaoke Special Acknowledgment: S. Tanaka In Memory of Ester Lee D. Shiroishi Appreciation for Bazaar Prize/$100 UPCOMING EVENTS 2014 Nov 2 (Sun) Nov 9 (Sun) Nov 15 (Sat) Nov 16 (Sun) Nov 27-30 Dec 7 (Sun) Dec 14 (Sun) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA $5–$49: M/M M. Hamada, G. Hirami, M/M T. Hirami, J. Kaku, H. Kumashiro, M. Michiuye, M/M V. Mizokami, M. Mori, K. Nagao, R. Nakamura, M. Numata, E. Ogawa, Y. Oishi, T. Okazaki, A. Okimura, N. Takara, K. Taniguchi, D. Toguchi, M. Du, Tatsuya Kobayashi, P. Shiroishi $50–$99: M/M Katsuo Chinen, M/M Ken Kuritani, Rev. Matsuhashi, M/M S. Mukai, M/M M. Murakami, P. Ogawa, M/M M. Okada, T. Okimura, C. Tomari, M/M Howard Tsujimura, M/M P. Young, Motoaki Miyasaka $100+: M/M F. Barthel, M/M T. Fukushima, D. Harrison / Allum, T. Ishida, M/M K. Kimura, M/M T. Matsumoto, F. Miyamura, M/M C. Morioka, T. Murakami, M. Nakamura, J. Shiroishi, D. Tomita, M/M G. Wood, M/M K. Yamada, James & Janet Peck $200+: J. Ito, T. Oyanagi, D. Shiroishi, S. Okimura, M/M B. Hamamoto Special Acknowledgment: M/M S. Mukai Appreciation for Bobby Mukai’s Graduation from College/$100 U. & P. Shiroishi Safe Trip to Japan/ $50 T. Matsumoto One-Year Service, Special Kuyo/ $200 M. Michiuye Recovery from Illness/$150 P. Shaklan Appreciation for Jonathon Shaklan’s Graduation/$50 R. Tsujimura In Memory of Otomatsu Shiba/$75 C. Barthel New Church Sign/$1,300 B. Mizokami Mizokami Family Ancestor Blessing/$50 Sumi Tsuno Mizokami Family Ancestor Blessing/$200 V. & M. Mizokami Mizokami Family Ancestor Blessing/$200 T. Mizokami Mizokami Family Ancestor Blessing/$100 M. & K. Mizokami Mizokami Family Ancestor Blessing/$30 Mizokami Family Donation from Mizokami Auction/$100 T. Nakamura Church Candles/$117 Dec 14 (Sun) Dec 21 (Sun) Dec 24 – 31 2015 Jan 1 (Thu) Jan 2 – 3 Jan 11 (Sun) Jan 18 (Sun) Jan 20 (Tue) Feb 15 (Sun) Feb 17 (Tue) LA Gedatsu Kongo Memorial Service Sacramento Gedatsu Kongo Birthday & Joen-no-gi (Plaque Burning) LA Stateline Turnaround TBD 7:00 am LA 7-5-3-Year Children’s Celebration Gedatsu Kongo Birthday Church Closed (Thanksgiving holiday) LA Archbishop Kishida’s Memorial Service (Japanese & English) Sacramento Last Service of Year, All Souls Service, Archbishop Kishida Memorial Service / Church Clean-up LA Church Clean-up 10:00 am LA Christmas Service Last Kanshakai of Year (Japanese/English) Church Closed New Year’s Homage 7:30 am – 12 noon Church Closed Sacramento First Service of the Year LA New Year’s Service (Japanese & English) Potluck and Gift Exchange Church Closed (in lieu of Martin Luther King Day) LA Sun Spirit Service (Japanese & English) Church Closed (in lieu of Presidents’ Day) Church Donation Receipts Your donations to the Gedatsu Church are acknowledged in this newsletter and by written receipts, which are issued: For single donations of $250 or more At year-end, as a total of your donations for the year When requested by the donor If you have any questions concerning your donations and/or receipts, please contact your local church. 9|Page ９ 月度教会行事予定 ロサンゼルス教会 2 (火) 振替休日（レイバーデイ） 7 (日) 10:00A 65 周年秋季大祭（サクラメント） 8 (月) 7:00P 日本ツアー団ディナー歓迎会 14 (日) 教会正午まで開館 21 (日) 10:00A 日英感謝会・彼岸法要 地区理事会 28 (日) 10:00A 英語感謝会・阿字観法 イベント委員会 サクラメント教会 6 (土） 65 周年記念晩さん会 7 (日) 10:00A 米国教会創設 65 周年秋季大祭 28 (日) 9:30A 感謝会・彼岸法要 ９ 月度みさとし 「神を拝まんとするものは 先ず父祖の霊を拝するを根本要義とする」 わたしたちは、敬神崇祖・感謝報恩の道を学ばせ ていただいています。それは、わたしたちが神先 祖のおかげで生命をいただき、数限りない人々や もののおかげによって日々生かされていることを 深く自覚するとき、おのずから生まれてくる人間 のもっとも自然な生き方であって、そこに人間の 幸福と安心の生活の基盤があるからです。神を拝 むのはわたしたちの生命の根源に対する感謝と敬 意の表現ですが、敬神の念に至るためにはもっと 身近な道があり、それを尊ぶことに大切さを教え られたのが、敬神崇祖の教えです。親を、そして ご先祖さまを心から敬い、そのかぎりない恩恵に 感謝のまことを捧げることができたとき、わたし たちははじめて真に神を拝むことができるのであ って、崇祖の念なくして真の敬神の生活はありえ ないということをしっかりと自覚したいものです。 解脱人生相談 ９ 解脱の御神前にこめられた精神 【質問】解脱教会の御祭神や儀礼はあまりにも日 本的であるが故に、アメリカ人のわたしはそこに 違和感をおぼえてしまうのですが、それらはどう コンパニオンしても必要なものなのでしょうか？ 【回答】解脱は日本発祥の教えであり、その教え や礼拝対象や儀礼の数々が深く日本の文化・伝統 に根ざしたものであることはたしかです。日本で は古代より神道と仏教が調和的に共存してきまし た。会祖解脱金剛さまはこのような日本の宗教的 伝統を尊ばれ、日本人のもつ開かれた宗教性こそ 世界平和実現への鍵であると確信されて、解脱の 教えを開かれたのでした。解脱の御神前のかたち は、この「開かれた宗教性」という精神性をあら わしています。 御神前中央に神道形式で祀られている天神地祇 太神は、地上の万物を生みなし生かしめてくれて いる宇宙大生命の根源を神として祀ったものです。 また、御神前左側に仏教形式で祀られている五智 如来は、生きとし生けるものすべてを存在せしめ てくれている宇宙大生命のはたらきを如来として 表現したものです。このように、解脱の御神前は 宇宙大生命の根源を神道・仏教の両形式で祀った ものなのです。この御神前のかたちは、いかなる 特定の宗教伝統にも偏ることのない会祖の宗教観 のあらわれであるということができます。この御 神前に額ずくことを通して、われわれはすべての 宗教の根底に通じ合う宇宙大生命という一つの共 通地盤に眼を注ぎ、あらゆる宗教伝統を尊ぶとい う精神態度を身につけるのです。 キリスト教、イスラム教、ヒンドゥー教、仏教、 神道、等々、世界中には実に多様な宗教が存在し ています。そしてそのそれぞれが、独自な儀礼、 教義、礼拝対象をもっています。それらは互いに 非常に異なったものに見えるかもしれません。そ して実際、さまざまな宗教がそれ故に互いに争っ てきました。しかし、一見互いに異なっているよ うに見えるそれぞれの宗教をさらに深く見つめて いくならば、そこにあらゆる宗教伝統に通底する 一つの共通地盤を見出すことができるはずです。 その共通地盤に気づくならば、あらゆる伝統を尊 ぶことができるようになるでしょう。これこそ、 世界平和へ到る道です。わが会祖解脱金剛さまは、 この精神を御神前のかたちとして表現されたので す。 しかしながら率直にいって、わたし自身、あな たのおっしゃることはもっともだと感じており、 米国解脱教会の御祭神のあり方をアメリカの文 化・伝統にもっとふさわしいかたちに改めるべき かもしれないと思っています。しかし問題は、現 在の御祭神のかたちやさまざまな儀礼のあり方は 会祖ご自身が定められたものであるという点にあ り、それ故にこれは非常にむずかしい問題なので す。いずれにしても将来世代のために、今後、こ の重要な問題を十分に議論し注意深く検討すべき であると考えています。しかし今は、以上に述べ た、御神前のあり方にこめられた会祖のご精神を よく理解され、現在の解脱教会のあり方にしたが ってくださるようお願いします。（回答者：瀧久和） 紙 上 講 話 自らの魂の課題に気づく（因縁シリーズ３） 山田一雄 「原因なくして結果なし」とは、何らかの結果 があれば、必ず何らかの原因があるということで す。すなわち、偶然に起こる出来事はないという のが因果の法則です。たとえ出来事の原因が見当 たらないとしても、それは原因がないのではなく、 私たちにはその因果関係が特定できないか、気づ けないかだけのことであって、すべての事は起こ るべくして起こっている、起こるだけの理由があ って起こっているということで、「偶然」ではな く「必然」であるということなのです。 突然歯が痛みだすという経験をお持ちの方もあ ると思います。しかし突然、歯が痛みだしたとし ても、それは、たまたま起こったのではなく、痛 くなるだけの原因をいくつも積み重ねてきた結果、 ついにある日、歯が痛くなるという現象を招いて しまったのです。 しかし、それを私のように、「高額な医療費の アメリカに赴任しているため、こまめな治療が受 けられなかったことが原因だ」とか、「ストレス が原因だ」とか、自己の心のあり方には目を向け ず、運命だけを呪っているのは見当違いなのです。 それが、いわゆる「因縁さぐり」なのであって、 因果の法則に基づいた正しい「因縁観」で見れば、 自己に生じるだけの理由があって、必然的に生じ たのであって、自分が作った因が様々な経路をた どって「ある日歯が痛くなった」という結果に他 ならないのです。これは、アメリカに赴任してい る人がみんな歯痛になるかと言うと、少し冷静に 考えてみれば、環境や状況に原因があったのでは なく自己に因があったということが見えてくるの です。もちろん環境や状況も要因（縁）のひとつ にはなりえますが、根本的な因は、やはり自らの 心や行ないにあるのです。これが「因縁」の正し い捉え方であって、あらゆることはこの因果の法 則に従っているのです。 これを仏教では「自業自得」と言います。「自 ら作った行ないの報いは自ら受けなければならな い」のです。「業」とはサンスクリットの「カル マ」の訳で原義は「行ない」を指したそうですが、 仏教ではいわゆる因縁と同じ意味で用いられるよ うになりました。特に「三業」（身業、口業、意 業）、つまり、身と言葉と心の所作や行ないが、 その善悪に応じた果報（結果）をもたらすと教え ています。また、イエス・キリストさまは「人は その蒔いた通りのものを刈り取る」と教えられま した。そして解脱金剛さまは「蒔かない種は生え ないんだよ」と教えられているのです。天地の法 を説かれた聖人たちが、みな因果の法を説かれま すが、その教えには「自己に因がある」ことを示 唆されていることに着目したいと思います。 我々が因縁を探るにも自ずと限界があることは 前回まで述べてきた通りです。ある結果が生じる には、様々な原因や縁なるものが絡み合って成就 するわけで、ある事象を因とするならば、その事 象を生じさせた因もあり、その間に介在した縁も あり、果てのない連鎖があるからです。たとえ霊 能を得てある先祖の業や前世の業を見せられたと しても、それも因縁の一断面に過ぎません。どの ような経路をたどって自己に及んだのかは凡夫の 身には計り知れないのです。 それでも、過去から現在に及ぶあるパターンを 抽出し「○○の因縁」だと分類し勉強の糸口とす ることはできます。しかし、ある状況を因として しまうところに教えから離れた解釈になる恐れが あるのです。過去から現在に及ぶ過程を眺める中 で、その折々の自分の心の働きと行動が、その後 の結果に対応してきた因であることに気づくとき、 因縁への真の目覚めが訪れるのだと思います。 因縁・因果の法則を学ぶ上でより重要なことは、 「原因は何か」と探ることではありません。それ は、「自分の意思と行動が今日の結果に関係して きたのだ」という、自らの魂の課題や責任に目覚 めるところにあるのです。次回は、因縁解消の道 について勉強していきたいと思います。 掲示板 65 周年・秋季大祭は 9 月 7 日です。 9 月 6 日（土）は午後 6 時から記念の晩餐会 が“Double Tree by Hilton”にて開かれます。 LA 教会では 9 月 8 日（月）午後 7 時からツア ー団の歓迎パーティーを催します。参加費＄10。 ＬＡ教会から秋季大祭の無料バスが出ます。 バスは 9 月６日（土）夜 10 時に出発します。 LA教会オータムムーン・クラフトフェア LA教会では、10月4日（土）5日（日）オータ ム・ムーン・フェスティバルを行ないます。古物 市に出品できるもの（古着やクツ類は受けつけて いません）があれば、9月半ば頃までにお持ちく ださい。バザーの寄付金、ラッフル・チケットの 購入、様々なご奉仕のご協力をお願いします。 GEDATSU COMPANION Vol. 65 No. 9 September 2014 The Gedatsu Companion is published monthly for members like John Hayashi, who resides in Santa Monica, CA. John is a third-generation Gedatsu member. His mother June Hayashi, and late father, Ted, raised John and his two younger brothers in the Gedatsu faith, with loving influence from his grandparents, the late Shoji and Sherrie Takimoto. A graphic designer, John designed this year’s Autumn Moon Festival th poster, shown in the photo and below, and the 65 Anniversary graphics on page 2. Gedatsu Church USA Los Angeles Branch 7850 Hill Drive South San Gabriel, CA 91770 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID EL MONTE, CA PERMIT NO. 110 Rev. Kazuo Yamada, Editor Joyce Reid, Editor-in-Chief Editorial contributors to this issue: Rev. George, Gwen Hass, John Hayashi, Judi Kaminishi, Kyoko Muronaka, Naoya Okano, Rev. Akira Sebe, Jo Ann Shiroishi, Rev. Hisakazu Taki, Calvin Tanaka, Rudy Tsujimura, Rev. Kazuo Yamada, Yoko Yamada Autumn Moon Festival and Crafts Faire – Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5 The annual Autumn Moon Festival – the L.A. Church’s annual celebration and fundraiser – will be held on the first Saturday and Sunday in October from 11 to 6. Open to the public, the event features ethnic foods – including the church’s famous “huli-huli” teriyaki chicken, chow mein, sushi, fried wonton and other delights – as well as home-made baked goods, plants and rummage sale, farmers market, entertainment and community activities. This year, for the first time, the event will also include the Crafts Faire, with jewelry, ornaments, holiday gifts and hand-made Asian-American crafts by dozens of talented vendors. Please support the event through your donations, volunteering your time and encouraging friends and family to attend. Bring household items for the rummage sale to the church as early as possible. (Only items in good condition, and no clothing or shoes, please.)
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