June 2025 Voice of the Divine Parent

Vol. 25# 6

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Apologize and gratitude

Dear All,

On March 16, I was rushed to the hospital and underwent a major surgery that put my life on the line. The stent that was placed in my aorta ten years ago had shifted, and the doctor told me that it was a miracle that I was still alive. Of the three options that were given to me, I chose the surgery that could potentially cause me to lose my kidney function.  

Although I recovered briefly after the surgery, I had to undergo another operation. Due to the weakness and pain in my body, I was so depressed that I began to feel I would rather choose death. However, my eldest daughter requested mediation from Reverend Kiyoji Konko, who appealed to Rev. Hiromichi Konko, the spiritual leader. Rev. Kiyoji Konko’s message, “Your fellow believers need you, but more than that, Kami still needs you.” His words restored my will to live.  

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern I have caused everyone. Because of your prayers, I have now recovered to the point where I can walk without a cane, and with each passing day I feel immense joy as I sit at the altar, and I deeply feel that I am being embraced and sustained by Kami.

With apologies and gratitude.

Sincerely yours,

Rev. Nobuharu Uzunoe

Rev. Kametaro Nakayama - Faith and blessings - continued from April

The other day, I met Mr. M., a young man who had a physical disability. Mr. M. was raised by a father who held a prominent position in a company and a mother who was deeply religious. He graduated from a university without any hardships and worked for a major coal mining company. At work, he was regarded as an excellent engineer with high expectations for the future and was respected by his fellow workers. At home, he was supported by his beautiful wife and was living “the happiest period of his life.”

One day, however, he was involved in a cave-in at the mine and was crushed under the falling coal before he had time to escape. When he was rescued, his spinal cord was already severely damaged and both his motor and autonomic nerves were impaired leaving him paralyzed below the waist. He had gone from a state of extreme happiness to the depths of misery. 

It is said that those who have the same illness pity each other and as I too have a physical disability, I was invited to Mr. M’s home in hopes that I could offer him comfort. 

However, when I actually met Mr. M., I realized that I could not possibly comfort him. It is true that I also have a handicap, but the suffering he was going through was far beyond my imagination. In particular, when I saw the young wife doing her best to care for him, I was unable to look at their faces for a while as I thought of the reality that they could not lead a normal married life.

When I was 17 or 18 years old, someone once told me the following:

“You were able to enter junior high school because you lost both of your hands and one leg. If you were healthy, you would have followed in your parent’s footsteps to become a coal miner. In that light, you should be grateful for your condition.”  

This person was trying to comfort me with these words; however, my heart had never felt so torn apart as it did in that moment. 

I wanted to say “Even if I were a miner, having two hands would be far better. Someone with hands could never understand what it is like to live without them.”

Those words were on the tip of my tongue, but no sound came out. Instead, tears just simply began to flow. 

Now I can feel grateful for the suffering I experienced in the past, however when I think back on those days, I realize that it is very difficult to “put yourself in the other person’s shoes.” 

In my attempt to comfort Mr. M., I felt that I should not cause him the same pain that I experienced 35 years ago. With this in mind, I prayed not to hurt Mr. M’s feelings as we spent time together smoking and sharing a meal. Then I shared my thoughts on “faith and blessings.”

Many people think that faith is simply about praying to Kami and receiving blessings such as being healed from an illness or protected from misfortunes. Of course, these are also forms of “blessings.” However, if we make that the sole purpose of our faith and seek such visible benefits, we will eventually stray from Kami’s will. Instead of seeking “selflessness” and “benevolence” which are the foundation of faith, we become consumed by desire and ego. In other words, this is nothing other than “using Kami” instead of “depending on Kami.”

During the war, there were many people like Mr. M. who suffered spinal injuries. There was an incident of a man who sustained spinal cord damage and was told he only had 30 days to live but made a miraculous recovery through sheer willpower. There was another man who suffered severe burns to his legs due to a paralyzed nerve while taking a Goemon bath (traditional Japanese bath heated directly from beneath) and had recovered enough to ride a hand-powered bicycle for his business. 

Both of these men shared the following with me:

“My comrades complained about pain and numbness in their limbs; however, I felt nothing at all. This has been a great help to me. This is all thanks to the guidance you gave me.” 

By continuing our faith, our lives will become vibrant and radiant from within. Even if we get sick or encounter a disaster, we will be able to feel grateful and a sense of salvation. I believe the infinite joy and gratitude that arise from our hearts is the true “blessing.” 

In other words, without the inner vitality within one’s life, one cannot say that they have been saved. I believe that the pursuit of the path that awakens such inner life force is the essence of faith. 

I sincerely hope that we all aspire to have the kind of faith and household that can be described in the following way:

“I wonder why that family is so harmonious?”

“Why is that child so well-raised?”

“It must be because everyone practices faith together.”

After the meal, I shared these stories with Mr. M. Soon after, I was truly relieved when I received a joyful letter from him.

Exercises for the Mind/Heart/Spirit

014 Where does the water we use go?

Let us try to imagine where the water that washes the dishes goes afterwards. Kitchen or bathroom🡪 drainpipe🡪 sewer🡪 treatment plant🡪 river🡪 ocean🡪 steam🡪 clouds🡪 rain🡪 raindrops falling on leaves...What kind of journey will the water that has been so kind to us have? We are grateful for the water and look forward to the day we can meet again.

Konko Church of Gardena and Los Angeles Announcements

Morning Service, Cleanup, and Shinto-kai meeting

On Sunday, June 1, we will be holding a morning prayer at 9:00 a.m. After the service, let us clean the inside and outside of the church. The Gardena church Shinto-kai meeting will follow the cleanup. Please join us if you are interested.

Monthly Service

On Sunday, June 8, we will be holding the Monthly service at 10:00 a.m. at the Gardena Church Mediation Hall.

KCNA Conference

The KCNA Conference will be held at the Applegate Jesuit Retreat Center in Applegate, California from Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6. For questions, please contact conference@konkofaith.org or 415-992-6768.

Thought of the day

Aiyokakeyo

Aiyokakeyo shows the interaction between Kami and people in which Kami’s wishes become people’s wishes and people’s wishes become Kami’s wishes. Through this mutual relationship, Kami’s work is manifested. A similar interaction is established amongst people as well as people and all things.